Awake!, January 22, 1965
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How Deep Does Your Religion Go?
PAGE 5
The Unpredictable Bear
PAGE 9
The Marvel of the Symphony Orchestra
PAGE 12
What You Should Know About Alcoholism
PAGE 17
JANUARY 22,1965
THE REASON FOR THIS MAGAZINE
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 ties; it is unhampered by traditional creeds. This magazine keeps itself free, that it may speak freely to you. But it does not abuse its freedom. It maintains integrity to truth.
The viewpoint of "Awake!" is not narrow, but is international. "Awake!" has its own correspondents in scores of nations. Its articles are read in many lands, in many languages, by millions of persons.
In every issue "Awakel" presents vital topics on which you should be informed. It features interesting articles on various conditions and offers sound content for meeting
features penetrating articles on social conditions and offers sound counsel for meeting the problems of everyday life. Current news from every continent passes in quick review. Attention is focused on activities in the fields of government and commerce about which you should know. Straightforward discussions of religious issues alert you to matters of vital concern. Customs and people in many lands, the marvels of creation, practical sciences and points of human interest are all embraced in its coverage. "Awake!" provides wholesome, instructive reading for every member of the family.
"Awakel" 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 God's righteous new order in this generation.
Get acquainted with "Awake!" Keep awake by reading "Awake!"
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CONTENTS
Your Child Is Not Too Young 3
How Deep Does Your Religion Go? 5
The Unpredictable Bear 9
The Marvel of the Symphony Orchestra 12
The Rout of Higher Criticism 16
Alcoholism 17
Akosombo's Gift to a Nation 21
Watch Your Step in English 24
"Your Word Is Truth"
Different Viewpoints 27
Watching the World 29
YOUR CHILD IS NOT TOO YOUNG
"The mind of a young child is quicker than you think it is, and can learn far more than we give it credit for. Latest experiments prove that three-year-old children, who already are performing the rather difficult mental operations of listening and talking, can learn to read and write, tell a story to a tape recorder and type it out as it is played back." These were the findings of the Educational Testing Service, as reported in the February 22, 1964, Science News Letter.
Yes, the ability of very young children to learn and to do new things is truly remarkable. Although adults often find it extremely difficult to learn a new language, many preschool-age children can chatter away in two or three languages, effortlessly shifting from one to the other to converse with those who may not understand. In many places it is not unusual for parents to call a four- or five-year-old to the door to interpret for them what a caller is trying to explain.
habits and information that will prepare them to lead successful adult lives. They particularly need the instruction found in God's Word the Bible.
Perhaps you yourself have been amazed by how young children can remember the names of television programs, even reciting from memory a number of the catchy commercials. Now, if three- and four-year-olds are not too young to learn such things, certainly they are not too young to be taught
But when should this teaching begin? "From infancy," the Scriptures tell us. Yes, Bible truths can even be inculcated in the mind of a year-old infant—so that is the time to begin. If this instruction is continued, by the time your child is four or five years old its mind will be filled with knowledge that will make it "wise for salvation."—2 Tim. 3:15.
Many Christian parents have experienced the fine results of lovingly instructing and disciplining their young children. One father, whose six-year-old son is exceptionally well behaved and intelligent, was asked concerning the training of his boy. In response the father explained how he and his wife started to inculcate wholesome Bible truths and good habits into their child's mind from infancy.
"When our boy was about one I began telling him bedtime Bible stories, related in an enlarged, colorful way to make a vivid impression. As soon as he began to talk in his second year we would kneel by his bedside and I would have him repeat after me, phrase by phrase, the 'Lord's Prayer.' This custom we follow to this day.
"When he was three I began to have a regular Bible study with him, using the illustrated Bible-study aid From Paradise Lost to Paradise Regained. He would follow in his book, verbally repeating the words after me. He thus came to pronounce words well and learned to enunciate clearly even the big words. During the past three years we have gone through the Paradise book twice, speaking every word in each paragraph.
"To aid in making Bible truths sink deeply into his heart, when he was three we began to have him memorize simple Bible texts. By the time he entered kindergarten he knew about thirty texts, and last September when he started the first grade he had memorized seventy scriptures. We found from experience that it is necessary for the parents to memorize these texts along with their children. This enables one to play a little game with them by checking on their accuracy in repeating the texts. Since children forget quickly, repetition is vital. So before our boy goes to bed I have him repeat some of his scriptures. Likewise when he gets up in the morning he often recites a few Bible texts as part of his greetings for the day.
"His ability to quote scriptures makes him very effective in the house-to-house ministry, since many householders are amazed and cannot resist the offer of Bible magazines he presents. He has shared in this Christian service since he was three years old, and is now often more effective in placing Bible literature with people than my wife and I. At our congregation meeting place he regularly puts our family contribution into the contribution box, and also obtains our family supply of magazines for use in the ministry.
as cleaning his room, emptying the wastepaper baskets, carrying out the garbage, and drying the dishes and setting the table. We make him feel that he is needed to do these jobs. When discipline is called for, we use the literal rod in keeping with Bible counsel. However, having him recite Proverbs 22:15 and Proverbs 12:15 is frequently correction enough, impressing upon him that his behavior has been utter foolishness."
"At home, too, he is taught responsibility. He does chores around the house, such
Your children also will respond to such a training program. Parents who recognize this can look forward to commendation similar to that received by a young French couple. Their two boys, eight and ten years of age, called at the residence of a worker priest in Le Havre in the course of their house-to-house ministry. After they left, the priest wrote their parents:
"Madame, Monsieur: I am still under the charm of the long conversation I have had this morning with your two children, Patrick and Philippe, and since I am appreciative of all that is beautiful and upright, I am taking this liberty of writing to you, their parents, to—shall we say—congratulate them.
