Awake!, January 8, 1967

Download: PDF — Awake!, January 8, 1967

Awake!

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 interest. "Awakel" 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 "Awakel" is not narrow, but is International. "Awakel" 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 "Awake!" presents vital topics on which you should be informed. It 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 faes 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!"

1 H = H H = H H = H

PUBLISHED SENIORAUGUSTLY IN THE UNITED STATES BY THE WATCHTOWER BIBLE AND TRACT SOCIETY OF NEW YORK, INC.

117 Adams Street Brooklyn, N.Y. 11201, U.S.A.

London N.W. 7, England

GRANT SUITER, Secretary

Average printing each issue: 4,475,000

44 a copy (Australia, Sec. South Africa, 3½s)

Early subscription rates

Offered by eight editions

America, U.S. 117 Adams Street, Brooklyn, N.Y. 11291 $1

Australia, 11 St. Edinburgh, St. N.W. $1

Canada, 150 Bridgegate Ave, Toronto, 18 Oct. $1

The Dickeyway, London, N.W. 7

7/8 New Zealand, 62 New North Ed., Auckland S.W. 1

7/8 South Africa, Private Bag 2, P.O. Elmstreet, N.W. 7/8

(Monthly editions not half the annual rates)

Rewrites rates for subscriptions should be sent to the office in

New York, NY, or your current address.

Hours of expiration is sent at least two business day

subscription expires.

Now published in 26 languages

Santipathiam - Arthanam, Ceylanan, Dandah, Dutch, English, Flankan, French, German, Greek, Iceland, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Norwegian, Portuguese, Spanish, Swedish, Tagalog, Zulu.

Monthly—Chinese, Ciyanja, Killagann, Malayalam, Polish,

Tamil, Ukrainian.

GRANGES OF ADDRESS will reach us thirty days before your moving date. Give us your old and new address and address to whom you want to move. Waltown Tower, Waltown Tower House, The Ridgeway, London W. M. 7, England.

Entered as second-class matter at Brooklyn, N.Y.

Printed in England

The Bible translation regularly used in "Awaken" is the New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures, 1961 edition. When other translations are used, this is clearly marked.

CONTENTS

The Money Crisis 3

How Safe Is Your Money? 7

Things Money Cannot Buy 12

Serve with What You Have 15

Ghana's Supreme Court Upholds

Freedom of Worship 16

Wood Carving and the Wakamba 18

The Religious Background 20

The Lovable Gibbon 21

Asia's Biggest Cat 23

Naval Might versus The Wind 24

"Your Word Is Truth"

What Happens to a Person

When He Dies? 27

Watching the World 29

The MONEY CRISIS

AT THE end of a month do you sit down with a stack of bills and sort out those you can pay now from those that will have to wait. Do you find that, no matter how much you earn each year, you never seem able to get out of debt? Is your family living from paycheck to paycheck, with little or no cash reserve in the bank? This situation has become so common that a dangerous economic condition has developed.

The average family has too much debt. It is spending too much and saving too little. The personal debt of many American families exceeds 60 percent of their income after taxes. In fact, private and public debt in the United States in 1965 was 1,450,700,000,000, the highest in history. In 1955 it was786,400,000,000, which means that it has nearly doubled in ten years. The private and public debt for Great Britain reached over £55,000,000,-000 in 1964, but in 1965 the public debt alone exceeded £56,000,000,000.

It seems that too many families have no idea what they can afford and so pile one debt upon another until their debts

become a crushing burden. If all their creditors were to ask for the money due them at one time, these families would not know what to do. When Christmas comes, their debt problem does not stop them from going still farther into debt in order to celebrate the holiday with extravagant gift giving. One young family considered itself fortunate to keep the cost of the Christmas celebration to $600, even though this overextended their finances. It is not unusual for banks to report an increase in credit delinquencies after Christmas because people are snowed un-

der with Christmas bills they cannot afford.

The majority of American debtors do not have sufficient liquid assets, that is, cash or something that can be quickly and easily converted to cash, to cover their debts. One-third of all families that annually earn between 5,000 and7,500 and almost one-fourth of those that make up to-10,000 a year have no assets in the bank. It has been estimated that nearly a third of all American families have less than500 they could readily put their hands on.

BANKRUPTCIES

That living on credit has become a way of life for far too many families is indicated by the way consumer credit for such things as automobiles, personal loans, charge accounts, and so forth, has shot up since 1940. In that year the consumer credit that was outstanding was over 8,000,000,000. In 1966 it was over87,000,000,000, more than ten times as much. Too many people today are up to their necks in debt, with years of their future income already spent. What would happen to them if a recession came along and the wage earner lost his job?

With so many families in an overextended position, a downturn in business could snowball into an extremely serious situation for the nation's economy. Foreclosures and bankruptcies would skyrocket. Already the rate of foreclosures is the highest since the 1930's, even though this is a time of prosperity. In 1955 there were 28,529 foreclosures of nonfarm real estate. In 1965 this figure jumped to 116,664.

Personal bankruptcies are now being filed in record numbers. They have increased every year since 1955. In that year 59,404 bankruptcies were filed, but in

1965 this number had more than tripled, to 180,323. In Canada, 1965 was the fourth consecutive year in which bankruptcies had risen.

Obviously too many people are making unwise use of credit, leaving no margin for emergencies. They are living to the very limit of their incomes and, in some cases, beyond that limit. If you are in this position, you are laying yourself open for real trouble.

Tight Money

Indications that economic trouble may lie ahead are in the rising interest rates and the tightening of credit. Not since the 1920's has credit been so costly and difficult to get as in recent months. This makes it difficult for individuals as well as businesses to borrow money even for necessary things.

In nearly every Western European country interest rates have reached historic heights. In Canada the rates have followed those of the United States. In India and Australia they have been steadily climbing. In Germany some companies cannot borrow money at any price.

