Awake!, July 8, 1969

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Do Your Dreams Have Hidden Meaning? PAGE 5

How Sunspots Affect Man's Home

PAGE 9

How to Travel and Enjoy It

PAGE 13

Confusion over Dropped Saints

PAGE 21

JULY 8 1969

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 "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.

"Awake!" 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

Is God Too Expensive? 3

Do Your Dreams Have Hidden Meaning? 5

Gold—That Rare Commodity! 8

How Sunspots Affect Man's Home 9

How to Travel and Enjoy It 13

Recordings of the Songs 16

Meet the Guanaco—Fleet Patagonian 17

Confusion over Dropped Saints 21

Life Among the Cheyenne Indians 25

Thirsty? 27

"Your Word Is Truth"

Are All Religions the Same? 28

Watching the World 30

Is God Too Expensive?

ANNUALLY in Germany 40,000 Protestants and 23,000 Roman Catholics officially withdraw from their churches. Why? According to the German illustrated weekly, Stern (Star), August 6, 1968, "many Germans are quitting their church to keep from paying the church tax." "God is too expensive," Stern concludes.

The very fact that the West German government serves as a collecting agency for the Lutheran and the Roman Catholic Churches may be news to many. According to this report the West German government collects for these two churches each year 4,000 million marks or 1,000 million dollars.

For the church member of average income the amount collected is 1.6 percent, but for the millionaire it is 3.2 percent. Like most taxes the church tax is "progressive," that is, the rich not only pay more but also pay more proportionately. At present the legality of this tax is being challenged in the courts of West Germany by a lawyer for a rich taxpayer.

Needless to say, the churches are very apprehensive as to the outcome of this lawsuit, for the church tax has been a lucrative source of revenue. In fact, the churches benefiting from this tax have

never had it so good financially. Because of this tax they have been able to build all manner of church buildings, many of the ultramodern type that have been more successful in attracting tourists than in recovering worshipers. The money received from the church tax is also being used to construct other types of buildings, such as recreation centers, hospitals, and homes for old folks. Some authorities, however, frown on such use of church funds. Because of this tax, and the prosperity that West Germany has experienced in recent years, it is claimed that there has been more building by churches since 1945 than in the 400 years previous!

Because the church tax hits the rich especially hard, a number of wealthy members have asked to have their church tax rate reduced. One church chancellor boasted that, although ever so many of his wealthy members have asked for this, he has consistently refused to accommodate them. However, it is likely that he is the exception. It seems that the trend is to make a compromise by reducing the tax rate for annual income above, say, 70,000 marks. Of course, such concessions are not made public.

Among the many thousands that have officially left their church in West Germany have been some of its wealthiest and most prominent financiers and businessmen.

A recent poll has revealed that if the State no longer collected the tax for the churches, 20 percent of the Germans now paying it would cease supporting their church financially. In East Germany the Communist government never did collect this church tax.

my excuses. Boy, do they stink! . . . With 300 baptized 'believers' we should have no less than 200 in Church every Lord's day. Several weeks ago we had 40 in Church. What kind of mickey mouse is this? . . . Why did you join this church anyway?"

According to Stern, God is too expensive, but is he? No, he is not. Only those who profess to represent Him but, in fact, misrepresent him, are too expensive. For one thing, nowhere in the Scriptures are

Some of the clergy of West Germany feel very strongly about this money matter. They appear to be following Martin Luther, the reformer, Stern quotes Luther as severely scolding his parishioners on one occasion for their reluctance to con-

one thing, nowhere in the Scriptures are worldly governments asked to serve as col-

THE NEXT ISSUE

What's Happening to Motion Pictures?

tribute money. He even warned them that if they did not experience a change of heart he would no longer preach to them, claiming wettiness for this be lacking.

lecting agencies for the Christian congregation. Not only that, but look where we will throughout the "New Testament," the Christian Greek Scriptures, we

read nothing of passing a collection plate.

When Jesus sent forth his twelve apostles

he explicitly commanded them: "You received

give free." Matt 10:18

claiming justification for this by declaring that Jesus said that his followers were not to throw pearls before swine.—Matt. 7:6.

to throw pearls before swine.—Matt. 1:6.

Many professed Christians in other lands also seem to have the mental attitude that God is too expensive. Thus the New York Times, October 18, 1968, reported that most major Protestant denominations in the United States are having financial problems because of decreasing contributions on the part of their members. How strongly some clergymen feel about the situation is apparent from the letter a

celved tree, give tree. —Matt. 10:8.

That God is not too expensive is borne out by the modern Christian witnesses of Jehovah. They stick closely to apostolic Christianity, and so they neither build lavish church buildings nor have a salaried clergy class. From the beginning they never passed collection plates. Rather they have trusted Jehovah God to put it into the hearts of his people to contribute for the advancement of his purpose.

And what results they have had! Jehovah God has surely blessed their efforts.

Lutheran clergyman in Sedalia, Missouri sent to his parishioners last September:

'I am disappointed, disgusted, fed up, extremely upset and very angry. I am angry with your response to Jesus Christ. . . When I look at the membership . . . I see a bunch of phonies. . . If you really believed in His Church, your Church Council would not have had to borrow $1,000 the other day. . . I hear your crum-

From 1928 to 1948 their numbers increased fourfold, and again in the next twenty years, from 1948 to 1968, their numbers have increased about fourfold. All this has been accomplished voluntarily, joyfully, eagerly, by a group of people who, far from holding that God is too expensive, have experienced the fact that Christ's yoke is gentle and his load is actually light.—Matt. 11:28-30.