"Truly, I never remember having heard children express their faith so interestingly and with so much conviction and intelligence. Particularly Patrick, the elder one. If he perseveres, by God's grace, humanity has there the makings of a true man. In a world whose values are falling apart, it is comforting to meet values that the passing years will. I trust, bring to maturity and fruition. I do not know you, but judging by your two children, you must be praiseworthy parents."
The key to raising such fine children is starting their training early, and then sticking with it. No, they are not too young to learn.
HOW often have you heard a person say: "Oh! I have my church, but, you know, I'm not really very religious"? Expressions such as this reveal the place that religion holds in the lives
man did this 3,000 years ago, and his question and the inspired answer are recorded for us in the fifteenth Psalm in the Bible. Prayerfully, he asks: "O Jehovah, who will be a guest in your tent? Who will reside in your holy mountain?"
The speaker here is King David of Israel. Notice that he addresses his God by name, to distinguish him
of many. Too often it is merely a duty to be performed, a need to be satisfied, but rarely does it become a real force for good. Perhaps the basic reason for this is that the religions of the world, professed Christian and non-
Is your religion a once-a-week affair? Or does it permeate every aspect of your daily life?
Christian alike, have failed to teach religion as a way of life. It has become sufficient just to "have" a religion rather than
from raise, imaginary gods. We can immediately see that here is a man having deep
convictions, one who wants to do what is right in God's sight. The inspired answer to his questions will tell us what God expects of us in order to qualify as his "guests." There are ten specific requirements mentioned in the rules below.
to "live" it, to be on the membership roll of a local church rather than to make sure one's name is written in God's "book of remembrance."—Mal. 3:16.
The religion of the Bible is not like that. It is dynamic and a real force for good in everyday life. It tells us to 'be transformed by making our mind over.' (Rom. 12:2) Yes, a complete conversion is needed for one to become a true worshiper. This transformation is not just an outward change; it goes deep down to the very heart of the individual by the 'imperious one in
the psalm, so let us take them one by one, starting with verse two.
"He who is walking faultlessly and practicing righteousness"
Did you notice that it is not just a matter of knowing what is right but of practicing it? Our religion must thus be a living, working force, and we need to accept responsibility for it, not leaving it to a clergyman or priest to do our religious thinking for us. Just "belonging" to a religion does not make a man walk faultless-
individual, yes, to the man you are inside." (Eph, 3:16) It reaches down into the very moral fiber of a person and stirs up his God-given conscience. Hence the question: "How deep does your religion go?"
To make a self-scrutiny, we need to inquire of God as to what kind of people he expects us to be. A deeply religious JANUARY 22, 1965
ly; he must put forth the effort to practice righteousness according to the Bible's standard and to do so in every aspect of his daily life.
Obviously, then, this rules out any form of sexual immorality, corruption or dishonesty. God himself explains why these should be avoided, saying: "You must be holy, because I am holy." (1 Pet. 1:16)
Does your religion insist on high moral standards, enforcing discipline and even excommunicating those who refuse to conform to God's requirements?
Do you insist on righteous ways for yourself and your family members? If so, you will also be living up to this next requirement.
"Speaking the truth in his heart"
In Colossians 3:9, 10 we are advised: "Do not be lying to one another. Strip off the old personality with its practices, and clothe yourselves with the new personality." Thus we are reminded again that our whole personality is involved, and when we look at the text from the psalm quoted above we note that we need to speak the truth in our hearts, not only with our lips. Thus, we must first of all be honest with ourselves, seeing ourselves as we really are, and then we can be honest with others.
People lie for various reasons, but a very common reason is to "save face." When found out in wrongdoing, instead of honestly admitting it, many will cover up their sin, often inventing a lie. This betrays the fact that they do not have a heartfelt love for what is true. Others have a custom of inviting a person to eat without really meaning it in the heart. This is certainly not speaking the truth, nor is it the "course of hospitality." (Rom. 12:13) Others live a lie by cheating in school examinations or by refusing or simply neglecting to pay debts they have incurred. Such persons are not honest with themselves. Are you completely honest and truthful with yourself? If you are, you will be honest when talking about others too.
"He has not slandered with his tongue"
This third requirement demands that we avoid maliciously tearing down other persons with our tongue. Jehovah says, at Psalm 101:5: "Anyone slandering his companion in secrecy, him I silence." A good
rule to remember is never to say anything about a person behind his back that you are not willing to say to his face. The tongue is powerful and, if wrongly used, can hurt others deeply. Do you have your tongue under control, avoiding malicious gossip? It is important to consider the effect of our actions on others.
"To his companion he has done nothing bad"
This reminds us of the "golden rule" stated by Jesus: "All things, therefore, that you want men to do to you, you also must likewise do to them." (Matt. 7:12) Obviously, this calls for honesty in business dealings. But did you know that more money is lost due to shortchanging and business dishonesty than due to robberies and open thefts?
Even by showing common courtesy we can avoid doing bad to our neighbor. How unpleasant it becomes when a driver of a vehicle refuses to yield the right of way and considers neither pedestrians nor other drivers! And how ugly it looks when a young man rushes to get a seat on a bus and allows an elderly person to remain standing! Does such conduct show that one is treating others as he would like to have them treat him? Of course not!
"No reproach has he taken up against his intimate acquaintance"
All of us make mistakes, but how grateful we are when our friends choose to overlook those errors that are minor! However, how would we feel if, after allowing a friend to enjoy our closest fellowship, he took advantage of this to expose to others all our weaknesses? Sometimes people do things like this to justify their own mistakes or divert attention from their own faults. In this way they paint themselves as being good, thus building up their ego. Such conduct certainly is not an expression of love, since "the one covering over transgression is seeking love, and he that keeps talking about a matter is separating those familiar with one another."—Prov.
17:9.