The supply of lendable funds in American banks has dwindled because of tight credit to such an extent that banks are forced to say "No" to more and more customers.

Savings and loan associations, which are savings organizations that specialize in home financing and in which depositors are shareholders, have experienced a severe drop in money coming into them. In the first seven months of 1966 the flow of money into savings and loan associations was 568,000,000 as compared with3,700,000,000 during the same period in 1965. Thus persons with houses for sale are having difficulty selling them, and persons wanting to buy houses are finding it exceptionally difficult to borrow money to buy them.

This has already resulted in a slump of 26 percent in residential construction in the United States. As a consequence unemployment among construction workers is rising. Some contractors are making drastic cuts in their work forces. Many workers in the lumber industry are also being laid off.

Some persons fear that if this condition of tight money continues for very long in the United States, the American economy could be thrown into a tailspin. More and more financial analysts are talking about

a recession. If one does come, it is the debt-ridden family that will be really hurt. Commenting on the possibility of a recession, the magazine Financial World of October 12, 1966, observed: "Tight money and unusually high interest rates invariably choke off a business boom and precipitate a downturn. The most severe recessions or depressions of the last hundred years—those occurring in 1873-79, 1907-08, 1920-21 and 1929-33—began after money rates had skyrocketed."

We have been experiencing such skyrocketing rates again.

Wage earners in Britain are also faced with the problems of a recession resulting from the government's austerity program. Widespread layoffs are taking place in the British automobile industry as a result of tight credit that is causing a sharp drop in auto sales. The downturn in the country's economy is creating hardships for persons carrying a heavy load of debt.

Balance of Payments

The long-standing problem the United States is having with its balance of payments is not helping the economic situation in the least. In every year since 1950, except for 1957, the country has had a deficit in its international balance of payments; it has had to pay but to foreign countries more than it has taken in. This has caused a heavy drain on its gold supply.

Since 1957 the stock of gold held by the United States has dropped from 22,800,-000,000 to13,300,000,000, a loss of about 41 percent. In September 1966 it was at its lowest level since September 7, 1938. The outflow of gold can weaken foreign confidence in the soundness of the dollar.

This is an international problem that affects, not only governments, but individuals, because an economic austerity program is usually necessary to correct an unfavorable balance in international payments.

That means tight credit, reduction in government spending, higher taxes and possibly wage controls. This is the course Britain is following to correct its serious balance-of-payments problem, and the result has been deflation, falling business profits and rising unemployment. Each wage earner that is laid off in Britain is feeling directly the effects of the national problem. It became so serious before the country launched its austerity program that confidence in the British pound became dangerously weak. Expecting it to be devalued, foreigners were not anxious to hold it as a reserve currency. The same thing can happen with the dollar if the American balance of payments worsens.

Continued trade deficits and signs of inflation in the United States are giving some Europeans reasons to fear that the dollar will eventually be devalued. If it does happen, other countries holding many billions of American dollars will be hurt seriously. For this reason some European countries prefer to hold gold in their reserves instead of large amounts of dollars. So they exchange a certain percentage of dollars for gold, which causes the drain on American gold reserves. To raise the price of gold so as to make it last longer is the same as devaluing the dollar. Since the dollar holds such an important place in international monetary affairs, its devaluation would badly shake the economic stability of the entire Western world.

Another country having trouble with its balance of payments is the United Arab Republic. During the first six months of 1966 its imports rose to 564 million and its exports dropped to377 million. This

persistent imbalance of trade has put a squeeze on the country's reserves, causing it to make repeated sales of gold that is used to back Egyptian currency. These gold sales indicate that the country is in serious financial difficulties that are certain to have an economic impact upon Egyptian families.

With regard to the economic situation in the United States, William McChesney Martin, Jr., chairman of the Federal Reserve Board, pointed out that there are disquieting similarities to the economic situation of the 1920's. Among other things, in 1965 he said: "Then, as now, the payments position of the main reserve center—Britain then and the United States now—was uneasy, to say the least; but, again, our recent cumulative payments deficits have far exceeded Britain's deficits of the late '20s. . . . If the dollar is to continue to play its role in international commerce, world confidence in its stability must be fully maintained. The world must be convinced that we are resolved to eliminate the long-persistent deficit in our balance of international payments."

What does all this mean to you? It means that the money crisis is putting your financial affairs in jeopardy.

Is a Recession Unavoidable?

Sharp differences of opinion swirl about the question of a recession. The chief economist of the Bank of America does not believe that a recession is due. "Our country," he said, "is not in serious economic trouble. The economy now faces neither galloping inflation nor recession, although isolated symptoms of both will be evident through the year."

Taking an opposite view, stock-market analyst E. George Schaefer warned, on July 30, 1966, that the stock market in the United States was headed for a bear market, a time when the trend of stock prices is down.

He said: "Our own economy and the stock market face the same type of tightening-up that Britain has already moved towards. All of this means that we are going to have some kind of a serious bear market ahead." He believes the drop the stock market experienced from February 1966 to September was the beginning of that bear market. He even has expressed the view that the nation may experience a depression.

Fear of a possible depression was also voiced by former President Harry S. Truman in August 1966, when he said: "What is more likely to happen [rather than inflation] is that we will bring on a precipitous deflation if we perist in high interest practices. The result could be a serious depression." That, of course, could bring financial ruin to heavily indebted families.

Whether the economy of the United States or of the Western world plunges into a recession, or a depression, remains to be seen. The best course for you under the circumstances is to put your financial house in order. Trim your expenses so you are living within your income. Avoid unwise use of credit. Examine your debts to see how they can be reduced. Spend money carefully. Institute a policy of thrift.

HOW SAFE IS Your Money?

CHANCES are you work hard for your money, and when you have a little reserve saved up you want to keep it in a safe place. Where do you put it—in a bank, in stocks, in real estate, in a mattress or buried in a metal box? No matter where you put it, the big question is, How safe is it?