Do Your Dreams

THERE was a time when this question would not have been raised, simply because nearly everyone then believed dreams were of special significance. "Babylonians had such trust in dreams that on the eve of important decisions they slept in temples, hoping for counsel. Greeks desiring health instruction slept in shrines of Assculapius, and Romans in temples of Serapis. Egyptians prepared elaborate books for dream interpretation."—Harper's Bible Dictionary, 7th ed., 1961, p. 141.

People Sleep in Cycles

Now, with a greater understanding of dream phenomena, many persons (but not all by any means) say dreams have no hidden meaning. Others are not sure. What do you think?

Investigators, with the aid of many ingenious devices, have discovered interesting things about the subject of dreams. For example, did you know that normally everyone sleeps in cycles, numbering four to six during a night? Each cycle may consist of three phases: first, light sleep, then deep sleep, followed by what has been called "paradoxical sleep." This latter phase gets its name because certain physical conditions of the body and mind resemble a state of being awake, yet the person is very much asleep. A recording apparatus attached to the person shows that as one falls off into a light and then a deep sleep the heartbeat and breathing

slow down, the body temperature drops, and muscle tension relaxes. But then, as one passes into the third phase of the cycle, physical activity in the brain speeds up while the body muscles remain relaxed.

It is during this third phase of each cycle that most of the dreaming takes place, including nightmares, nightwalking, talking in one's sleep, and so forth. It has also been observed that eyeball movement beneath the closed lids becomes very active during the third stage. It is this rapid eye movement (REM for short) that can be monitored and thus signals observers that the sleeper is dreaming. Each dream may last from fifteen to twenty minutes, totaling one to two hours a night of dream time. Another two to four hours is in deep sleep, and the balance of a normal sevento eight-hour night is spent in light sleep.

Men and women dream about the same amount. Both see the same kind of grotesque images, both in color and in black and white, though the sensation of color is one of the first features forgotten. Occupation and education seem to have no influence, but age appears to be a factor younger people dream more than older ones.

Many persons, however, will stoutly insist they seldom if ever dream. This is because the memory span of dreams is very short, and unless one is awakened either by the excitement of the dream itself or by outside influence, in the morning very little, if any, of the dream can be recalled.-Job 20:8.

A Natural Function of the Mind

The rhythmic sleep cycle, with its REM dream phase amounting to about 20 percent of the total rest period, has been demonstrated to be a natural experience in every normal person's life. Even when a sleeping person recalls names of people presumably long forgotten, or when he solves brain-twisting problems that he could not do when awake, this too is nothing more than a special aspect of a natural mind. It shows that certain sections of the brain engage in a great degree of activity while other sections sleep. It is not by divine revelation or by inspiration from supernatural gods, as many claim.

Most of the common dreams, however, are bizarre displays of fantasy and make-believe far away from the world of reality. Intimate acquaintances take on strange appearances. Animals talk. Rocks and people float through the air with the greatest of ease. Weird settings and situations, altogether warped and twisted from reality, and in defiance of familiar laws, continually tumble over one another in rapid sequence. And yet, nothing in this topsy-turvy dreamworld seems unreasonable, unnatural or out of focus to the dreamer, that is, until he awakens. Is this, too, only a function of the natural mind? Yes, for when the higher centers of reason and logic in the brain, as well as the faculty of memory, are asleep, there is no control over the deeper sections of the brain where these wild dream dramas are staged.

Dreams also betray a physical origin in that thoughts, emotions, experiences and daily activities greatly influence them. A hungry person may dream of eating, a thirsty one of drinking, but they both awake unsatisfied. (Isa. 29:7, 8) Certain drugs may cause paradisaic dreams. Alcohol can give rise to disagreeable and frightening dreams, especially of snakes and grotesque animals. Physical conditions such as poor blood circulation, indigestion and improper breathing, bring on frightening dreams. If children become overexcited before going to bed this, too, may cause them to have terrifying nightmares. But not all dreams are frightful experiences. Some are beautiful and most enjoyable. Others are simply annoying situations that the dreamer usually "solves" in the most ridiculous ways.

A dreaming person's susceptibility to outside influences also shows the physical nature of dreams. A barking dog, a baby's cry, or a boat or train whistle may be incorporated into the dream script as it progresses. The buzzing of a mosquito becomes the hum of a speedboat or an airplane. A sudden pain in the head makes the dreamer cry out, for he imagines he fell and bumped his head. An intestinal gas pain becomes a kick in the stomach in the dreamer's imaginary fight with a thug. At first a dreamer thinks she is being chased by a boy, but in a flash he becomes a tiger. The chase intensifies as the dream reaches a high level of anxiety. Finally, the victim is seized by the arm and cannot get away. It is all so real, so very real, in fact, that the dreamer is awakened, only to find that her arm was caught in the bed sheet.

Now, are we to conclude from this that all dreams are only mental gymnastics, products of natural causes? What about the many instances in the Bible where God spoke to men by means of dreams?

Meaningful Dreams of Divine Origin

The One who made man's brain in the first place could easily give a person visions of His will and purpose in the form of dreams. It would make no difference whether the person was a devoted worshiper of Jehovah or not. (Judg. 7:13, 14) Any such dreams would, of course, be very meaningful. They might be great prophecies of coming events, or important warnings, or they might be given for instruction and guidance.

God warned Abimelech, king of Gerar, in a dream not to touch Abraham's wife Sarah, with the result that she remained undefiled. (Gen. chap. 20) Complying with "divine warning in a dream," the astrologers who visited Jesus did not return to murderous Herod. (Matt. 2:11, 12) In response to angelic instruction in dreams Joseph first took Mary to be his legal wife even though she was pregnant, and after the child was born he fled with his family to Egypt. In a later dream Joseph was told to return from Egypt, and he settled in Nazareth, this being in fulfillment of the prophecy, "He [Jesus] will be called a Nazarene."—Matt. 1:18-25; 2:13-15, 19-23.

