MennoMedia An agency of Mennonite Church USA and Mennonite Church Canada 1251 Virginia Avenue Harrisonburg, VA 22802 800-245-7894 (USA) Suite 204, 50 Kent Avenue Kitchener, ON N2G 3R1 (Canada) info@MennoMedia.org www.MennoMedia.org November 12, 2014 Colleen McFarland, Director of Archives and Records Management Mennonite Church USA 1700 S Main St Goshen, IN 46526 Dear Colleen, We are pleased to know that Mennonite Church USA has received a grant to digitize the print files of Gospel Herald and The Mennonite. As you know, Gospel Herald was a publication of the organization then known as Mennonite Publishing House, later as Mennonite Publishing Network, and now as MennoMedia. You have our full permission to digitize all issues of Gospel Herald and make them available for free, with full-text access. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License. The Anabaptist Mennonite Digital Collaborative, coordinated by staff at Mennonite Church USA, Goshen College, and Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary, is working with Internet Archive to provide digital copies of this title. Please seek permission from the copyright owner if your use of this item is not permitted under the license. Best wishes in this important endeavor! Warmly, Amy Gingerich Editorial Director, MennoMedia MennoMedia seeks to engage and shape church and society with resources for living Christian faith from an Anabaptist perspective. GOSPEL HERALD l( W $11 “In the defence and confirmation of the gospel" "J-foiv beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace' VOLUME XLV- -TUESDAY, JANUARY 1, 1952- *4L NUMBER 1 “Mortify Therefore” A Radio Sermon BY WILLIAM G. DETWEILER “Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: for which things’ sake the ivrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: in the which ye also icalked some time, -when ye lived in them” (Col. 3:5-7). The writings of Paul are often in two .nain divisions: first comes the part that is more purely doctrinal (as we often use that word), and then comes the practical. That is true of his Epistle to the Colos- sians. Throughout the first and second chapters, and even in the first four verses of the third chapter, he has been teaching concerning the Person of Christ, and the dangers of the false doctrines facing the -1 believers at Colosse. A few times he re- ^ fers to the identification of the believer x vith Christ in His circumcision, in His burial, in His resurrection and quicken- ing. But now as we come to verse 5 and on through the rest of this chapter, and even into chapter 4, we have the practical applications of the great truths set forth in the preceding part of this Epistle. Well has Dr. Maclaren said, “Char- acter is the outcome and test of doctrine.’’ I believe in studying the Bible by doc- trines. I enjoy studying and teaching \the great doctrines of the Bible. But unless those great doctrines do something in my life, the true purpose of that study t and leaching has been thwarted. Let me 'i illustrate. One of the great doctrines 1 of the Bible is the doctrine of the Holy A Spirit. Even if it were possible for me to outline these same teachings perfectly; even if it were possible for me to teach them in such a way that my class would understand them correctly; yet if that reaching would not change my life and ate lives of those whom I taught, then something would be missing. Character must result from teaching. In fact, I .^riously question whether it is possible lor a teacher to teach the pure doctrines the Bible without producing char- ac er. Be that as it may, Paul now makes his doctrinal emphasis practical. He shows the relation of what he has taught to practical everyday Christian character and life. 1' “Mortify therefore.” The word “there- fore” is significant. When you find a “therefore” you do well to look for the “wherefore,” or, as an old preacher one time said, when you find a “therefore” in the Scriptures, you had better find out what it is there for. This “therefore” takes you back of course to what Paul had said in the preceding passage. He had said in the first four verses of this chapter that since the believer is risen with Christ he shall seek those things which are above, that he shall set his mind upon the things above, not on the things upon earth. He had said that the believer is dead, and that his life is hid with Christ in God. He had also said that when Christ who is the believer’s life shall appear, then shall the believers also appear with Him in glory. Because of this, the believer shall mortify his members that are upon the earth. In other words, we shall bring our con- dition in line with our position. Posi- tionally we are raised with Christ. Posi- tionally the old man has been crucified with Christ. Positionally we are dead. Positionally Christ is our life. That which is our spiritual