A bank is the usual place where people put money for safekeeping, and banks have established a fine record of safety, but that does not mean you cannot lose money you deposit in them. If you live in a country where bank deposits are not government insured, or have money on deposit in such a bank, conditions might arise that could cause you to lose your life's savings. This was clearly

shown as recently as October 14, 1966.

On that day the largest bank in the country of Lebanon, Intra Bank, failed. When big depositors began withdrawing large sums of money, it was unable to produce enough cash to meet the demand. It had to close its doors. Panicky depositors milled around the doors, hoping in vain to draw out their savings. Thirteen days later people were still gathering around the bank, angrily shouting, "We want our money!"

In New York city, American depositors in a branch of Intra Bank were just as shocked at the bank's failure. A young woman with 500 in the bank had to cancel a vacation trip. A man with over1,000 on deposit said he had heard nothing from the bank.

What chances do they have of getting their money?

There are possibilities that the depositors may get some, and perhaps all, of their money back, but the matter is still uncertain. One possibility is that the bank may negotiate funds with several foreign banks so it can open its doors. Another possibility is that the Lebanese government will come to the rescue of the small depositors by making available $17 million to safeguard their savings. Still another is sale of the assets of the bank, but that could take years because of involved legal battles.

Other Bank Failures

In the early 1930's a number of American banks failed and many people never recovered their lost savings. Austria's Creditanstalt failed in 1931, marking the beginning of an international financial breakdown. However, the story was somewhat different during the first ten months of 1966 when seven American banks failed. Government insurance protected the savings that people had put in those banks.

In Canada the respected British Mortgage and Trust Company failed in June 1965, but, fortunately for the depositors, the company was merged with another trust company, and this action safeguarded their money. But shareholders in the defunct trust company lost heavily. One said: "I thought having its stock was like owning gold. Now I've lost everything."

It is well to keep in mind that a bank is much more than a repository for keeping money safe. It is a lending institution that uses the money you deposit in order to make loans and investments. It is actually your debtor, and your bankbook is its I.O.U. As long as it has sufficient cash assets it can make good its I.O.U. whenever you want to withdraw your money, because not everyone usually wants his money at the same time. While some are withdrawing money others are putting money in. What puts a serious strain on a bank is when everyone wants his money at once, as they did in the early 1930's.

Some banks are not as cautious as others in the way they make loans and are not as well managed. These factors contributed to the failure of the bank in Lebanon. It made speculative investments and unwisely used money that could be demanded on short notice for long-term investments. Laxity in loaning money appears to be the basic reason for the failure of the seven American banks as well as of several savings and loan associations and finance companies. Too many dubious loans were made. Commenting on this, The Wall Street Journal of October 24, 1966, said: "When enough laxity is present, not only the businesses and banks concerned but the whole economy can risk trouble. Overextension in a boom is a classic invitation to recession."

Is Your Money Safe in a Bank?

In the United States the deposits in most banks and savings and loan associations are insured by the government against loss up to $15,000. This is a protection for depositors against loss,/but in other countries where this insurance does not exist, there is the chance of waking up some morning and finding that your bank has failed and your savings are gone.

When the Public Bank of Detroit failed in 1966—the largest American bank to fall since the 1930's—it was immediately taken over by the Government's Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, which merged it with a sound bank. The depositors lost nothing and continued to have free access to their money. Knowledge of this safeguard has made public confidence in American banks much stronger than it was in the 1930's.

A similar provision exists for savings and loan associations. Money placed in them is insured by the Government's Federal Savings and Loan Insurance Corporation. But even in these Government-insured institutions there is a certain amount of risk for your money.

If the American economy should experience a financial debacle, as some financial

analysts believe to be a real possibility, the banks will be put under a severe strain as people

scramble for liquid assets such as cash. It will not then be a matter of an isolated bank or savings and loan association that will be in trouble. On this point the magazine

Financial World of October 12, 1966, observed:

"Particular concern currently is voiced about the threat the liquidity crisis poses for financial institutions. Banks, loaned to

tees have been extended to many transactions. . . . A special report from the Treasury shows that these guaranteed debts and other obligations now come to more than 347 billion dollars [347,000,-000,000], which the Government promises to pay if those holding deposits or owing on loans default. This is in addition to more than 316 billion [316,000,000,000] in public debt owed by the Treasury."

the hilt, are in poor position to withstand any large-scale withdrawals. But savings and loans, with most of their huge assets in long term mortgages, would find themselves in most serious straits should the public suddenly decide it wants its savings."

Under such circumstances there is reason to question the ability of the Government's insurance

agencies to meet the demand for protection of deposits in banks and savings and loan associations. The demand could overwhelm their assets.

In December 1964 the magazine U.S. News & World Report made this thoughtprovoking statement: "Federal guaran-

The reserves held by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation are about 2,800,000,000 as insurance for192,000,000,000 in bank deposits, and there are only $1,200,000,000 of reserves held by the Federal Sav

ings and Loan Insurance Corporation against $88,000,000,000 deposited in savings and loan associations.

A mass demand for cash by the public could soon deplete those reserves.

The insurance agencies could call upon the Treasury for a certain amount of additional funds, and, in a grave emergency, Congress would probably pump more Federal funds into them.

But the nagging question is, Would the Government be able to supply enough funds during a financial crisis of grave proportions and a general demand for cash in view of the huge sum it is guaranteeing?

Is Your Money Safe in Securities?

There is a much higher risk of loss when money is put into securities than when it is put into a bank. This is due to the fluctuating nature of the securities market. It can descend rapidly when there are fears of a setback in business. In fact, the stock market in the United States dropped 25.2 percent from February 1966 to October, with some stocks losing as much as 50 to 60 percent of their

value. An eventual further descent is foreseen by some stock-market analysts who believe there will be an ultimate market collapse that may equal or exceed the market crash of 1929. There are other analysts, however, who take a more optimistic view.