Some dreams from God were given to assure his servants of the divine favor that backed them up, and to help them understand how he was using them, as was the case with Abraham. (Gen. 15:12-16) At Luz. (Bethel) and again at Haran, Jacob received similar divine dreams of instruction.—Gen. 28:10-19; 31:11-13.

As a youth, Jacob's son Joseph had prophetic dreams that he lived to see fulfilled. (Gen. 37:5-11; 42:1-3, 5-9) Later, down in Egypt while Joseph was wrongly imprisoned, he had occasion to point out to Pharaoh's chief of cupbearers and chief of bakers that the special dreams they had had only God could interpret. This experience in turn served to bring Joseph to

Pharaoh's attention as one having God's spirit.—Gen. chap. 40; 41:9-16.

Warning and the prophetic element were combined in two dreams that the Pharaoh of Joseph's day had in one night. In the first he saw seven fat-fleshed cows devoured by seven poor, thin-fleshed cows. In the second dream, seven full and good ears of grain came up on one stalk, only to be swallowed down by seven shriveled, thin, wind-scorched ears of grain. Joseph, ascribing the interpretation to God, correctly explained that both dreams were foretelling that seven years of plenty would be followed by seven of famine. (Gen. chap. 41) It was God's way of saving many from starvation, and particularly the life of Abraham's descendants, in fulfillment of His promise to that man of faith.—Gen. 45:5-8.

Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar also had two prophetic dreams from God. One was of a multi-metal image that was destroyed by a stone cut out of the mountain without hands. (Dan. 2:29-45) In the other the king beheld a great tree was chopped down and its stump banded with a "banding of iron and of copper" until "seven times" passed over it.—Dan. chap. 4.

Daniel was another who had divine dreams. In one of these he beheld four huge beasts coming up out of the sea, these beasts representing human governments. In another dream Daniel had a vision of the Ancient of Days, from whom "someone like a son of man" received lasting "rulership and dignity and kingdom." —Dan. 7:1, 3, 13, 14, 17.

When Jesus Christ stood on trial before Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor's wife sent him this message respecting Jesus: "Have nothing to do with that righteous man, for I suffered a lot today in a dream because of him." (Matt. 27:19) The Bible does not state that the dream was of divine origin, but surrounding circumstantial evidence indicates that it was.

Coming at the moment that it did, it was a powerful warning to Pilate that he was dealing with a special situation and that he needed to be careful to avoid guilt. As it was, Pilate chose to ignore the evidence, as well as the warning, and, listening to the clamoring motion, he handed the innocent man over to be put to death.

Not to Be Used as Omens

Since apostolic times and the closing of the Bible canon, there is no evidence that God has used the medium of dreams, as related above, to communicate with mankind. On the other hand, demon influence over mankind has increased, especially since Satan and his demons were cast down to the earth in these "last days." (Rev. 12:7-12) The Bible warms against demon influence manifest through "prophets of false dreams." (Jer. 23:25-32; 27:9, 10) Divination by dreams, known as oneiromancy, is "valueless," something detestable to Jehovah. (Zech. 10:2) Even if such dreamers of demon-inspired dreams give a sign, and even if "the sign or the portent does come true," yet under the Law arrangement, those persons were to be put to death.—Deut. 13:1-5.

In view of the intensified demon influence today, it is highly dangerous to give meanings to dreams as if they were omens and then to try to relate these to the future. Looking for omens is a practice that the Bible links with spiritism, which is detestable to God. (Deut. 18:10-12) Those who toy with spiritism or who willingly accept objects from spiritists have been known to have their dreams influenced adversely. One woman accepted objects from a spiritist and began to have dreams in which she saw herself in a casket, and it was coming closer and closer, so that finally she wanted to jump into it. As a result of such dreams, she came close to committing suicide. Relief was obtained when she got rid of all objects received from a spiritist.

In view of such occurrences, it is unwise in this day to seek any meaning in one's dreams. They are not to be used as omens.

But why do normal, healthy persons dream at all? In probing for an answer, science has learned that any interference with the dream pattern that God gave man only produces detrimental results. During the REM dream phase vital brain chemistry takes place—there is an increase in metabolism, in blood flow, in temperature, and in the production of hormones and other body chemicals—all necessary for physical and mental well-being. As Edwin Diamond observes: "There is evidence to suggest that it is the dream state—not sleep itself—which knits up the raveled sleeve of care and helps insure the physical well-being and mental health of waking man."—New York Times Magazine, Feb. 12, 1967.

Gold-That Rare Commodity!

In 1511 King Ferdinand of Spain told to his men in South America: "Get gold humannely if you can, but at all hazards get gold." That order cost many lives. Man's intense interest in this yellow substance has been burning for thousands of years and it still continues unabated. In fact, did you know that three-quarters of all the gold mined has been mined in this twentieth century? And did you know that nearly two-thirds of it has been mined since the year 1931? The role that gold has played in the monetary affairs of the nations has probably been the subject of more heated debates than any other issue in economic history, so claim economists.

"SUNSPOTS IMPOSE RADIO BLACK-OUT," declared a headline in the New York Times. The report that followed said:

"A world-wide communications blackout caused by sunspots cut off the United States from most areas in Europe and the Far East yesterday. Communications supervisors described atmospheric disturbances as 'the worst we've had in recent years.'"

You may have seen similar reports from time to time telling of breakdowns in international radio communications. Shortwave radio signals become so weak that they cannot be transmitted effectively. These disturbances, and others, are the direct result of sunspots.

Sunspots are intense storms on the face of the sun. They cause eruptions that spew out gigantic masses of material far into space. But what causes sunspots? What do they look like? What do they produce? What effects do they have on man's home, the earth?

To find some answers to these questions, we first need to take a closer look at the point of origin, the sun.