position must now become our spiritual condition. Since we are dead with Christ we shall now mortify the old Adamic nature. I do not want to rob any of you of a blessing which you have received, but does this not teach that the old nature remains in the believer after he has been crucified, buried, and raised with Christ? The old Adamic nature has not been eradicated. Because we are dead to sin, dead to self, dead to the world through the cross, the power of sin, of self, and of the world having been broken, and we are not under any obligation to sin, to self, and to the world, therefore we must bring into the place of death the mem- bers, the inclinations to sin. We must make a corpse of them. How do we mortify the members which are upon the earth? I fear that some fail in mortifying that which is earthly in them because they proceed in the wrong manner. I wonder whether this mortification can be done by reso- lutions, by fastings, and other exercises. Some, I fear, seek to do it by practicing asceticism: they torture the body. In a sense it may be true that we are to fight the flesh, but I wonder whether the whole secret of mortification does not lie in identification with Christ. 1 think that Dr. A. C. Gaebelein has well said that when we try to fight the flesh we are defeated, but that the victory over the Hesh has been won for us. The old man has been put to death in the death ol Christ. The believer is now dead to sin. Sin is not to have dominion over the believer. As believers in Christ we need to reckon these things as done. Since positionally my old man has been cruci- fied with Christ, buried with Christ, and therefore I am dead to sin, now I need to count as real, as true, as actual these things. I need to keep my old man in the place of death where he wras placed in the death of Christ. As 1 reckon these things as true, reckon myself to be dead indeed unto sin, I can have victory so that sin will not reign in my mortal body that I should obey it in the lusts of this mortal body. At the same time I do not want to say that there is no place for suppression of the inclinations and lusts of the old man, but I believe that the surest way to vic- tory is by way of reckoning ourselves dead with Christ, dead unto sin, reckon sin’s power broken. As we reckon this true, according to Rom. 6:11, 12, we shall experience victory, and find that we are What Have You Done? By Louetta M. Miller A year has passed. We know not luhere The time has gone. The Master says, “Your life is mine. What have you done To ease a pain, to dry a tear, To help a soul in dread and fear, To spread my Word of hope and cheer: What have you done f” I stand and bow my head in shame, When I think of hoiu my Saviour came To die for me. What have I done? Have I helped the one in pain and need ? Have I remembered to love in word and deed? Have I prayed for souls? Have I sowed the Seed: What have I done? Archbold, Ohio. GOSPEL HERALD January i, 1952 mortifying, bringing into a place of death, the members upon the earth, or the sinful inclinations. Let me say again, before I go on, that we need to remember that the old man, the Adamic nature, what we were before we were saved, was not converted, was not made good, when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ and were saved. The flesh, the old man, the Adamic nature- call it what you will— remains as bad as ever. But as believers we have the two natures, having received the divine na- ture, the nature of God, in the birth. Through the Spirit we are able to morti- fy the deeds of the body. Rom. 8:13. T his old nature, which is altogether bad, in which Paul said “dwelleth no good thing” (Rom. 7:18), which remains in the Believer, is after conversion still capa- ble of doing these five things Paul men- tions in this same connection. Let 11s note them briefly one by one. “Fornication.” This speaks of the sexual area of immorality. We need to bear in mind that sin originates in the heart. Jesus said that sexual sin origi- nates in the heart, and that even the desire, the look, is sin. (Matt. 5:28— “But 1 say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath com- mitted adultery with her already in his heart.”) In the heart is where sinful members must be mortified. “Uncleanness.” A few versions trans- late this “impurity.” Remember that Paid admonished Timothy to keep him- self pure. How this admonition is need- ed today amidst all the impurity, all the filth, all the uncleanness on every side! There is impurity of thought. There is impurity of look. 1 here is impurity of speech. There is impurity of action. Need 1 mention some of the satanic agencies that foster this impurity? There are the low degrading magazines. There are the movies. There is the dance. There are the low courting standards. But, thank God, the believer can be kept. His life is hid with Christ in God. The