It is claimed that if a person buys securities of well-established firms at regular intervals and in regular amounts, the cyclical ups and downs of the market average out his investment so that he comes out ahead in the long run. But even then his money is not safe, because business reverses, especially during an economic downturn, can throw companies into bankruptcy. Then, too, if he is pressed for cash he might have to sell securities when they

STOCK MARKET AVERAGES

are down in price and so take a substantial loss.

Real Estate and Cash

Money put into real estate is not entirely safe either. As long as there is a boom in real estate, money invested in it does well, but when the boom ends the value of real estate recedes. The time comes when there are more houses and other property for sale than there are buyers who are able to get the money to buy them.

In 1962 when several thousand workers in an aircraft plant were laid off their jobs, they found that the money they had invested in real estate was "frozen"; they could not sell the property. Too many homes were for sale in their area. During a

serious downturn in the economy, money invested in real estate could be of little help to a person in need of cash to pay his debts. He would have difficulty converting it into cash, and if he did succeed, he would probably have to sell at a much lower price than what he paid for it. But if he could manage his debts without the money that he had tied up in property, he could hold on in the hope that property values would eventually come back up.

Of course, a person could always keep his money in the form of cash, and there would be no danger of his assets becoming "frozen" so that he could not use them when he needed them. However, this is very risky. Cash can be stolen. It may be reasonably safe in a safety deposit box in a bank, but even the safety deposit boxes in a Montreal bank were riffled by thieves in 1961.

If money is hidden in a mattress, a cookie jar, a box or a can, there is always the danger that thieves may get it. There is the case of a sixty-nine-year-old balloon peddler who thought his life's savings of $40,000 were safe in the ash bin of an old stove in his apartment, but thieves found the money and made off with it.

Inflation

Another strong reason why cash is not really safe is the devaluating effect inflation has on it. Even a mild inflation of one or two percent a year can deteriorate the purchasing power of money over a long period of time. As inflation eats it away, cash savings become worth less and less each year. A dollar hidden away in 1940 and spent in 1966 would buy less than one-half as much as when it was hidden. During 1965 the Consumer Price Index in Belgium and the Netherlands increased at the annual rate of between 5 to 6 percent or more. Argentina has been experiencing a 30-percent annual rise in prices. Within a short time such inflationary rises cut down the value of your money.

A classic example of what runaway inflation (far worse than creeping inflation) can do to the value of cash is pointed out in the book Money and Economic Activity by Houghton Mifflin. It states: "In Germany at the end of 1923 it took 1,200,400,-000,000 paper marks to buy what only 35 marks could purchase just two years earlier, and in Hungary it took 1.4 nonillion pengoes to buy in 1946 what only one pengo could obtain in 1938. (One nonillion equals 1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,-000,000.)"

In China during the civil war of the 1940's, Chinese money that was worth one United States dollar lost its value in five years to the point where it was worth only about five-trillionths of a cent. That is the toll that runaway inflation takes.

Think what hardship any kind of inflation brings upon persons depending upon fixed incomes such as pensions, bonds and certain types of life insurance. Think what a disappointment it brings to the person who believes his money is safe when kept in the form of cash.

In answer to the question, How safe is your money?, the conclusion that must be drawn is that there is no truly safe place for it. Even if you could exchange it for gold, it would still not be really safe, because of the constant danger of thievery. So, what can you do about it? Use good judgment in caring for it, but do not worry yourself into a case of ulcers over it. It is true that money plays an important role in daily living, but no amount of money is worth the loss of health and loss of the joy of living that so often go with worry about it. There are more important things for which to live.

A FIFTY-TWO-YEAR-OLD man stood ankle-deep in snow one morning looking at what was left of his factory. It had burned to the ground. As he stood looking at the smoldering heap of ashes, he said to his wife: "There are all our hopes, all our savings and all our starry-eyed plans. Well, I guess we've lost everything."

"Yes, everything," was the bitter reply.

"There is no hope. I'm too old to start all over again."

"Everything?" asked a friend standing nearby.

"But isn't that your wife?" the friend asked.

"Yes, and she's a good woman," was the answer.

"You have a wonderful wife, devoted children, friends, neighbors, your health, and you say you have lost everything. Suppose you lost these instead of your factory; then how would you feel?" inquired the friend.

The owner suddenly realized that through the years he had become,so engrossed in making a living that he lost sight of the things that count most in life, things money cannot buy.

A Protection, but Not to Be Loved

Money, nevertheless, is so important in meeting our immediate needs that we may be inclined to forget that 'life does not result from the things we possess,' as Jesus Christ said. (Luke 12:15) Often this truth is not appreciated until one is at death's door, but then it is too late to benefit fully from that realization.

There is no need, however, to condemn money itself. The Bible does not do that. In fact, it emphasizes its value. "Money is for a protection," it says. (Eccl. 7:12) And we can appreciate the truthfulness of this, for it is almost impossible to take care of the feeding, clothing and housing of oneself and one's family today without money. In many parts of the world money buys facilities such as piped water, electricity and heat, transportation and hospital care, and it is not wrong to use money to obtain these things.

What the Bible does condemn is the love of money, the determination to be rich. An apostle of Jesus Christ stated: "Those who are determined to be rich fall into temptation and a snare and many senseless and hurtful desires, which plunge men into destruction and ruin. For the love of money is a root of all sorts of injurious things." (1 Tim. 6:9, 10) Such love makes people cold and heartless; they will do anything for money, but show little concern for their fellowmen. They are not happy people, and they certainly bring no happiness to others.

The Balanced Viewpoint

Nevertheless, money has a place in life and it is well to grant it its proper place. But to make money one's primary goal is the greatest folly, because money falls at the very moment when human needs are greatest. For example, when life is engulfed in sorrow because of loss of a loved one in death, what can money do to wipe away that sorrow? When youth fades and old age sets in, what can money do to restore one's lost youthful vigor?