The Sun

The sun is a glowing ball of hot gases. It is a medium-sized star having a diameter of about 865,000 miles, more than 100 times that of the earth. The sun being located about 93,000,000 miles away, a rocket traveling 25,000 miles an hour would take about 155 days to reach it

from the earth. Yet, the sun is relatively close, for the next closest star, called "Proxima Centauri," is so far away that the same rocket would take almost 115,000 years to get there!

The sun is earth's main source of energy. And the amount it produces is fantastic! It can be compared to a flow of about 84,000 horsepower continuously for every square meter (over a square yard) of its surface. The energy streaming toward the earth in only one day is said to equal the energy that could be produced by burning 550 billion (thousand million) tons of coal. That is as much coal as the United States or Russia would produce in about 1,000 years at their present rate of production.

The only process so far known to man that can generate such tremendous energy is nuclear fusion. So, in reality, the sun is a huge atomic furnace. It produces energy by fusing atoms of hydrogen, the lightest element known, into helium, the next lightest element. When four atoms of hydrogen unite, or fuse together, they make one atom of helium. But in the process, about 1 percent of the hydrogen material is changed into heat and light. It is somewhat like forcing a square peg into a round hole—some of the corners get shaved off.

It is estimated that every second more than 500 trillion (million million) tons of hydrogen are fused this way.

And from every pound of hydrogen "burned" it is said that 100,000,000 kilowatt-hours of energy are released. Yet, there is no danger of the sun's atomic reactor running down soon, since what it uses is only the smallest fraction of its whole.

This nuclear reaction inside the sun produces temperatures estimated to be as high as 36,000,000° Fahrenheit (20,000,000° Centigrade). By radiation this energy flows outward to the sun's surface where the temperature "cools" down to about 11,000° F. (about 6,000° C.). And if you feel that this must be quite cool, remember, it takes only 212° F. (100° C.) to boil water on earth at sea level!

In this process, whirling columns of gases come from inside the sun and work their way toward the surface where the

pressure is less. This process results in the birth of sunspots.

Sunspots

If you were to view a sunspot with a special telescope, you would see a dark spot on the sun's surface. But it looks dark only because it is not as bright or hot as the normal surface of the sun, being about 3,600\circ F. (2,000 \circ C.) "cooler." This "coolness" is produced by the expansion of the gases that make up the sunspot. So it appears dark only in contrast to the much hotter surrounding.

from a few hundred miles in diameter In the smaller spots to 50,000 miles or more in diameter in the largest. And the size of the lighter area is roughly double or triple that of the dark area. The average life of a sunspot is one or two weeks.

Perhaps the best way to describe sunspots is to liken them to storms that we experience in the atmosphere of our home, the earth. As a hurricane or tornado is a swirling mass of clouds, a sunspot, or sun storm, is a mass of swirling and turbulent gases highly charged with electricity.

A normal sunspot appears as a dark central area (called the "umbra") surrounded by a lighter shaded area (called the "penumbra"). It looks much like a hole in the sun's surface. From a very small beginning the size of the dark area varies

Studies related to the number of sunspots appearing over the years have indicated that they have a cycle of about eleven years. In this regard, 1964 and 1965 were designated the years of the "quiet sun," periods of low sunspot activity. It is expected, however, that sunspot activity

CLOSER VIEW MAKES SPOTS

LOOK LIKE HOLES ON SURFACE

will reach a peak about 1970. However, others, who use the sun's magnetic field and its variations as a basis for measuring, say that the actual cycle of the sunspots is about twenty-two years, and they point to the same year for peak sunspot activity.

Solar Flares—the Offspring of Sunspots

Sunspots give birth to gigantic solar flares, also called prominences. These flares are flamelike bursts of gas, mostly hydrogen. They may shoot out as far as 250,000 miles or more from the sun. One was observed to extend about one

million miles, more than the sun's diameter!

These flares drape themselves around the magnetic lines of force of the sun. The attraction of the sun usually pulls them back to its surface, but some parts may escape the gravitational pull of the sun, break off, and shoot out into space.

How do these solar flares come about? It is thought that as sunspots move across the face of the sun, they produce tremendous magnetic forces. Often the magnetic fields around different sunspots are so strong that they are pulled into each other. The magnetic fields then collapse and are annihilated. These magnetic fields of sunspots are said to have over 10,000 times the force of earth's magnetic field. Therefore, their collapse releases tremendous amounts of energy and matter that is belched out into space.

During the "flash" of a flare, which takes only a few minutes to reach maximum brightness, trillions of electrically charged particles, and electromagnetic waves, are shot out into space. Radio-wave emission increases. At times, solar cosmic rays are also produced and race toward the earth at nearly the speed of light.

The flares are composed mainly of ionized hydrogen gas. These are hydrogen atoms that have had their electrons stripped away, leaving the nucleus of the hydrogen atom, the proton. This stream of electrically charged particles is shot out into space.

These, and other particles, given off during solar flares are all in addition to those given off by the sun in its regular activity.

How Earth Is Affected

The bursts of various types of particles and rays resulting from solar flares fan out from the sun in all directions. Some, of course, travel toward the earth.

Before even the fastest of the particles reach the earth, they are preceded by the powerful electromagnetic waves, which include light, heat and radio waves, as well as ultraviolet and X rays, all making their journey in eight minutes, moving at the speed of light.

So the earth's upper atmosphere is already "super charged" by the time that the cosmic rays and other particles, racing right behind, reach the earth's magnetic field in about eight minutes. If, about one-half hour later, a cloud of electrically charged particles produced by the flare should strike the earth's magnetic field, this would produce a violent magnetic storm that would affect navigational aids and magnets not controlled by electricity or other outside forces. Even ordinary pocket compasses are affected by it. This effect can last for several days, sometimes for over a week. This occurrence causes violent, odd displays of the aurora, flickering on and off as a neon sign, some being seen as high as 600 miles above the earth.