Spirit now dominates, not the flesh. “Inordinate affection.” A few versions translate this “passion.” How many have fallen through passion! The believer must mortify this, lest it master, him. “Evil concupiscence.” This refers to unholy desire, evil desires. This too must be mortified by the believer. “Covetousness.” It seems to me that some of you may have been pulling about you your cloak of self-righteousness as 1 spoke to you of fornication, of unclean- ness, of inordinate affection, and of evil concupiscence, You consider those things beneath your standard of morality. Those you think of as being sinful. But when you think of covetousness— what then? Do you think of the miser as being covetous? Yes, he is. Do you think of the rich capitalist as being covetous? Probably he is. But do not forget that to be covetous one need not have riches. The poorest pauper may be more covet- ous than the rich man. Covetousness is a matter of desire, of attitude. Dr. Ma- claren has said that it is significant that Paul here connects covetousness with evil concupiscence or sensuality. “The world- ly nature flies for solace either to the pleasures of appetite or acquisition. How many respectable middle-aged gentle- men are now mainly devoted to making money whose youth was foul with sensual indulgence. Covetousness is ‘promoted vice, lust superannuated.’ ” How many believers need to mortify covetousness! It is one of the big sins in the church today. The seriousness, the grossness of this sin, becomes ap- parent when we remember two things. The first is that Paul teaches in I Cor. 5 that believers shall not eat with a brother who is covetous. In the same category are fornicators, idolaters, railers, drunk- ards, and extortioners. I repeat, covet- ousness is such a heinous sin that be- lievers are forbidden to eat with a broth- er who is covetous. Personally I believe that this eating refers to the Lord’s Sup- per. So you see that any brother who is covetous shall not be admitted to the Lord’s table. The second is that Paul here, and elsewhere, teaches that covet- ousness is idolatry. That man who is covetous is an idol worshiper. What idol? It may be the idol of money. Be- sides that, does he not also worship the idol of self? John Wesley was afraid of covetousness. He said that he got money out of his hands before he got it into his heart. I believe that some of the Lord’s children are rich without being covetous. They have riches in their hands, but not in their hearts. Edgar Allan Poe said, “The Romans worshiped their stand- ards; and the Roman standard happened to ibe an eagle. “Our standard is only one tenth of an eagle— a dollar— but we make all even by adoring it with tenfold devotion. May the Lord help us to mortify covet- ousness before money gets into our heart. Then Paul goes on to say that because of these things— fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness — the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience. You see Paul believed in the wrath of God. Today many no longer believe and teach that God has wrath. Hundreds of times the Bible teaches that God is a God of wrath. Now He is dealing in grace and mercy. Now His golden scep- ter is extended. But someday His wrath will fall. Even now His wrath is abiding on those who reject the Lord Jesus Christ. John 3:36. But Paul teaches that the wrath of God will fall on the children of disobedience. God help 11s to take these things to heart! “In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them.” One time we who are now saved walked and lived in these things. We may not have com- mitted the overt acts. People may not have been aware of our immorality, our impurity, our passion, our evil desires, and our covetousness, but we had these things in our hearts, if not in our open actions, and we were guilty before God, for He judges the desires, the attitudes, the thoughts, the motives. Thank God we have been saved from these things. Thank God we no longer live in them. Thank God that the reasons for the wrath of God have been removed. Thank God that because of the Lord Jesus Christ the wrath of God no longer abides on us. “For which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobe- dience.” As I close this message, let me address these few questions to you for your sober reflection. Are you still liv- ing in these things? Have you still the wrath of God abiding on you? Would you be delivered from these thi Would you escape the wrath of God? Then flee to the Lord Jesus Christ for, salvation. God help you to do that very thing now while grace and mercy are still extended to you. Orrville, Ohio. Our Readers Say — ,r J 1 Since I was privileged to attend the Brunk re- vivals my soul has been stirred and 1 appreciate the Bible more. We use the Williams New Testament in our daily devotional period. It is in simple language that the