"In his eyes anyone contemptible is certainly rejected"
Would God be pleased if we were to have fellowship with a person contemptible in his sight? Definitely not! Thus the principle of avoiding bad associations is stressed here. We must hate evil so much that we do not want to associate with one who practices it. "Abhor what is wicked, cling to what is good." (Rom. 12:9) But some will actually take advantage of a friendship with prominent men, even if they are corrupt, using their influence to gain some selfish benefits. However, a true worshiper of Jehovah will not stoop to such "influence peddling," but will refuse to keep company with evil men, doing only necessary business with them as the occasion demands. Do you choose your friends because of their moral standing with God, or because of their standing in the eyes of the world? One who is guided by reverential fear of Jehovah will choose wisely.
"Those fearing Jehovah he honors"
There is a growing tendency today to be little anyone who stands for what is right. Such a one may be called a weakling and suffer the ridicule of those with whom he works. Many of those who laugh and scoff have a religion of their own, but evidently it is not the true one, since the worshiper of God honors and respects those who fear Jehovah. When a man wishes to give his employer a full day's work, does not waste time and does his job conscientiously, this kind of man is to be admired. Yet in the world today he is likely to be spoken of disparagingly for doing this. Do you respect those who fear Jehovah? Do you
show that respect even when it causes some to speak badly of you too?
"He has sworn to what is bad for himself, and yet he does not alter"
The principle here is that of fulfilling our vows and promises. Notice that even if later we should find out that the thing we have promised to do may be hard on ourselves, so long as it is not a matter of backing out on something that we have learned to be unrighteous, we would not change our mind or rengee on our promise. Ecclesiastes 5:4 says simply: "What you vow, pay." In the Bible we learn that faithful Joshua did not go back on his promise to the Gibeonites even though he found later that they had deceived him into making it. (Josh. 9:18, 19) We can apply this principle ourselves by proving to be men and women of our word, not making promises to friends and then leaving them in the lurch when more appealing opportunities open up. "Just let your word Yes mean Yes, your No, No," said Jesus. (Matt. 5:37) Above all, when we vow to God that we will serve him, we must live up to that promise, not altering our course when we find that it results in persecution at the hands of those who do not love righteousness.
"His money he has not given out on interest"
Money loaned by a bank or an individual for business purposes quite properly should be repaid with interest, but this is not the thought of the psalm here. It is referring rather to loaning money to one who is destitute. Would it not be better to help such a one without expecting any return, rather than to take advantage of his difficult straits to make some money out of the transaction? Yes, and this is what Jesus taught. (Luke 14:12-14) The Mosaic law also agrees, saying: "If you should lend money to my people, to the afflicted alongside you, you must not become like a usurer to him.
You must not lay interest upon him."—Ex. 22·25.
If it shows a lack of love to loan to a poverty-stricken person with interest, then how much more so is it wrong to charge exorbitant rates of interest that are above legal limits! This was being done in the days of Nehemiah, governor of Israel, about 450 years before Christ. Nehemiah found that the poor were selling their fields and themselves as slaves to pay the interest demanded by deputy rulers. Being righteously indignant, he said: "Usury is what you are exacting, each one from his own brother" (Neh. 5:7) He then made arrangements to prevent further exploitation of the poor
In some Oriental lands today a similar system exists, one of borrowing on land produce. A person who is in dire need will borrow an amount of money, promising to pay back with rice or other produce at harvesttime. However, when he does pay it back, the value demanded often amounts to from 75 to 150 percent more than what was borrowed, even though only a few months have passed. No matter how widely accepted such a system is, and regardless of the fact that the borrower is willing to pay this excessive interest, no Christian should take advantage of the poverty of his neighbor in this way.
"A bribe against the innocent one he has not taken"
that Judas Iscariot accepted such a bribe to betray the innocent Jesus.—Matt. 26:15
A bribe of any kind is a corrupting influence, as Deuteronomy 16:19 shows: "You must not . . . accept a bribe, for the bribe blinds the eyes of wise ones and distorts the words of righteous ones." However, when a bribe is taken to do evil to an innocent person, either to change court testimony or to harm him physically, this is doubly evil and malicious. Remember
You may feel that you are clean from any form of 'bribery, yet you ever paid extra money to get something done without going through the proper channels? Or have you ever tried to pay off an officer of the law when stopped for a traffic violation? Judge Samuel asked the Israelites many years ago: "From whose hand have I accepted hush money that I should hide my eyes with it?" The Israelites answered truthfully: "You have not defrauded us, nor have you crushed us, nor have you accepted anything at all from the hand of a single one." (1 Sam. 12:3, 4) Do you have such a clean record regarding the accepting or giving of bribes?
"He that is doing these things will never be made to totter"
After examining this tenfold description of an upright man who is pleasing to God, how do you measure up? Has your religion taught you to speak the truth, walk faultlessly, practice righteousness, be true to your word and respect those honoring God? Has it warned you against slandering, lying, fellowship with evil men, dishonest business practices, bribes and exorbitant interest rates? If so, then ask yourself, How deep does my religion go? Have I allowed it to become part of my very fiber, to transform my personality, to make me a 'new man,' as it were?
If your religion is not teaching you to respect these fine moral principles, then it is not the true religion. You will need to search for those who are living upright, moral lives, those who qualify to be Jehovah's "guests." There are such people, perhaps in your very neighborhood! Associate with them, study the Bible with them and reap the reward promised in the closing words of Psalm fifteen: "He that is doing these things will never be made to totter."
BEAR
ONE of the best known of all wild animals is the bear. By "Awakel" correspond in Canada
Fearsome stories branding him as a savage predator have been told. This reputation has made survival for Mr. Bruhn possible only by his keeping out of sight of man most of the time. However, he has friends who say that, when treated with understanding and respect, he is often a gentleman. All he wants is food and freedom.