Some particles, blown out at lower speeds in a huge "plasma" cloud, reach the earth about twenty-four hours or more later. When these particles hit, they excite atoms of oxygen and nitrogen in the earth's atmosphere. This causes the usual aurora displays, the northern and southern lights. These glow simultaneously across the entire night sky in both the northern and southern hemispheres at heights of from 60 to 100 miles or more. The patterns are brilliant red, green and blue flamelike curtains, arcs and rays.

Another result of the plasma cloud is disrupted shortwave radio signals. Shortwave radio communications may even become impossible for hours or days. Also, electric current can build up in the atmosphere, resulting in blown fuses on telegraph lines.

An unusual effect of a plasma cloud's hitting the earth is that it reduces the number of cosmic rays reaching the earth's atmosphere from outside the solar system. Cosmic rays are composed of the most violent, highest energy particles known to man. They have energies many millions of times higher than particles produced by the largest of man's atomic accelerators.

These cosmic rays that come in from beyond our solar system bombard the earth's atmosphere from all directions. They are composed mainly of the nuclei of different elements, mostly hydrogen.

But as the solar flare produces its plasma cloud and this reaches the earth, a drop in intensity of those cosmic rays coming from outside the solar system also occurs. Apparently many of them are deflected by the magnetic lines of force within the plasma cloud. And such cosmic-ray intensity does not return to normal until the solar cloud passes beyond the earth.

During the years of maximum sunspot activity, there are so many solar flares producing plasma clouds reaching the earth that cosmic-ray intensity at earth's surface is lowered to less than half the normal level. Just exactly what effect this causes on earth is one of the many questions to which man is seeking an answer.

At the same time that these cosmic rays from outside the solar system are being deflected by plasma clouds, the very solar flare that gave birth to the plasma cloud sometimes produces its own cosmic rays. These are called solar cosmic rays and are somewhat milder than those coming from outside the solar system. Their intensity can increase sharply during particularly powerful solar flares.

Danger to Space Travel

Scientists are especially interested in the activity of sunspots because of space travel. As long as the astronauts stayed within the earth's atmosphere and magnetic field (which extends roughly 40- to 50,000 miles above the earth on the side facing the sun and trails longer on the dark side) they were protected from the dangerous particles and rays resulting from solar flares. These journeys would not have been unduly affected by solar flares even if they had occurred.

However, manned flight around or to the moon is a different matter, for it is outside this protection. So scientists need to predict the potentially dangerous eruptions or flares from the sun that are produced by sunspots. But they cannot do this accurately at the present time. Why not? Because, while groups of sunspots may seem to be relatively quiet, they rotate around the sun. On the other side, away from the earth and unseen, they may well explode into gigantic flares. Thus, when they reappear on the side of the sun facing the earth, they may now be erupting dangerous clouds of particles.

En route to the moon, astronauts could thus be swept by plasma clouds from solar flares that were not in evidence when their journey first began. And they could also be hit by penetrating solar cosmic rays, as well as cosmic rays coming from outside the solar system. If astronauts are subject to damaging radiation, they may not notice its effects for days. In fact, radiation effects may not show up for a year or more. This depends on the sun's activity at the time of their trip outside the earth's protective atmosphere and magnetic field.

Hence, in planning space exploration, the sun cannot be ignored. If it were possible for man to explore the solar system, it could be done only at certain times. The frequently occurring solar flares at times of maximum sunspot activity would prohibit long voyages to the planets. Only during the years of the "quiet sun," the years of minimum sunspot activity, could man even hope to explore the planets with any measure of safety.

Yes, sunspots and their offspring, solar flares, do affect the earth, man's home. But the full extent of this effect is not yet even known.

However, enough is known to appreciate the unique provision of earth's atmosphere and magnetic field,

which protect man's home, making possible the continued existence of life on earth.

How to Travel

and Enjoy It

AT LEAST one hundred million Americans travel for pleasure every year, and many of these travel outside the continental United States. They spend about $30,000,000,000 for transportation, equipment, food, lodging and entertainment. The same desire for travel is shared by peoples of other lands, too.

However, many a tourist is ready to pack up and go home days before his scheduled trip is finished. Usually it is because of frustration over foreign currencies, foreign languages, strange customs, foods and drinks. Too often the traveler becomes suspicious of every bill presented to him. Sometimes he is cheated, but more often he is not. Many a traveler has looked at his change in shillings, francs or drachmas with puzzlement, wondering whether he is counting it wrong.

Most of such misunderstandings could be avoided, had the tourist only taken the time to learn something about a country's

language and currency before going there. If the tourist has a little knowledge of a foreign language or two, he has a great advantage.

Be prepared for a certain amount of delay, confusion and misunderstanding, unless you are a language expert. Even in England it is a marvel that with the same language, there should be so marked a difference in the average Englishman's English and an American's English. But this may be fun, if viewed in the happy spirit of travel and discovery.

Nevertheless, travel in 1969, as in previous years, can be one of two things: a deep, rich, fine experience or a waste of precious time and hard-earned money. Much depends on you, as to which experience will be yours. The real values depend far less on the amount of money you spend than on your planning, outlook and the maturity of your judgment.

Realize first of all that the tourist trade is a highly geared business aimed at getting as many of your vacation dollars as possible. Therefore, to some extent, at least, be prepared to spend some money.

Too, if you are in position to spend several hundred dollars for a trip abroad, know the reason for your doing so. It may be a desire to see relatives, friends, attend a Christian assembly or to see places of historic value and interest.

Once you have established your reason or reasons for making the trip, then plan every step thoroughly with that central thought in mind. If you fulfill that desire, you will consider your trip well worth the time and money.