children can easily understand. After we started to attend the re- vival meetings we could hardly stay away. The messages were so inspiring and stirring, es- pecially the one on, How Can I Know the Holy Spirit Dwells in Me. My prayer is that the re- vival fires may not die, but may continue to burn, that our congregation may also have a revival, for there are many just satisfied to be members, but spiritually asleep. Keep on pray( ing. — Mrs. Ruth Leaman , Denver, Pa. a be .1 J a gospel herald ESTABLISHED 1908 AS SUCCESSOR TO GOSPEL WITNESS (ISOS) AND HERALD OF TRUTH (1864) PAUL ERB. EDITOR CATHERINE HERNLEY, editorial assistant J. D. GRABER, missions editor JOHN L. HORST, MILLARD C. LIND, associate editors MENNONITE PUBLICATION BOARD, SCOTTDALE, PA,. THE GOSPEL HERALD IS A RELIGIOUS WEEKLY PUBLISHED IN THE INTERESTS OF THE MENNONITE CHURCH BY THE ENTERED AS SECOND-CLASS MATTER IN ,908 AT THE POST OFFICE AT SCOTTDALE, PA., UNDER ACT OF MARCH S, .679. SUBSCRIPTION PRICE: ,3.00 PER YEAR, THREE Y RS IMPLE COPIES SENT FREE ON REQUEST. SEND ALL MATERIAL FOR PUBLICATION TO GOSPEL HERALD, SCOTTDAI.E, PA. IN ADVANCE, SS.OO, FIVE YEARS IN ADVANCE, $12.50. SAP. PRINTED IN U.S.A. January i, 1952 GOSPEL HERALD 3 EDITORIAL The Work in Arkansas Recently the editor, with members of his family, had the privilege of visiting our churches in Arkansas. He had been there fifteen years ago, when our evangel- izing effort there was just beginning. It as gratifying to see the growth of the work during this time, and to sense the possibilities for further development. We found workers whose consecration and devotion to the cause is an inspira- tion. Some of them are young people who have gone to that section and are working under the Mennonite Board of Missions and Charities to carry on the varied program of a rural mission. Some are families who have gone there, en- tirely on their own financial responsi- bility, to make their contribution to the cause as they have opportunity. Then here are the faithful members who have ne into the church from the com- munities served, and are helping in their own way to build the kingdom of God. There are three congregations. The oldest one is Bethel Springs, at Culp. It was established in 1936. Bro. Frank Horst is the pastor. It is the center of the work carried on by the Mission Board. This, in addition to the church, is three- fold. There is the Bethel Springs School, with work offered in twelve grades. Bro. Edwin Alderfer is the principal. He is assisted by Paul Diener, Theodore Wal- ter, and Arietta Selzer. These men are all married, and their wives assist in the work in various ways. Near by is the Mission Farm, managed by Clifford -Strubhar, who is also superintendent of a Sunday school at Advance. Upstream from the church is the Clinic. David and Rhoda Wenger live here. Sister Wenger is trained to give needed health service to people who have difficult access to a doctor’s help. The second congregation (third in order of founding) is Mount Joy, at Optimus, some ten miles from Culp. Bro. M. E. Bontreger is pastor here. He is establishing himself in the chicken business, and is planning to be self- 17 upporting. Some of the workers from ,ulp help here on Sundays. Services are tpld in a community building; a church gets^eded. has to third congregation, Mountain View, at Buffalo, is on the other side of the White River, which in this country of no bridges is a real barrier. There are ferries, but in high water they may not operate. Bro. Clarence Horst is pastor at Mountain View. He has a chicken busi- ness, and is self-supporting. (The Horsts last year furnished meals to over 2000 guests, many of whom forgot that meals cost money.) This congregation has a beautiful new church building. Adjoin- ing it is a splendid Christian Day School, taught by Marvin Miller. There is a preaching outpost at Rea Valley, a prom- ising location if a consecrated family could be located there. Rest Haven, at Midway, is the Baxter County Home. It is administered by our workers, with Bro. Will Schrock as superintendent. This service is highly satisfactory to the community, and a neighboring county wants the Mennonites to operate their home also. The workers of the Moun- tain View congregation also conduct a Sunday school at Three Brothers. There is a good prospect, we were told, that a Mennonite doctor, perhaps also a laboratory technician, will take up prac- tice in this part of Arkansas. They will find great need for their services, and an opportunity for Christian witness. We give this information on the edi- torial page in the hope that our people will read it here and become better in- formed concerning this portion of our home mission field. Let us repeat these general impressions: 1. The General Mission Board has made a good selection of a field for significant rural mission work. There is a variety of opportunity for Christian witness and service. 