Bears once roamed over most of the Northern Hemisphere in large numbers, but these have been greatly reduced. In some places bears are almost extinct. They vary in size, color and structure according to location, just as do humans. However, for purposes of identification they fall into three general categories: polar, grizzly and black. The term grizzly appears to derive from an old Germanic word meaning "gray," and refers to the silver-tipped fur, which indeed gives many in this group a grizzled appearance.
In no single area are they numerous, for they travel mostly as lone rangers. Each family establishes a territory with boundaries and drives out intruders, just as some birds do. This is done by blazing or scratching the trees as notice to claim jumpers. Mating season is in summer and the cubs are born in winter, blind and hairless, in dens that vary from hollow logs to deep, dark, spacious caverns to which the female retreats. Due to the cantankerous nature of male bears and their often destructive tendency toward whimpering cubs, if disturbed in their winterlong siesta, grumpy old papa bears are not tolerated around the household during this period.
As the female does not ovulate while nursing, she gives birth to young only once in two years. From the time their eyes open the cubs are in training. At first, the mother takes them for short strolls to dig around roots, rotting logs and stones in search of ants and beetles. Later, farther fields are prospected for birds and berries. When birds are found, the cubs watch from a distance as mother demonstrates how to make the kill. Although never a sentimentalist, her mother love is shown in a practical way by her being a strict disciplinarian, for her young become targets for every watchful carnivore. At the slightest danger she puts them in hiding or sends them up a tree, and when she orders action she means immediate action! One well-delivered cuff from her massive paw will send them spinning and thus painfully discourage any slight sign of disobedience.
For eighteen months she carefully educates them in all the arts of life and survival, warns them of dangers and prepares them to face the future. In faithful discharge of her parental duty she stands between her cubs and the enemy, ever ready to sacrifice her own life in their defense. As for the cubs, it can be truly said that they learn their lessons well.
They may toy cautiously with adventure, but so thorough has been their training that, before ever they have so much as seen a human, they will run for their lives at the very first scent of man.
Bear Facts and Customs
If you have never had opportunity to watch a family of bears at play you have surely missed something, for they are born acrobats and display a sense of enjoyment that challenges the imagination. The cubs box, wrestle and stunt about like human youngsters, and tease in rough-and-tumble frolic as do bands of boisterous monkeys. Their energy seems endless and their humor contagious. The staid and sober oldsters nonchalantly look on and sometimes add practical jokes of their own while simulating innocence. Bears in their natural state by no means live a bad life.
With bears, as with humans, the business of obtaining food poses the major problem, only bears have a much simpler economy. All through summer they gorge themselves upon whatever food their farflung locker will supply: roots, berries, beetles, honey, fish or wild game, and, when occasions demand, they will fill up on grass, like a cow. Then as winter approaches they simply hole up and sleep it off. There are no food bills, no fuel bills and no taxes. Not all bears hibernate, however, for those living in southern zones remain active throughout the year. Hibernation, or winter sleep, appears to find its basis in a specially built-in arrangement for enduring the long, frozen northern winters when food is extremely difficult to obtain. How they do it is a secret the scientists have not cracked, and the bears will not talk.
Polar bears, confined to the polar regions, are not considered here. Black bears, on the other hand, range from frozen
North to the temperate South. They are the most numerous and are also fun-loving clowns frequently found in captivity because they are easily tamed and friendly. They are natural beggars who make regular visits to camps and garbage dumps or wherever there are prospects of a handout. When a cuddly oversized Teddy bear beggingly stretches his tongue for tidbits, tourists find it hard to obey park signs reading "Do Not Feed the Bears," and sometimes they disobey the signs to their sorrow. Trappers and prospectors have tamed young bears as pets, but as they grow up they tend to play according to their strength and get too rough and dangerous.
As long as natural forage is plentiful bears will rarely trouble farms and ranches, but when food is scarce or unobtainable, inroads are made upon domestic animals and produce in storage. They seem to be especially fond of young pigs.
Black bears are not averse to dwelling in friendly coexistence with their two-legged neighbors as long as these allow Mr. Bruin to live in peace. Such "hands off" policy has often permitted both men and beasts to continue living side by side in balanced security in many well-established territories. However, once a bear becomes a killer there seems to be no cure for it except to hunt it down and destroy it.
The Imperturbable Grizzly
The grizzly is a dish-faced somber giant who minds his own business and resents intrusion. He is of tremendous strength and completely fearless of all except man's high-powered weapons. He is too big to climb trees. Once grizzlies were very numerous, but gradually they have been driven back until now they are almost exclusively restricted to Northwestern Canada and Alaska.
The grizzly is a creature whose bearing is dignified and majestic. To observe him standing erect upon a mountain ledge calmly surveying his surroundings is a most impressive sight. Because of his enormous strength, keen-witted escapades and uncanny ability to evade pursuit the grizzly has a reputation as a predator, and for this reason has been ruthlessly hunted and killed on sight. It is true that grizzlies have been guilty of many depredations, will often act on impulse and have even been inexcusable killers, but usually, and unless surprised or aggravated, they avoid human contact and do not look for trouble.
One deer hunter had been fruitlessly scouting from early morning until late afternoon across rough terrain. The day was warm, with a golden sun giving distant colors a shimmering glow. Carefully he stepped out from a screen of trees onto an open ridge to get a better view of the breathtaking beauty of the woodland scene. All at once he detected a dark spot a short distance to his right. Focusing his binoculars on it, he was amazed to see a huge grizzly lazily propped up against a big shady fir and looking straight in his direction. The bear did not move or make a sound; he just looked. The hunter's eyes bulged! Why, this old fellow seemed to enjoy scenery as much as the hunter! For his own protection only he lowered his glasses to check and ready his rifle. When he looked up again the bear had gone. Close examination of the spot later revealed a well-rounded hollow with ample indication that the bear had often been there before.