Plan Your Trip Thoroughly

While it may be exciting to decide upon a European trip or an Oriental trip at the last minute, as it were, it is rarely wise. Planning your itinerary abroad and organizing your affairs should be done weeks, if not months, in advance.

Now is the time to plan the things that you wish to see and do when abroad. Many travelers find it wise to have these things listed chronologically in a travel notebook that they take with them and consult frequently.

What might you set down in your travel notebook? You could list what you desire to do on each specific day. For example, July 28: Leave for Kennedy Airport 6 p.m.; dine at airport. Board plane for London 9 p.m. July 29: London. Visit Watch Tower Society branch. Attend assembly at Wembley Stadium. July 30: Visit British Museum; Buckingham Palace—See "Changing the Guard" at 11:30 a.m. (daily); The Houses of Parliament; Tower of London. (This, of course, is purely suggestion. Your travel notebook should be more detailed, listing alternatives in case of bad weather, delays and other unforeseen circumstances.) The point is not to wait until you enter a country to decide what you want to see and do. To know in advance the places that you wish to see and the things that you desire to do is to assure for yourself a more relaxed and interesting trip.

agent can help you obtain these. Keep the travel tickets and hotel receipts of payments with you at all times. You can, if you please, attach the ticket in your travel notebook to the date that you will be using it. In that way the appointment will not slip your memory.

Almost all hotel reservations, theater and excursion arrangements should be made and paid for in advance. Your travel

Sight-Seeing Tips

Some people are quite satisfied in seeing just one or two key points in each country. In that case they can cover much territory. Even at that, they should be sure they are in good physical health and prepared to rough it in spots.

Consider first the time available and budget it among the places you want to visit. Select countries grouped geographically, and avoid doubling on your tracks. Decide in advance how you want to apportion your time between assemblies, cities, sight-seeing, shopping, and other things you may wish to do.

Do not count on friends or relatives to show you around or entertain you. They may have other arrangements and commitments to fulfill. But if you do have friends in the countries that you will be visiting who will be able to take you to places of interest, this, of course, is the ideal way to see a country. They know the language, the sights that may be of interest to you, your tastes and preferences. If such be the case, you have no problem. You have but to enjoy yourself in their company.

If, however, you find yourself on your own in a foreign country, it may prove beneficial to arrange in advance excursion trips. This your travel agent can do. Simply tell your travel agent what you desire. Let him know the free time that you will have in each place. He may suggest that you rent a car and meander in a leisurely way along miles of quiet roads, where towns or tiny villages will be yours to see.

even known. However, enough is known to appreciate the unique provision of earth's atmosphere and magnetic field,

which protect man's home, making possible the continued existence of life on earth.

How to Travel

and Enjoy It

Most of such misunderstandings could be avoided, had the tourist only taken the time to learn something about a country's

language and currency before going there. If the tourist has a little knowledge of a foreign language or two, he has a great advantage.

Too, if you are in position to spend several hundred dollars for a trip abroad, know the reason for your doing so. It may be a desire to see relatives, friends, attend the go from city to city and from country to country in anticipation of meeting plane departures, and so forth.

In fact, one is liable to forget almost anything under such conditions if not careful. A cab driver in Naples once said that a movie director who checked out of a hotel in a whirlwind of haste threw his luggage in the cab and said to rush him to the airport, presto. Halfway to the airport the man yelled: "I forgot my wife!" Whereupon they had to turn around and drive back, missing the plane, to find the lady sitting quietly in the lobby of the hotel, waiting. It was difficult to convince the cab driver that wife-forgetting was not a common occurrence in America.

The tourist who is willing to listen, observe and comprehend will find travel a highly rewarding experience; particularly if he is willing to do a little research before he leaves and find out something about the countries he intends to visit. The results will be gratifying.

So there are a few fundamental things to bear in mind that may change traveling

from what may be a hectic experience to an enjoyable one:

(1) Remember to do your homework thoroughly, namely, plan your trip.

(2) Be sure to arrange and pay for your hotel and excursion trips in advance when this is advisable, and take the receipts and tickets with you.

(3) Allow enough time in your schedule for the unexpected.

(4) Make a list of all your essentials, and be sure to check the list before every major move.

(5) Keep a travel notebook, detailing in it your trip and the things you plan to do. Use the notebook to jot down your thoughts and experiences.

(6) Acquaint yourself with the money exchange system of each country that you plan to visit. Also try to learn to say a few basic words and phrases in each language.

(7) Do not let delays and unforeseen circumstances mar your trip.

If you follow these few basic suggestions, you cannot help but enjoy yourself.

Recordings of the Songs

The recordings of the songs found in the publication "Singing and Accompanying Yourselves with Music in Your Hearts" has brought much joy in the homes of those who have obtained them. They find that as background music they produce an air of tranquillity throughout the home. Here are parts of two letters that surely speak for thousands:

"The beautiful music that has been provided on records has served in such a wonderful way. Early Sunday mornings I get up to prepare the breakfast and dinner before going out in the house-to-house ministry. The records are put on even before everyone is up. What a fine atmosphere it gives. They just seem to help us start the day off right."

The other said: 'We are enjoying the sweetest music in the world. My six-year-old son keeps saying, 'What song is this?' and when I answer I tell him what the title means,

thereby teaching him a new Scriptural thought that before, as often as not, fell on deaf ears. Jehovah has always given us what we need when it is needed and so now that the radio and television have gone from bad to worse, he has given us something worth while and upbuilding to listen to.

"When this music is playing, all I have to do is shut my eyes and I can see the assemblies, the orchestra playing and thousands of Witnesses gathered for a great spiritual feast. Yes, there was a great need in our home for these recordings and I feel an inner peace when listening to them. Our entire family wishes to express our thanks to all of you who spent so many hours recording this music. May Jehovah certainly continue to put his blessings on all those working to bring us these marvelous spiritual provisions."