2. The sacrificial labors of the workers in Arkansas are a real inspiration and a challenge to others to go and do like- wise. 3. One does not have to be appointed and supported by a mission board in order to do mission work. It is financial- ly possible and spiritually profitable to live among those who need spiritual help, and thus also give them an example in the Christian way of life. 4. There are some fine opportunities for individuals and groups to help this work along by supplying pressing needs in these rural centers. The^editor will be glad to make suggestions to any who are interested. 5. In our cross-country drives we do well to visit our churches in Arkansas. But let us not forget to leave our contri- bution for the work. Respect for Personality Every human being has the right to be treated as one. Some people are chil- dren; some are senile; some are mentally ill; some are subnormal in some respect or other; some are dependent, financially or otherwise. But they arc all people- created by God and endowed with a soul and with certain inalienable rights. We cannot dismiss them as “kids,” as paupers, as insane, as "foreigners,” as ol some lower stratum of society, just be- cause they are human, they deserve some different treatment from mere animals or inanimate “things.” No matter how much you think of some dog or horse, you wouldn’t want to stand up beside your pet and say, “God created us equal.” But so far as inherent right is concerned, when you stand beside any man or woman, boy or girl, you must say, “We stand equal before God.” Even the mentally deficient, we are told, often quickly sense whether those who care for them really respect and love them. Children like to be recognized and to be treated, not as some subhuman playthings, but as real persons. Employ- ees respond with alacrity to employers who do not consider them as machines or as marketable “labor.” Congregations want a minister who appraises them, not as an “audience,” but as individuals with specialized needs and problems. Boys and girls need parents who do not “treat them all alike,” but who can talk to ‘hem one by one. Slavery of any kind is a sin against the human spirit, in that it forces some people under the tyranny of other people. Respect is shown primarily in one’s fundamental attitudes. It expresses it- self in dignity of address, in a respectful attention to what another says, in a re- straint against all ridicule and scorn. Re- spect refuses to participate in humiliat- ing another, or in dragging his name into the dust. It sees in every person at least a potential son of God, and is ready to do anything possible to turn that potentiality into actuality. Whom God hath honored with fife let no one dishonor by bringing that life into disadvantage or disrepute. 4 GOSPEL HERALD January i, 1952 Atomic Research Dates Oldest Bible Manuscript Bible study has now been added to the growing list of peacetime uses for atomic energy. Nuclear scientists, using a Geig- er counter, have established the approxi- mate age of the Dead Sea scrolls found in a cave in Palestine four years ago. They date from the time of Christ, as archaeol- ogists have maintained, and not from the Middle Ages, as some language scholars have insisted. These ancient Hebrew scrolls of the Book of Isaiah thus have been verified as the oldest known Biblical manuscript. Willard F. Libby, a radio chemist at the University of Chicago, devised the technique for dating by radioactivity. The December issue of Popular Science Monthly tells how Libby obtained frag- ments of the linen wrappings in which the scrolls were stored, burned them to pure carbon, then measured the radio- activity of the carbon-14 in a special Geiger counter, arriving at the conclu- sion that the llax from which the linen was made was alive and breathing 1,917 years ago. This would date the scrolls in the year 34 A.D., approximate date of the cruci- fixion, but Libby notes that allowance must be made for a margin of error of a century or two either way. “When the atom bomb first mush- roomed its message of death and de- struction into the sky six years ago,” says Popular Science , “there were many who speculated on the future uses of atomic energy. But few if any put Bible study on their list. “Now, as Christmas of 1951 nears, we find the seeming miracle has come to pass. Science is revealed as the hand- maid of religion; radioactive carbon- 14 and the Geiger counter are instruments for casting new light on the accuracy of the modern Bible. Cosmic rays that bombarded the earth when Christ was born have left behind a coded message for nuclear physicists to decipher. “It was strangely fitting that nuclear scientists, turning from war to peacetime research, should undertake the task of determining the age of an ancient tran- script of the Book of Isaiah, usually con- sidered the greatest of the Old Testa- ment prophets. “For it was Isaiah who, 25 centuries ago, envisioned a time when the weapons of war would be reconverted forever into the tools of peace: ‘They shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning-hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.’ And it was Isaiah who asked: ‘14410 hath measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, and meted out heaven with the span, and comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure, and weighed the mountains in scales, and the hills in a balance?’ Popular Science Monthly. Carnal By S. F. Coffman All believers rejoice in the knowledge of a salvation that has been wrought by God Himself through His Son Jesus Christ, and is maintained by the presence and aid of the Comforter, the Holy Ghost. A salvation made effective and maintained by all the pow'ers of heaven is satisfactory, and gives to every believer the assurance of the blessed hope. But in our experience in living the life that has been saved by the work of God we find many hindrances and meet many problems. Such experiences have been had by Christians many years ago. Our problems are such as have been faced by the first believers. Paul’s letters w'ere all written to the Christians and to the leaders of the churches. The letters of James, Peter, John, and Jude were ex- positions of the Gospel as related to Christian living. It would appear, from the nature of the apostolic messages, that it was more difficult to keep the believers saved than to have brought them to sal- vation. Their purpose, however, was to reveal more fully the nature of the blessed hope and to show the fullness of the grace of God through Christ. It is difficult for the human mind to grasp with appreciation all that belongs to a normal Christian experience. We fail to distinguish between what is na- tural and physical and what is spiritual. Paul w'rote and prayed in his Ephesian letter, “That the eyes of your understand- ing be enlightened; that ye may know the hope of his calling, and the riches of his inheritance in the saints ...” (Eph. 1:17 ff ) . Spiritual enlightenment comes to those who are spiritual. I Cor. 1:12- 16. The Scriptures explain themselves. We often misapply or misinterpret them, and this results in difficulties. The Carnal Problem Our English translators were more inclined to be classical in their use of our language than to be explicit in their translations. A variety of terms was used for the same Greek or Latin word. It is because of the interchange of terms that we have two words in our English ver- sion for one word, both in the Greek and Latin versions. The term flesh is a trans- lation of the Greek word sarx, and the Latin word caro. Rut we have the deriv- ative, carnal, from the Latin, which means fleshly. Eleven times the term carnal is used, and in all the passages in the Greek the word sarx or its deriva- tives is used and refers to flesh. But in four passages the same Greek word is translated fleshly: II Cor. 1:12; I Peter 2:14; II Cor. 3:37; Col. 2:18. Everything that is termed carnal, therefore, is related to our flesh— to our physical nature. The term body is uni- formly translated. Only four adjective forms are found, and are derivatives ol the word body— bodily. One passage con- tains both terms, showing the relation between the flesh and the body: Col. 1:22. “Reconciled in the body of his flesh, through death.” This Scripture gives significance to the nature of the body of Jesus. “A body hast thou prepared me” (Heb. 10:5). “The Word was made Hesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:14). There was a glory of life manifested through that flesh. See the context. “What the law could not do, in that it was weak through the Hesh, God send- ing his own Son in the likeness of sinful Hesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the Hesh” (Rom. 8:3). In this passage the flesh of Christ is the same as that of man. T he resurrected hody of Jesus was! changed from that which He bore in life and which went to the grave, let H spoke of His resurrection body, “Behqfli my hands and my feet, that it is I myf handle me, and see; for a spirit hath/not Hesh and bones, as ye see me have” (Luke 24:39). The term flesh in this passage is the same as in other Scriptures, from the Greek sarx, which means flesh. But the flesh which Jesus bore after His resur I i It Happened — f FIFTY YEARS AGO ( From Herald of Truth, Dec. 19, 1901 ) The new meeting house at Elmdale, Mich., was opened for public worship on the 24th of November. Bro. John Blosser, of New Stark, Ohio, conducted the services. The new meeting house built by the congregation at . . . Ephrata, . . . Pa., was opened for public worship . . . Dec. 1. Bishops Jacob N. Brubacker, of Mt. Joy, and Abraham Herr, of New Danville, officiated. , The