Animal Perception
When traveling in bear country at night it has been found best to carry a good stout stick with which to thump the ground or strike the bushes. Most bears will give way if they hear you coming, unless it is a cranky old grizzly, and then look out!
Generally, bears do not engage in downright wanton destruction. It is true that when the going is difficult they will fight for food and shelter and the protection of their young. These essentials having been provided for, they are much like people—when left alone they will seldom give trouble. Students of wildlife have been amazed at the fortitude and perseverance displayed by these brute beasts as they go about the daily business of meeting life's challenges.
Man, too, it should be remembered, has been guilty of being a predator, of engaging in wanton destruction of animal and human life, despite his superior gifts of intelligence and speech. He, too, has had to fight ferociously when others of his own kind have threatened the lives of his children. But surely it is not asking too much of civilized man to try to understand the ways and the actions of the dumb beasts and make allowances for the necessities of their position! Bears, like so many other wild animals, are usually willing to be peaceful neighbors, provided their ordinary wants are satisfied and they are left alone. When they are unpredictable it is oftentimes because they are misunderstood or because their purposes have been crossed. Under like circumstances men are unpredictable too.
Surely man's rule over the animal world should be with understanding and tolerance. Unlike the beasts, he can figure out the whys and wherefores of the many situations that arise as between man and beast! Instead of spending so much time hunting down and killing bears and other animals, how much more worthily he could spend time trying to understand their ways and their needs! So doing, it is certain that he would find a host of good companions and lovable friends among them, doubtless including the supposedly "unpredictable" bear.
correspondent in Uruguay
THERE is music in the air! Whether through the living-room stereo, the car radio, the television set or the concert hall, the uplifting strains that emanate from the symphony orchestra daily enrich the lives of millions. Whatever your acquaintance with it and no matter what your tastes in music, you have doubtlessly been impressed by symphonic music. But did you ever contemplate exactly what comprises a symphony orchestra, how 85 to 110 instruments can become as one, or how it all came to exist?
Come with me to a working rehearsal at the principal concert hall of Montevideo, the "S.O.D.R.E.," and we shall be able to increase our appreciation of this development in the art of music-making. A friend, a member of the orchestra, has invited us to attend.
As we enter the tiered auditorium our eyes focus upon the lighted stage, where the musicians are preparing for hours of diligent practice. Permeating the hall is the
The Working Rehearsal
inevitable melee of sound created by all the instruments "warming up" at the same time. Then, as we take our seats, the penetrating, nasal "A" of the oboe entones the official pitch that is picked up by the violins and transmitted throughout the orchestra until the tuning dies down and an expectant silence prevails. Our interest becomes more intense as the conductor, taking the podium, gives the tap with his baton that calls each player to strict attention. An instant later, and with a single gesture of the conductor's hand, the hall is filled with soul-stirring music and the eighty-five musicians and their instruments are transformed, as it were, into one instrument, capable of producing any variance of color, tone or expression evoked by the conductor's baton. How captivating are the movements of the conductor's hands as he draws the players with him through a network of harmonious sound!
Our attention is gradually drawn from the conductor as we become intrigued by the actions of the instrumentalists. There in the front are the many members of the string section, each group drawing their bows in perfect unison and precision.
Circling the back of the stage is the fascinating percussion section, while the shiny brass instruments are immediately before them in the center. The variety of tubeshaped members of the woodwind family are in the center front facing the conductor. Each instrument, in contributing its own particular timbre is adding to the loveliness of the melodious sounds we hear. The music continues, interrupted occasionally for special practice of a particular phrase, until it is time for a rest interval. This affords us the opportunity to talk about the instruments we have been observing.
The Strings
Let's begin with the group that has been the nucleus of the orchestra since its early formation—the strings. A full-size symphony generally includes eighteen first and sixteen second violins, ten to fourteen violas, eight to twelve cellos and eight to ten contrabasses. The violins, violas, cellos and basses correspond to the four voices of a vocal quartet—soprano, alto, tenor and bass—being represented in most songbooks by the two sets of notes in the "G" or treble clef, above the words, and the two sets of notes in the bass clef, below the words. These instruments may be thought of as descendants of the viols of the Middle Ages, which, through a series of changes, came to their present form.
The first violin section might be termed the "prima donna" of the orchestra. More often than any other group it has the burden of transmitting the melody, and rightly so, as the majestic violin is capable of being used to depict a great variety of emotions and effects. The second-violin group play mostly accompaniment, as do the rest of the strings.
How does the viola differ from the violin? It is pitched five tones lower and so suited to the contralto register. Peculiarly, this slight difference in register causes it to differ greatly from the violin. It not only lacks the brilliance of the violin but has an almost plaintive tone about it. The cello, on the other hand, is tuned eight notes or an octave lower than the viola. Its "tenor" register enables it to produce rich, noble as well as mellow tones that add greatly to the warmth and body of the orchestra music.
Towering there behind the cellos are the large double basses or contrabasses, commonly known as bass violis. While the cellist sits to play his instrument, held between his knees, the bassist must stand to play his. Playing the bass viol is as different from playing the cello as playing the cello is different from the violin. The bass viol bow is shorter and heavier and has much coarser hair than does the cello bow—it also requires a sticky rather than a dry or powdery rosin as do the cello and violin bows, which differ but little from each other.* The bass viol's singularly low notes, sustained or plucked by the finger, serve as the solid foundation for the string section as well as for the entire orchestra.
The Woodwinds
Are you acquainted with all the instruments of the woodwind section or family? Most likely not. Not all of them are made of wood, at least not in modern times; some are made of silver or some other metal. In the woodwinds there are not only the four registers—soprano, alto, tenor and bass—but also three distinct groups that can be differentiated by the ways in which the sound is produced: by blowing across a hole in the side of the instrument, as with the flute and the piccolo; by blowing into a single-reed mouthpiece, as with the clarinet; or by blowing into a double-reed mouthpiece, as with the oboe, French horn, bassoon and contrabassoon.