THE car slowly rounds a bend in the gravel road, skirting the lakes of the southern Andes. Suddenly one of the children points and excitedly cries, "Guanaco!" All look to where he is indicating, a point about halfway up the wooded mountainside, and craning necks and straining eyes are rewarded with a view of a small group of orange blobs, all in a line. Amid the animated chatter that follows, one voice is raised above the rest.

"But what's a guanaco? I couldn't see anything!"

Everyone looks at little Johnny. "That's

right," says Susan, "we've forgotten our visitor from the north. He's never seen a guanaco. Well, just ask Grandfather, Johnny. He knows all about them. He used to hunt them."

"Yes," interrupts Billy, "and tell us how the Indians hunted them, too, Grandfather."

The elderly gentleman laughs and says: "Just hold on a bit. All in good time. Maybe Johnny would like to get a closer look at a guanaco first."

"But how can he do that?" asks Susan. "We could never catch one. You said yourself that even a good horse can't catch one."

"Yes, Susan, but I wasn't talking about a tame one. Now, it just so happens that on the next ranch, or estancia, as we call it here, there is a guanaco kept as a pet. The owner of the estancia is a friend of mine, and I'm sure he'd be very happy to let us come in and see it. Would you like to go?"

"Oh, yes. Let's go," chorus all three youngsters.

At Home in Patagonia

As they proceed, Johnny begins to look more closely at the unfamiliar countryside. Sheep graze in vast, golden pastures dotted with stunted, wind-bent trees. There are reed-filled pools of water where small ducks and wild geese swim. Earlier in the day he had seen graceful white swans with black necks. Green parrotlike birds had flown over one wooded area in the road, and he had even seen pink flamingos during the trip. Before coming to this southernmost part of Chile, he had thought that it would be all snow and glaciers and wind. What a surprise!

By now Grandfather has turned the car into the long lane leading to the house of the estancia owner.

"Is this where you hunted guanacos?" asks Johnny.

"No," replies Grandfather. "It was near the Rio Santa Cruz in Argentina. You see, the guanaco can be found in all of Patagonia. Geographically speaking, Patagonia is the part of South America from the Rio Negro in Argentina south to the Strait of Magellan. The part lying to the west of the Andes mountains belongs to Chile and has many lakes and rocky inlets. The part to the east of the mountains belongs to Argentina and consists of plateaus cut by deep ravines, rolling plains, sterile ground in places with only low bushes and thorns, and in other places just clay and gravel. Yet the guanaco gets along well in this rather inhospitable ground. But here we are at the house, and there by the fence is Mr. Guanaco."

"A Queer Animal"

By the time Grandfather has the car door shut, the three children are already through the fence, getting acquainted with their new friend. "Look, he's not afraid of us at all," shouts Billy.

"No," replies Grandfather, coming up behind, "he's very tame. The ones that roam free are much more wary at the sight of a man. However, sometimes they will allow a man on foot or on horseback to come quite close, all the while staring in curiosity, before finally bounding off. I've been told that in very cold weather a man can walk among them almost unnoticed. Of course, the young ones are much more approachable if separated from the adults. They have even been observed galloping along with a group of men on horseback."

ange at all. His coat was a honey-brown color, with white down the insides of his legs, on his stomach, and up his throat. The hair on his back and sides was woolly like a sheep, but hairier on his neck and legs. He had a funny little fan-shaped tail that stood straight up as he bounded along. His ears stood erect, and he had beautiful large brown eyes. "You certainly are different from any animal I've ever seen!" thinks Johnny aloud.

While listening to the old man talk, Johnny was trying to memorize exactly how the guanaco looked so that he could tell his sister when he got back home. He saw that the guanaco was not really or-

"That's true," chuckles Grandfather. "One man, describing him, said, 'You are a queer animal. You have the neigh of a horse, the wool of a sheep, the neck of a camel, and the feet of a deer.'"

"I guess that's a pretty good description," laughs the boy. "He certainly does have a long neck."

"Yes, he does," agrees Grandfather. "And that long neck gives him a very wide field of vision. Standing on a pinnacle, he can survey all the land around him. For that reason, plus the immense speed at which he can run, it is difficult for a man to catch him. Even if he allows a rider to get close to him, in just a few bounds he will be out of reach of even a fast horse."

Mr. Gomez, the owner of the estancia, has joined the group by now. "That's right," he adds, "even the young guanacos can keep pace with their elders. And an unusual sight is a group of guanacos running down a hillside. Every time their forefeet land, they dip their heads clear to the ground!"

At a sudden cry from Susan all turn around to see her on all fours on the ground. "He pushed me," she sputters, pointing at the guanaco.

"Ha! Ha!" laughs Grandfather. "You've got to watch him, Susan. That's one of their favorite tricks."

"Yes," adds Mr. Gomez, "more than once this fellow here has knocked me off my feet. Watch out! Here he comes again."

It seemed he had picked Billy for a target, for he cantered up to him, reared his head back, and struck him full in the shoulder with his chest. But Billy only laughs and tries to keep his balance. "Is he trying to fight with us?" he asks.

"Oh, no, he's just playing, I suppose," answers Mr. Gomez. "Although when the male guanacos fight, they do bang each other with their chests just like that. But they also strike with their forefeet and bite the neck of their opponent. Even though the skin of their neck is very thick, most of the old bucks carry deep scars from past battles. Oh, and by the way, before I forget, we'd better warn you of another habit Mr. Guanaco has. Just like the camel, he spits. And I can tell you from personal experience that he's a very good marksman!"

"Oh, dear, I hope he doesn't decide to make us his target," says Susan. "But, Grandfather, you promised you'd tell us how you hunted guanaco."