When health fails, what joy, hope or satisfaction is there in knowing that one's vault is filled with money? Jesus Christ asked this searching question: "What benefit will it be to a man if he gains the whole world but forfeits his soul? or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?" (Matt. 16:26) Yes, what will you give for your life as a human soul?

The sensible thing is to realize that money has limitations, that it cannot buy

everything and that there are things far more valuable than money. Life is not to be compared with money. You cannot buy life with money; for that you must

in his mind that, what little wealth fails to give, great wealth will accomplish. Hence he hungers for more. That hunger increases as it is indulged in. With his wealth he can buy goods, but not happiness.

American statesman Benjamin Franklin truthfully observed: "Money never made a man happy yet, nor will it. There is nothing in its nature to produce happiness. The more a man has, the more he wants. Instead of its filling a vacuum, it makes one. If it satisfies one want, it

ARTICLES IN THE NEXT ISSUE

• Religion and the Bible in Communist Russia.

What Makes a Good Secretary?

The Chiropractor—Cultist or Curer?

look to God. Nor can money buy a child's devotion, a mother's affection, a father's compassion.

Friendliness is Contagious.

If you were blind, living your days in darkness, what would you give to be able to see? How much would it be worth to see your family and friends? What price for a glorious sunset, for a chance to see a flower grow and blossom?

Block out all sound from your ears someday. It is shocking how empty and lonely a place this earth can suddenly become without the pleasant words of a loved one, the sound of laughter, the voice of a child, the song of birds, the enjoyment of music and the hum of everyday life. Even the sound of your own voice is a reassuring treasure. Yet the joy of hearing is something money cannot buy.

The Bible speaks of "the deceptive power of riches." (Matt. 13:22) It is deceptive because the one who seeks it usually fails to realize its limitations. He is deceived, because he never finds in riches the satisfaction that he seeks. He falsely assumes

doubles and trebles that want another way. That was a true proverb of the wise man, rely upon it: 'Better is little with the fear of the Lord than great treasure and trouble therewith.'" That proverb came from the Bible.

Spiritual Treasures That Money

Cannot Buy

Treasures such as spiritual wisdom and understanding of God's Word and purpose bring genuine happiness. Declares Proverbs 3:13, 14: "Happy is the man that has found wisdom, and the man that gets discernment, for having it as gain is better than having silver as gain and having it as produce than gold itself."

Better than gold, the spiritual treasure of divine wisdom can restore happiness to the most depressed persons. One man lost all purpose in living when his seventeen-year-old son died. But after he began a study of the Bible with the Christian witnesses of Jehovah, this man's mother wrote: "He used to say, 'What's the use—I have no purpose for living now.' But since he's been studying the Bible, he can eat, and best of all, he has a hope for the future." A twenty-eight-year-old nurse suffered a mental breakdown while studying for examinations.

Her prosperous parents spent much money on psychiatric treatment. When she threatened suicide, a doctor declared her a hopeless case. After the failure of all that money could buy in the way of medical science, this woman began a study of the Bible. Her health picked up immediately, and friends were amazed. "I now have something to live for," she explained to her perplexed doctor as she told him about God's new order of righteousness. Money cannot buy the wisdom and discernment that bring true happiness.

Nor can money buy the fruiture of God's holy spirit. Describing this spiritual treasure, the Bible says: "The fruiture of the spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faith, mildness, self-control." (Gal. 5:22, 23) Think what it means to have these qualities! For instance, how rewarding it is to have inner peace and serenity, the knowledge that one has God's approval! In this day of worldwide strife, having the "peace of God that excels all thought" is precious indeed, for it will "guard your hearts and your mental powers by means of Christ Jesus." (Phil. 4:7) None of the fruits of God's spirit can be bought with money. They can be obtained only by shunning the money-loving spirit of this world and by conforming to God's will, by prayer to God for his holy spirit, letting this new force actuate one's mind.—1 Cor. 2:12-15; Luke 11:13.

Another spiritual treasure of surpassing value is the joy of aiding others to learn God's truth and to see the change it brings in their lives. One young woman, on learning God's purpose as set out in the Bible, realized that she was making a mistake in applying all her efforts to getting ahead financially. She changed her course in life, began to spend time, as well as some of

her money, in aiding others to study the Bible. Now she says: "I have something that money cannot buy, and that is peace of mind and Jehovah's blessing." Truly, the greater happiness comes from giving, for the Lord Jesus Christ himself said: "There is more happiness in giving than there is in receiving." The joy and blessing of aiding others especially in a spiritual way make one rich than any amount of money could: "The blessing of Jehovah—that is what makes rich, and he adds no pain with it."—Acts 20:35; Prov. 10:22.

And what sum of money can compare with the spiritual treasure of the prospect of everlasting life? Money, of course, cannot buy life even in this system of things, much less everlasting life in God's new order. Yet this is God's promise to those who love him and do his will; it is the "hope of the everlasting life which God, who cannot lie, promised before times long lasting." (Titus 1:2; 1 John 2:17) And concerning this hope the apostle Paul wrote to Timothy: "Get a firm hold on the everlasting life." He called life everlasting "the real life." (1 Tim. 6:12, 19) Showing why money cannot buy "the real life." Jesus Christ said: "God loved the world so much that he gave his only-begotten Son, in order that everyone exercising faith in him might not be destroyed but have everlasting life." (John 3:16) Can money buy faith? No, and neither can money buy the gift of everlasting life on a paradise earth, after this system of things comes to its end.

When Money Is Passé

Jesus Christ warns that the money of this system of things is destined to become a thing of the past, utterly worthless. Wisely, then, he told his disciples: "Use your worldly wealth to win friends for yourselves, so that when money is a thing of the past you may be received into an eternal home."

(Luke 16:9, The New English Bible) This time is near at hand, for soon now God's kingdom will crush the power-hungry nations of the earth, putting "an end to all these kingdoms," and God's kingdom will stand forever.—Dan. 2:44.