The sopranos of the woodwind family are the flutes, the piccolos, which are pitched an octave higher than the flutes, and the oboe, with its nasal, penetrating sound. Generally there are four flutes, whose players also play the piccolo as needed, and four oboes.
The contrastos of the woodwinds are the clarinet and the English horn. The clarinet has tone described as full and "creamy," and has the widest range of the woodwinds. There usually are four in a symphony orchestra, but only one English horn, which is not a horn but is to the oboe what the viola is to the violin. It looks like a large oboe with a pear-shaped bell.
The tenor of the woodwind section is the bassoon, often called the "clown of the orchestra" because its timbre and register give it a droll sound; although, much like the cello, it can also produce beautifully mellow tones when playing sustained passages.
The bass of the woodwinds, the contra-bassoon, has a register that is even lower than the string bass viol or the brass tuba. Its tube is sixteen feet long, because, logically, the longer the instrument, the lower the pitch. In contrast, the piccolo is the shortest and the highest-pitched instrument and has the shrillest voice of all.
The Brasses
The brass section, choir or family also has its four registers: the trumpets, the sopranos; the French horns, the altos; the trombones, the tenors; and the tuba, the bass. Generally there are three or four trumpets and for certain music one or two cornets, the latter being somewhat shorter than the trumpets. The trumpets take the
lead in the brass section, even as the violins do in the string family.
The most beautiful sounding member of the brass family is the French horn, of which there are four or five. A circular instrument representing from twelve to sixteen feet of coiled brass tubing, it is the most difficult of all the brass instruments to play.
The trombones are the tenors and have long slides, although some are now made with valves instead of slides. It is the stately, powerful-sounding instrument that is heard so much in Wagner's music. There are four of these in the average orchestra.
The bass of the brass is supplied by a single tuba. It is always interesting to watch the tuba player handle his mighty instrument. The notes that come out of its large bell are the lowest of the brass family. If stretched out, its tube would reach twenty-seven feet!
How much the addition of the brasses contribute to the fullness of the symphony orchestra! Not only are they able to blend their rich, full tones with the other instruments in somber, serious passages, but, also, they stirringly project notes of triumph and exaltation.
Percussion
Now let's look at the percussion section. This interesting group has grown and expanded in such diversity that some of its members have little in common except their purpose to add rhythmic effects or special color. There are castanets, triangle, cymbals, chimes, gohg, glockenspiel, bass, tenor and snare drums, timpani or kettle drums, organ and piano, to name the best-known ones.
Forms of many of these instruments were known to the ancients (2 Sam. 6:5), but it was after the defeat of the Turks, when European soldiers came home with the spoils of war, that they brought with the assortment of instruments used by the "Janissaries," the famous bodyguard of the Sultan.
By the end of the eighteenth century the cymbals, bass drum and triangle were appearing in opera orchestras.
Among the most captivating instruments to watch during a symphonic rehearsal or performance are those huge, brass kettle drums covered with tightly stretched calfskin. Perhaps you noticed that the player changed sticks several times during the one composition. Why? Because the kind determines the tone. The timpani are also unique among the drums in that they have a definite pitch and are tuned by pedals and tuning screws. It is said that a form of this instrument first appeared in western Europe in 1457, when the king of Hungary sent envoys to France to solicit the hand of the princess Madeleine from King Charles VII. They arrived on horseback carrying with them these amazing big drums.
Our discussion of orchestral instruments would not be complete without mentioning the lovely harp, unique among string instruments because its strings run vertical, not parallel to the soundboard. At the beginning of the eighteenth century it differed from its ancient ancestor only in its greater number of strings, but through the formation of the pedal system it has been improved to its present state.
So having learned something about the four families of instruments, we can better appreciate the great diversity of tone found in the symphony orchestra. But look! Here comes our friend! Perhaps she will be able to take a few minutes of her rest period to help us to understand how the orchestra functions. Would she?
How It Becomes One
a symphony orchestra is no mere hap-hazard conglomeration of musical instruments. Rather, true balance and magnificence of sound are obtained only through the use of the proper number of each instrument and a carefully planned seating arrangement. Well over half of the pieces of an orchestra are strings, in order to provide sufficient strength of tone in balance with the other sections. The other family members may vary, depending upon what is called for in the musical score. It is left to the discretion of each conductor to adjust the location of the instruments according to the acoustics of the auditorium or for the purpose of creating some special effect in the performance of a work.
"Certainly!" our hostess graciously responds. "You probably already noticed that
"Another important requisite is a group of skilled and talented musicians, who through years of training and experience have become masters of their instruments. Each one must have the ability to use his instrument as the medium of self-expression and at the same time play in perfect synchronization with the others, always subjecting himself to the direction of the conductor."
"And just what is the importance of the conductor to the coordination of the orchestra?"
"It is his responsibility," she continued, "to indicate the beat, tempo, each instrumental entrance and the proper expression. His mastership depends upon his ability to create the necessary response in the musicians that brings about a performance of excellence. Just as a fine violin can sound entirely different in the hands of two persons of greater or lesser skill, so the performance of a symphony orchestra will vary according to the ability of its conductor.
"I see it is time to resume our practice, so please excuse me. I hope you will enjoy the other numbers we are going to play."
While the musicians are taking their places there is still time for us to discuss briefly the origin of the symphony orchestra.
How It Came to Be
Groups of instrumentalists making music together are as old as Bible times. "Orchestras" of 600 pieces composed of string and wind instruments were known to the Egyptians, and as many as 4,000 instrumentalists were employed at Solomon's temple in Israel.—1 Chron. 23:5; Ps. 150; 3-5.