"Yes," agrees Johnny. "If they're so fast, how could you ever get near them?"

"Well, children, just let me make myself comfortable here on this rock, and I'll tell you about it."

A Guanaco Hunt—Tehuelche Style

After a pause, Grandfather continues. "Guanaco, just like other animals, were sometimes hunted with rifles, but most hunters preferred the ancient method of the 'bolas.'"

"What's that?" asks Johnny.

"I know," answers Billy. "It's something the Indians used. Isn't that right, Grandfather?"

"Yes, Billy, you're right. You see, Johnny, years ago there was a numerous people called 'Tehuelches' who inhabited Patagonia. They didn't plant crops, but lived from the hunt. For that reason they were nomads, moving their camp from one place

to another to follow the herds of guanaco. They were fine horsemen, but, as we have already said, a horse is no match for a guanaco in speed. They used swift dogs in the chase, too, but the success of their hunting depended mainly on the skillful use of the bolas. This instrument was made of three leather thongs, all joined at one end, with a hide-covered ball—a round, smooth rock or chunk of metal—attached to each of the free ends. The hunter grasped one of the balls in his hand, whirled the two free ends over his head, and launched the missile at the neck of the fleeing animal. The guanaco, of course, would buck and rear to try to get the thong off of his neck, and thus his legs would become entangled in the other thongs. Then the hunter could easily approach him."

"But I still don't understand how they got near enough to throw the holas," interrupts Johnny.

"Well, you see, the Tehuelches didn't hunt alone, but in large groups. They rode out by twos, scattering in various directions, thereby forming a large circle, lighting signal fires as they went. The animals naturally ran from the riders and the fires. As the circle closed in, the riders could easily throw the bolas over their necks. One rider stayed behind to kill the animal, while the other rode on to catch another. Sometimes they hunted in this way at the same time that they were moving camp. Then the slow-moving line of women and children formed the base, and the men fanned out forming a crescent, catching everything in it for miles."

"They must have eaten a lot of guanaco meat!" exclaims Susan.

"Not as much as you might think. Although they did eat the meat, they preferred the ostrich, because it has more fat. But they used the guanaco in many other ways. Their tents, or toldos, were made from the adult skins; the skins of the young or unborn were fashioned into robes.

The thick, tough neck skin was used to make lassos, thongs, bridles, and so forth. The sinews from the back were used for thread. A musical instrument was made from the thigh bone. The wool was used to stuff bolsters for the beds, and they even used a small stone found in the stomach which was highly regarded for its medicinal properties."

Still Popular

"But I understand that the Tehuelches are all gone," interrupts Johnny. "Why did other people hunt the guanaco?"

"It's because the skins were still valuable. Using a guanaco robe is a fine way to keep warm on a cold Patagonian night, either out in the open country or inside the house. Besides, the robes are very beautiful, and many a proud housewife displays a silky-soft guanaco spread on her bed. Since only the skins of the newly born could be used for these, young guanacos four to five days old were hunted. After that their coat begins to get woolly."

"Did you hunt them in a circle like the Indians?" asks Johnny.

"No. I was usually alone, so naturally I tried to get as close to them as possible without being detected. Except in times of severe cold, they keep to the high ground. Since they have the habit of dropping their dung in one place and wallowing in depressions nearby, when one sights one of these places he knows that a herd is somewhere near. Often the first animal spotted is the sentinel on a rocky prominence. Almost certainly behind him there is a small herd of his mates and their young ones. At sight of an intruder, he whinnies and all become alert. If he runs, they all run,

usually to higher ground. If some lag behind, he will push them and spit at them."

"So how did you catch them if they started running?" asks Susan.

"They normally make a large circle when being pursued, finally returning to where they started. The hunter tried to cross their path, rather than pursue them. Even so, a swift, untired horse was needed. I always used seven horses—one for each day."

"They are not only fast," adds Mr. Gomez, "but they are also very ingenious in protecting their young when being pursued. They will suddenly group closely together, run together for a time, then spread out again; but after spreading out there will not be a baby in sight! While running in close order, they have managed to hide the little ones in the grass, in a hole, or behind some convenient bush! Many a hunter has lost his prey in that way."

"Are there many guanacos left?" asks Billy.

"A century ago, herds of upward of a hundred were reported. But since then their numbers have greatly diminished. They have fallen victim, not only to man, but to the puma, to disease and to severe cold. The Chilean government prohibits gunnaco hunting now, in an effort to keep them from becoming extinct.

"Well, children, I think we must be going now if we are to reach home before dark. Say good-bye to Mr. Gomez."

Reluctantly the children take leave of Mr. Gomez and his fascinating pet. As they drive down the lane to the road, all three turn back to get one last good look at their unique new acquaintance—Mr. Guanaco of Patagonia.

YEARS ago religious people used to say, 'Stars may fall, but not saints.' But now not even the religious saints of Christendom are sure in their "heavenly" places. Many of them recently have fallen from their exalted positions within the Catholic Church.

On May 10, 1969, the New York Times headlined on its front page:

200 Catholic Saints Lose Their Feast Days. The report said: "Two of the best-known saints in the Roman Catholic Church, Valentine, patron of Sweethearts, and Christopher, patron of travelers, were dropped from the official liturgical calendar today in a sweeping change that removed more than 200 from the list of saints whose feast days are celebrated by the whole church. The anniversary celebration of 92 other saints, including St. George of England and St. Nicholas, who has been celebrated as Santa Claus, were made optional."

The account further says: "Besides the 46 named saints and some anonymous companions who were all removed for reasons of historical doubt, 44 ancient Roman martyrs have been dropped along with 82 non-Roman martyrs, 5 titular founders of churches and 23 popes."

…

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Awake!, July 8, 1969