Gone, then, will be the value of this world's money, both for the dead and for the survivors! So the wise thing to do is to heed Jesus' counsel and use a portion of one's material wealth to glorify God. We can do that by sharing with others the good news of God's kingdom, by helping others to obtain spiritual treasures. This does not mean that God's gifts can be bought with money. No, indeed! No favor of God can be purchased with money. Acts 8:20.

But while we still live in this system of things, money has a place in life. It can be used, not only to care for our material needs, but to defray our expenses as we help others with their spiritual needs. And as we have learned, the things of the most enduring value are the ones that money cannot buy. What are you doing, then, to gain these superior riches? You, no doubt, work hard to get money; such hard work is a part of life. But are you applying yourself even more diligently to get the spiritual riches that are worth so much more than money? Such diligence leads to "the real life," which money cannot buy.

Serve with What You Have

WRITING to the Christians in ancient Corinth about the contributions they were making, the apostle Paul presented a fine principle. He wrote: "If the readiness is there first, it is especially acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what a person does not have." (2 Cor. 8:12) How does that apply to you? Think about your physical and mental abilities. Do you serve God with what you have?

Youths, most probably you have health, vigor and initiative. You can well ask yourself, "Do I serve God with what I have?"

You that are older, advanced in years, think of what you have—the knowledge and wisdom of years, the patience and experience of the mature, the balance of the educated. Though your resources in a physical way may not be equal to younger ones, do you serve God with what you have?

Recently the presiding minister of a congregation of Jehovah's witnesses in Oregon sent to the Watch Tower Society a contribution. He explained that it was from a brother who had recently died. Then he made these comments about the brother:

"Larry was twenty-three years old when he died, and over a number of years had become weaker and weaker with muscular dystrophy. In spite of this, he was able to finish high

school by means of regular visits from a tutor. During this time he kept up with his Bible study and with the congregation meetings, preparing beforehand, whether able to attend the meetings or not. For a time he was able to come to meetings in a wheelchair, but during the last years it was not possible for him to associate in this way. He continued to be enrolled in the Theocratic Ministry School, however, and used a tape recorder to record his talks. Afterward he would receive counsel, by means of the same tape.

"No, Larry was not idle. He used what means he had to preach the good news. He wrote letters, making return calls and conducting studies by mail. He also used his phone constantly as a means of witnessing.

"His optimism was a source of strength to many. He didn't complain—was always concerned about others. Larry longed to walk and run, and was always looking forward to life on the earth under the Kingdom reign. We feel sure he will have such an opportunity in the new system of things.

"Those of us who have reasonably good health can certainly do much in the Kingdom work. When we see the course of such faithful ones as Larry, it makes us realize how much we can accomplish with the resources we have."

PAUL and Edmund are young school-boys who are being raised by God-fearing parents and guardians. Paul, while small in stature and somewhat shy, is friendly to all; Edmund, the younger of the two, is more outgoing and expressive. However, with regard to worship of Jehovah God and belief in his Word the Holy Bible, both boys express a deep faith, and they are active in the local congregation of Jehovah's witnesses at Abodom, Ghana. Edmund put it this way: "We are quite concerned about being obedient to our heavenly Father, even if this means that we will have difficulties with rules made by men."

Face to Face with the Challenge

As Paul and Edmund gathered with the rest of their schoolmates in the schoolyard on March 9, 1964, little did they realize that their obedience to Jehovah and their faith in him were to be brought under test. The flag was hoisted and the children around them raised their hands and recited the pledge as part of the morning exercises. But the Bible-trained consciences of these two youths would not permit them to participate in these actions. So, according to their custom, they stood quietly in line out of respect for the flag and the rights of others.

Paul explained: "We cannot do so because it is against our belief and we feel it is like giving worship to another god." Edmund drew attention to the Bible, quoting from the book of Daniel (chapter 3): "We follow the example of the three Hebrews when they were commanded, You fall down and worship the image of gold

After the group of students was dismissed to their classes, the two young Witnesses were called to the office of the head teacher. A demand was made for them to explain why they had refused to raise their hands when the flag was hoisted.

that Nebuchadnezzar the king has set up.' They knew they could suffer death for refusal and yet they said, 'The image of gold that you have set up we will not worship.' "

The two boys attempted to show the head teacher that they had respect for the symbol of the state. Attention was directed to Exodus 20:4, 5: "You must not make for yourself a carved image or a form like anything that is in the heavens above or that is on the earth underneath or that is in the waters under the earth. You must not bow down to them nor be induced to serve them, because I Jehovah your God am a God exacting exclusive devotion." Despite the annoyance of the head teacher, Paul and Edmund abided by this principle regarding worship and steadfastly refused to render an act that they conscientiously considered to be a form of worship that should be reserved for Jehovah God alone.

The head teacher, however, accused them of intending to insult the flag and turned them over to executive members of the then government [C.P.P.] party. The boys, their parents and guardians were called upon to explain their stand before these political officials and also before the local chief and his elders. Matters were put into the hands of the police, and it was only a few hours until Paul and Edmund found themselves under arrest and charged with "insulting the National Flag and Emblem" contrary to law.

Before the Juvenile Court

Counsel was arranged by the Watch Tower Society, through its Ghana branch, and the two young schoolboys came before a district magistrate on October 8, 1964. Once again opportunity was given them to show from the Bible the reasons for their faith. Substantial evidence was submitted to show that the Ghana Constitution supported freedom of worship and that the stand taken by the young Witnesses was not meant to insult the flag of Ghana. Notable cases from Canada and the United States, where courts have protected the religious beliefs of Jehovah's witnesses in this regard, were cited.

The prosecution presented as its chief witness the head teacher, who testified under cross-examination: "I am a Christian and a very good one at that. I do abide by the Ten Commandments. If parliament orders that I should kill a boy who steps on my toes I would do it, in spite of the Ten Commandments."