The orchestral form as we know it today, however, had its origin about three and a half centuries ago when it was the custom of rulers to employ groups of court musicians in their palaces. Ambitious maestros began to experiment with various combinations of instruments, which, with the years, also underwent a process of change. At the beginning of the seventeenth century Monteverdi developed a forty-piece orchestra that produced a greater homogeneity of sound than ever before. Then came Lulli, the Florentine, whose orchestra, together with opera and ballet ensembles, influenced all Europe. In fact, most of the "great masters" helped develop the orchestra. There was Beethoven, who, through his masterful nine symphonies, established almost all the present-day instruments as members of the orchestra. Another who greatly influenced orchestra music was Berlioz, and then Wagner, who, toward the latter part of the nineteenth century, made greater use of the brass than anyone previous, in keeping with his ambitious themes.
In the 1800's symphonic societies began to be formed in Europe and the United States, and the custom soon spread to other countries. The OSODRE, the symphony orchestra here in Uruguay, had its beginning in 1931. Today, in all the world there are many hundreds of symphony orchestras, both professional and amateur, presenting music enjoyed by persons from all walks of life.
The rest interim has terminated and the orchestra is ready to begin playing. As the auditorium again resounds with thrilling symphonic music we are somehow hearing more than pleasing harmonious sound. We are hearing the clearly defined timbre of the individual instruments and the rich beauty of their blending. We are hearing the depths of the human heart expressed, as it were, through one magnificent instrument. And we are more fully comprehending the love of the Creator in gifting man with the ability to make music.
The Rout of Higher Criticism
An interesting letter was published in the September 1982 issue of Discovery, an English scientific publication. The letter is written by a man of science, Dr. T. R. Griffiths, who is associated with a college of science, the Northeast Technical College, Colchester, Essex, England. His letter points up the rout of higher criticism. The practice of using the word "myth" to describe the Bible book of Genesis, he writes, is "taking as a basis the form of thought known as Higher Criticism, a textual approach that has been under violent fire since the 1930's and is now generally abandoned." How is it that higher criticism, in England at least, has been "generally abandoned"? He writes: "Modern archaeological discoveries and research have been the cause of this, with the result that now convincing arguments can be advanced for believing that Genesis is based on accurately reported fact and is no myth; thus comparisons with truly mythical stories are meaningless."
What you should know about ALCOHOLISM
SUCCESSFUL young doctor had a happy home, lovely wife and
fine children. He also liked to drink, but, although he did so heavily, it did not unduly interfere with his work or family life. Then, after about fifteen years, his drinking began to cause difficulty. Often his wife would cover up for him and nurse him back to health after bad bouts. After the children married and his wife died, a swift decline into the depths of alcoholism followed, and it was not long before he joined the "jungle drinkers," roaming the streets in rags, sleeping under bridges and begging for pennies to buy drinks.
To the nonalcoholic it is probably inconceivable how a respectable human could sink so low, yet this is not an isolated case. Quite a number of the half million Skid Row derelicts in the United States have slid into oblivion after holding good positions in the business and professional world.
This does not mean, however, that alcoholics are confined to the homeless men who wander the streets begging for ten cents "for a cup of coffee." Contrary to popular opinion, the vast majority of alcoholics look no different from other persons. They may be people you see every day, including casual acquaintances or even close friends and relatives. Some persons, for example, have been known to hide alcoholic addiction from their marriage mates for many years.
An indication of the seriousness of the problem is revealed by the fact that alcoholism is ranked behind heart disease, cancer and mental illness as the United States'
No. 4 health problem. Many other countries are also plagued with an increase of alcoholism. France is reported to be the most alcoholic country, with 10 percent of its adult population involved, while South Africa, Chile and Australia have the dubious distinction of sharing second position with the United States, with 6 percent of their adult population involved.
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Who Are Alcoholics?
It is obvious that the majority of social drinkers, and even many who drink to drunkenness, are not alcoholics. So what distinguishes the millions of alcoholics from the other drinkers in the world? Definitions vary and are often very broad. For instance, according to the World Health Organization, alcoholism is "a chronic illness that manifests itself as a disorder of behavior. It is characterized by the repeated usage of alcoholic beverages to an extent that exceeds dietary use or compliance with social customs of the community and that interferes with the drinker's health or his economic or social functioning."
The so-called "illness" that an alcoholic suffers is a compulsion to drink. A normal drinker has control, and although some may purposely or inadvertently become drunk on occasions, they can stop or discontinue drinking whenever they want to.
They can choose to drink or not to drink at any time and on any occasion without difficulty. An alcoholic, on the other hand, has lost control. Once he has had a drink he continues to drink even though he may wish he could stop. He has lost the ability to choose in the matter of drinking, and this seems to be the nature of the "illness" called alcoholism. Unless arrested, it will drive its victim deeper and deeper into an abyss with but two outlets: insanity or death.
Why an Alcoholic?
Since some drinkers become alcoholics while others do not, what is it that is responsible for about one out of every fifteen drinkers in the U.S. developing alcoholism? It is not a matter of simply locating a virus or germ, for alcoholism is not caused by such organisms. There is much more to it, most of which is unknown, as Dr. Jack Mendelson of the Massachusetts General Hospital acknowledged: "Virtually everything has to be learned—we still don't know what causes alcoholism."
It is apparent that alcohol alone is not responsible, for many persons have used it all their lives without becoming alcoholic. In fact, among some alcohol-using peoples alcoholism is practically unknown. A combination of physiological, social and psychological factors is involved according to present thinking. Especially do the tensions, fears and strains of the present complex society seem to be a factor.
In order to obtain relief from the stress of modern-day living or to fill the vacuum in their lonely lives, many turn to alcohol. How common is the man that comes home from work and must have a few drinks in order to relax and put himself in a better frame of mind, or the woman that must
brace herself with several drinks to cope with the strains of the day! They feel that alcohol is a required part of daily living. Herein lies the danger. For whenever anyone regularly feels the need of a drink, it is a warning that that person may be drifting toward the whirlpool of alcoholism.