Judgment was rendered on November 19, 1964, and the district magistrate said: "The accused persons are immature and are pupils of a Middle School. As such they should not have allowed themselves to be hampered by religious scruples to do acts

contrary to the laws of Ghana. . . We feel that the charge has been proved and the accused persons are found guilty."

Sentence by the court was for the two boys to be committed to a Borstal Institution (correctional institution for boys) for a period of three years. This was indeed a blow against freedom of worship. An appeal to the High Court was immediately filed.

High Court Fails to Act

At the preliminary hearing, after receiving testimony for only a few moments, the judge of the High Court decided not to allow the appeal.

Could Jehovah's witnesses gain a fair hearing to see that the harsh sentences against the two young schoolboys were removed? To some the political circumstances in the country made it appear very doubtful. Nevertheless, putting their full trust and confidence, not in man, but in Jehovah, the case was taken to the Supreme Court on appeal.

Turn of Events

By this time, Paul and Edmund had been committed to Borstal to serve their sentences. Almost immediately they gained the respect and sympathies of the warders, and excellent opportunities were afforded them to explain their hope in God's kingdom. Some of the warders expressed regrets that the two youths had been brought there and mixed in with delinquent boys and criminals. After a few weeks application for bail was granted and they were released, pending the outcome of the appeal.

Considerable time passed in an endeavor to get the case before the Supreme Court. True, Paul and Edmund were out on bail, but they were unable to attend school during most of this time. They were anxious to have the matter brought to a right conclusion.

But there was nothing to be done but wait.

On the morning of February 24, 1966, the army and the police overthrew the government, and many persons expected greater freedom in the land. Would this surprising turn of events make a difference in the case involving freedom of worship? The case was called before three judges of the Supreme Court on Friday, April 22, 1966.

Counsel for Jehovah's witnesses presented his arguments and drew attention to the irregularities in the original trial. He appealed for freedom of worship to be allowed, even though at the time of this hearing the Constitution of the country was suspended and there was rule by decree. The Senior State Attorney, whose office had opposed Jehovah's witnesses all the way from the lower court, now stated

that he was not supporting the conviction. After a short deliberation the judges declared themselves as follows:

"No offence had been committed in law and it was the duty of the trial Court to have acquitted and discharged the accused persons. It is very unfortunate that the appeal to the High Court was dismissed summarily.

"In all the circumstances, the appeal of each Appellant is allowed. The convictions and sentences are quashed. The Appellants are acquitted and discharged."

Paul and Edmund have returned to their studies. They are thankful to Jehovah for his guiding Word and for the strength they gained from association with God's people. They are also very grateful to the Supreme Court of Ghana for its recognition of their sincere belief and stand and for upholding freedom of worship.

By "Awakel" correspondent in Kenya

THE Wakamba woodcarver of south-central Kenya has been little affected by the industrial advancement elsewhere in the world. With his adz, a tool with a blade at right angles to the handle, he sits inside a grass hut or in the open under a tree and produces by hand distinctive carvings that are in demand the world over.

From 1955 to the present, wood carving in Kenya moved from a hobby to a profitable business that involves the export of about $15,000,000 worth of carvings a year. In addition to this, a vast number of carved items are sold in local curio shops and by street hawkers. The number of carvers has grown, about 600 being in the city of Mombasa alone.

Beginning with a limited variety of carvings, the trade has expanded to more than 500 varieties. About three-quarters of these consist of animals, such as antelope, buffalo, elephant, rhinoceros, giraffe, and so forth. Among these the most popular are carvings of antelope and elephants.

Other carved items, some of which are of practical household use, are salad sets, letter openers, lamps and bookends.

Method of Production

Most carvings are made in Muhugu wood. Its straight grain and fine texture make it ideal for carving. Muhugu wood, which grows in the lowland areas of Kenya, is bought by the truckload and sold to carvers by the foot. When buying wood, the carver must have in mind what he is going to carve. For instance, if he has orders for salad bowls or masks, he would buy wood that is not too hard in the center so the work of shaping them will be easier. On the other hand, if he plans to carve an animal, the wood needs to be firm all the way through.

There are six basic steps that a carver follows when he begins to work on a piece of wood. First, he cuts the wood to the size of the carving he has in mind. Then with his adz he blocks out the general shape. When more than one carver works on an item, it is passed to the second man after the adz work is finished. He specializes in forming the delicate parts of the carving. With a file he smooths the figure, taking off the rough edges. A special, rounded knife is then used to work on the horns, face and legs. This stage of the carving requires skill for the carving to have good form and expression.

With the carving work done, the figure is sandpapered to give it a very smooth surface; then it is waxed. Another person may do the waxing and polishing. So that the wax will penetrate the wood, he usually heats the carving over a fire before applying it, in this way giving the carving a more lasting finish. After its base is tested to make sure it stands well, the carving is ready for the market.

The Wakamba have become very adept in this method of carving. An incident illustrates this. When a Canadian man living in Mombasa asked a carver to make a figure of a moose that he could send home as a gift, he showed the carver a picture of the animal. Although the craftsman had never seen a live moose, he produced a beautiful sixteen-inch carving, with only the picture as a guide.

During the past five years more and more of the world has been introduced to Wakamba carvings. From Mombasa, the port area of Kenya, they have been going out to all continents of the world. They are proving to be a profitable export that is benefiting the economy of Kenya.

When asked what the biggest problem is in the wood-carving business, the carvers themselves say that it is lack of organization among them. They generally tend to work by themselves rather than in cooperatives. Another problem is their willingness to sell an item ordered by an exporter to another person when a few pennies more are offered. Thus exporters can never be certain of getting what they order. Such action is hurting the trade, a Mombasa exporter claims. Some persons believe that cooperatives would overcome this problem and probably bring the carvers a consistently better price.

Buying a Carving

There are a few things a person can keep in mind when buying a wood carving. He should first determine the kind of carving he wants so that it will blend with the decor of his home. Then he can decide on the basic proportions of the figure and on the type of wood he wants.