In this connection it is interesting that alcoholism has been induced in certain animals by subjecting them to a variety of frustrating situations and then giving them alcohol to relieve their stress, while, on the other hand, animals that were given alcohol under nonstress conditions were able either to take the liquor or to leave it.
Alcoholics come to depend upon alcohol as a cripple does his crutch. It fills a need, and they develop a strong compulsion to satisfy that need. In commenting on this, an internationally recognized authority on drinking problems, Dr. Marvin A. Block, noted: "The alcoholic does not drink for 'fum,' necessarily. He drinks to put himself in a different state of mind, and a more comfortable one for him. . . . He drinks [alcohol] excessively only to put himself into a situation or condition which is more tolerable to him than his life without it."
Coping with the Problem
Of course, most heavy drinkers will say that they have control and can stop anytime they want. They will deny that they feel a need for alcohol. Nevertheless, they continue to drink excessively despite the urgings of friends and relatives. If such persons were honest with themselves and really cared for the welfare of their family, they would be concerned about how much of an influence alcohol actually holds over them. An expert on the subject described how this can be checked.
It involves a test, easily passed even by a heavy drinker, but in which a true alcoholic invariably fails. For a period of at least six months set a limit on the number of drinks that are to be taken on the days one ordinarily drinks, that number not to exceed three or be less than one.
Absolutely no exceptions are to be made during this test period. By exercising self-control heavy drinkers do not find it difficult to limit their number of drinks, but an alcoholic finds it next to impossible to do so. Therefore, if a person cannot pass this test, if he fails just once, whether he is willing to admit it or not, he is one of the fast-increasing crowd of alcoholics.
If one should discover that he has trouble controlling his drinking, then what? Do not rationalize or make excuses. Admit that the use of alcohol has become a problem, and then do something. Actually, there is only one thing to do: Stop using alcohol altogether! Get it out of the house. Avoid company and places where it is served. Acknowledge that controlled drinking is presently impossible, and so abstain completely. Let absolutely nothing turn you from the resolve never to take a drink again!
It is generally agreed that this is the best way to lick the problem. With few exceptions those that have sought to drink normally again have gravitated to compulsive, uncontrolled drinking. It is a case of one drink's being too many and a hundred not being enough. While such a situation may be impossible for a nonalcoholic to understand, he should recognize that this is the nature of alcoholism, and so do all that is possible to assist the alcoholic to abstain.
Listen to Criticism
Just because one is presently able to control his heavy drinking, that does not mean that there is no danger. There is! Many of those who are alcoholics drank heavily for many years without any trouble, then somewhere along the line, before they realized it, they were "hooked." As Dr. Block explained: "There is no sharp line of demarcation between the heavy social drinker and the alcoholic. As a matter of fact, it's a rather hazy area where he slips from one into the other unknowingly."
So now is the time to give the matter serious consideration, not later. Especially is this true if others who care for you have expressed concern over your heavy drinking. They probably have something to be concerned about, so listen. Remember, sensitivity about one's drinking and making excuses for it are indications that one is flirting with alcoholism. Do not be stubborn. NOW, when one has a measure of control left, is the time to make changes in one's drinking habits. Do not conclude that, since only beer or wine are consumed, there is no danger; a person can become an alcoholic on those beverages also.
Dangers of Social Drinking
In many places today there is greater and greater pressure to drink, and in these localities practically everywhere one goes he is offered some type of alcoholic beverage. This is not to imply that all use of alcoholic beverages is wrong. It is not. But when every occasion is used as an excuse to drink, and often to drink heavily, some persons may become intoxicated. This occurs so often at worldly gatherings that drunkenness is now almost accepted as normal party behavior. According to some authorities, this tolerant attitude toward drunkenness is one of the greatest contributing factors to alcoholism. But there are immediate dangers as well.
A person that has been drinking will do things that he would refrain from doing while sober. Because inhibitions are lowered he may become overly familiar with another man's wife, or with some single woman. This often leads to more intimate relations.
Yes, adultery and fornication are usually flavored with alcohol!
Alcohol also contributes to an amazing amount of crime. It is estimated that the police in the United States spend 75 percent of their time handling people who have been drinking excessively. A survey of over 1,600 male prisoners in an eastern penitentiary showed that two-thirds of them were alcoholics, and of 900 women prisoners studied, nearly half were alcoholics! There is no question that alcohol and crime go hand in hand.
But perhaps one of the greatest dangers lies in driving an automobile after having two or more drinks. It is estimated that half of the 38,200 deaths on American highways in 1960 were at least tainted by alcohol, if not directly caused by it! And just recently a study of 633 accidents in California, the United States' most alcoholic state, showed that in 62 percent of them alcohol was a factor.
The Christian Position
Overindulgence by an immoderate population has caused many persons to view alcohol as a very dangerous beverage. They have seen it turn the lives of fine, happy people into a wretched, miserable existence. Perhaps their own homes have been devastated by alcohol. For such reasons they may be concerned when they see others imbibing alcohol so freely, and their concern is justified.
While it is true that moderate use of alcohol is not condemned by the Scriptures, and Christians do not criticize others for moderate use of it, many warnings are contained in the Bible relative to overindulgence. "Do not come to be among heavy drinkers of wine." "Wine and sweet wine are what take away good motive." "Woe to those who are getting up early in the morning that they may seek just intoxicating liquor, who are lingering till late in the evening darkness so that wine itself inflames them!" The Scriptures certainly show that there is good reason for concern when one drinks heavily. In fact, they warn: "Do not be misled. Neither fornicators. . . . nor drunkards . . . will inherit God's kingdom."—Prov. 23:20; Hos. 4:11; Isa. 5:11; 1 Cor. 6:9, 10.
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