When buying a carving of an antelope, for example, he should look for well-shaped horns and ears. The facial expression must also be examined to see if it is suitable. This is determined by the shape of the eyes, ears and other delicate parts of the animal's face. The proportions of the body need to be examined to see if it is too long or too short.

The length of the legs should be of the right proportion and well formed. The way the grain runs is also a factor to be considered, as it can help simulate the body contours of the living animal.

If a carving of an elephant is under consideration, it is more appealing to some persons if the trunk is down rather than thrown back. A lion or hippopotamus that is carved with its mouth closed may be cold and unappealing in comparison to one with its mouth open. Similarly, a warthoat that is carved with its tail straight up as if it were in flight conveys more action than one with its tail down as when the animal is feeding. Of course, personal tastes vary. But when a purchaser watches

these small details, he is more likely to get a carving that is pleasing to the eye. It would also be wise for a person to avoid carvings that represent figures that are used in the demonistic religious of Africa, as their presence in a home might open the way for unpleasant spiritistic activity there.

If you are one who likes hand-carved figures, you might find these various suggestions helpful. Knowing how and where they are made adds to their interest. Since wood carvings are produced in many parts of the world, with varying quality, you have many to choose from, but examine carefully the figures you intend to buy so as to be sure of getting something that will be pleasing to you and that will add interest to the appearance of your home.

The Religious Background

FLAMENCO DANCING

The famous flamenco dancing of Spain appears to have an ancient religious background. In his book Wonders of Antiquity, Leonard Cottrell states: "Spain is the home of that supremely erotic dance, the flamenco, and I have often been struck by the resemblance between the flounced skirts and tight waist of the female flamenco dancer and those depicted on the Minoan frescoes. But I was startled to be told by a student of the dance that the sinuous movements made by the arms and hands of the woman flamenco dancer represent the writhing of a snake. The presiding delity of Crete was a snake goddess."

BULLFIGHTING

Among the ancients the bull was a common object of worship, and practices linked with that worship have come down to our day. A variation of one of those practices is bullfighting. In Crete an ancient Minoan wall painting depicts the art of the bull vaulters. Some experts think that these toreadors were sacrificial victims devoted to the Minotaura, the legendary bull-man. At the time this

torcador fresco was discovered in 1901 only one other was known to archaeologists, and that was one found on the Greek mainland in 1884. Later a third one was found in India. In his book Wonders of Antiquity, Leonard Cottrell states: "It seems possible that the bulcult may once have extended far beyond Crete into other regions of the Mediterranean. Could the Spanish bull fight . . . be a survival?" Indicating that it is, the Dictionary of Folklore, Mythology and Legend, published by Funk & Wagnalls Company, states on page 170 of Volume I: "In Crete the monstrous Minotaur was deified and sacrificed to, and his slaying was reenacted in the Athenian Theseus plays. In Egypt the bull Apis and corn god Osiris, after their death and dismemberment, were resurrected as Osiris-Apis. Such bullfight and resurrection rites have found their way through Spain to Mexico and New Mexico, In the huehuenches of Villa Alta, Oaxaca, in the tooreadores of the Sierra de Puebla, in the toro-abuello (bull-grandfather) fight connected with the San Idelfonso and San Juan matchina."

The Lovable

ON WALKING into your house, would you like to hear the patter of little feet rum-

ning to greet you, see arms outstretched, face upturned in joyous expectation, and hear squeals and coos of delight because of your return? You would? Then you would like a gibbon.

Here in Laos many Americans and other "foreigners" enjoy having them for pets as much as the Lao people do. And after having had one, it is hard for them to go back to a dog or cat. Even parrots and monkeys are ordinary by comparison.

Yes, monkeys are quite different from gibbons, both in appearance and personality. Gibbons are long-armed and have no tail; they are little apes; and while monkeys are interesting to watch for half an hour or so at a zoo, gibbons are an unending fascination combining the grace of a ballerina and the gawkiness of a slapstick comedian. When taken as a pet, a gibbon, or tunny, as it is called in the Lao language, will win its way into your heart as a child would.

Monkeys walk on all fours, but a gibbon stands up, though not as efficiently as a

man; thus zoologists regard the gibbon, as well as all the apes, as being essentially four-legged. Watching the gibbon walk on the ground is an amusing experience. To walk on its two legs this tree animal has to balance itself with its

JANUARY 8, 1967

By "Awake!"

correspondent in Laos

The gibbon's face is not at all the wrinkled-up face of a monkey, but, rather, the skin resembles the fine leather used in kid gloves, just as soft as a deer's nose. Its little black or brown

long arms held high. The resulting gait is a caricature of a slightly offbalance, very bow-legged person.

face peeks out from a circle of white fur. Eskimo-fashion.

Blond tunnies are lovely to see in the trees. The sun catches the tips of their fur and surrounds each creature with an aura of gold.

Beauty in the Treetops

When hanging by the hand in a tree, a gibbon might seem like a finely made toy. The little body is rotund (especially after a meal), causing the place where the legs join to appear curiously like a seam with stuffing pushed up to it from both directions. The whole of the animal, except face, ears and palms, is covered with fluffy

black or blond teddy-bear fur, tapering pantaloon-style to reveal delicately slim ankles and wrists.

Black shoe-button eyes, an unexpected pink tongue, and fine, white china-doll teeth add to the toylike appearance. So do the fine humanlike ears that give the unrelated appearance of having been fastened on after the toy was finished. The "kid glove" hands are complete with fingerprints, and even the fingernails are worthy of note; they never tear off ragged, but a periodic weakness causes each one to break in a remarkably smooth tapet.

A gibbon in the trees is truly a beautiful sight to behold. Only birds in flight equal the grace of this animal in its natural habitat. For locomotion, gibbons use their hands. Feet are often used for eating. Hence they were designed with feet that look much like human hands, and hands with double-length fingers that enable them to reach around branches with ease.

…