missionaries, P. A. Penner and® wife, and John F. Kroeker and wife, who went to India under the auspices of the Mission Board of the General Confer- ence Mennonites, and have been makin: their home with our missionaries Dhamtari, report that they have no1 found suitable places for mission statio: the former at Champa, C.P., India, the latter at Janjgir, C.P. January i , 195 2 5 rection was without blood. He shed liis blood on Calvary. It is possible to summarize a lew lacts regarding the Hesh: 1. All men have the same Hesh. 2. Jesus had the same Hesh as men, although He was the Son of God. 3. Christians have the same Hesh as other men. 4. it is not sin to dwell, or live, in the Hesh. 5. The Hesh is not changed by con- version, nor by any act ol grace in Chris- tian life or experience. Paul continued to live in the Hesh. b. Flesh is corruptible; it will die. Our bodies are mortal. 7. The mortal body cannot be quick- ened, and is not quickened, except as Christ’s body was quickened from the dead by the Holy Spirit. 8. Our bodies and members can be yielded to the Lord to become servants ol righteousness, but remain Hesh in such service. Vineland, Ont. Sam Hoskins Writes XII Dear Editor, Well if you really are interested in what janitors see when they go visiting I’ll be glad to tell you what we saw in some of the services we was privileged to attend. Just like I said there wasn’t all good or all bad any place we was. It was a funny thing though, the church that had the most talking during the services had a preacher that waited until they got quiet before he would pray. I liked that, but I don’t know why he didn’t wait until everybody stopped talking before he preached because it was one of the most practical sermons 1 heard lately. It helped me and I think it would have helped the two intermediate boys that sat in front of me and talked for three fourths of the time if they had listened. But 1 guess you couldn’t blame them too much Because I saw some married wom- en talking too. I mean to each other, not just visiting with their babies. What would you do in a case like that? Then of course I was interested in what became of the extra Sunday-school literature. I used to use ours for kin- dling, but the juniors got to reading in the Words of Cheer about ways oL using them for scrapbooks and the like and there aren’t many left. I’m glad, for I always did hate to be burning up those good papers. I get enough old quarter- lies yet to start my fires. From what I saw in the churches we visited there are a number of ideas how to get the papers to people. One church has all its papers sent right to the homes according to the ages of the people in that home. That way everybody always gets a paper and nobody but the secretary has to bother and that just once a year, GOSPEL FIERALD 1 understand. Doris and another girl in the class that had moved in sometime before didn’t get any paper that way, but seems to me they could have a few extra papers at the church for visitors and the like. Another way that looked right practi- cal to me was a post office arrangement in the vestibule, where each family goL papers. That way they didn’t miss any eitner even when they didn’t come every Sunday and there was somebody to see that strangers got a paper. At our Sunday school the papers are put on a Lable in the vestibule alier everybody goes in to the church service. That way tlie children don’t have them to be tempted to read when the preacher preaches. (But 1 don’t think we can be so Hard on them if they do. Sometimes when the service gets so draggy like some do sometimes I'd read the hymn- book myself or count up how many pieces Isaac Watts or somebody wrote if I didn’t know better. Sometimes I have divided the offering by the attend- ance. I guess 1 didn’t fool myself or God, but I wasn’t an evil influence and you learn a good bit that way.) But getting back to tne subject, 1 want to tell you about two situations that I thought were just too bad. In one church we visited, a secretary kept bob- bing around counting papers ana hand- ing them into the classes. Fhen of course there was a iot of noise as the teachers distributed them at the end of the class and I saw a lot of even young people reading during the services. 1 guess you down there at Scottdale will be glad though to hear that they found the papers so inviting. The worst was a little church that was about the sleepiest outfit I ever saw in my life. I saw the preacher wasn’t mak- ing much progress beyond talking to the deacon up at the pulpit and I wanted to shake hands with him because he’s Ben Yoder’s brother-in-law and I knew Ben would ask about him. That way I got to see in the cupboard in back of the pulpit and I declare there must have been a half bushel of literature back there and some of the rolls of papers weren’t even opened. I imagine that was when the big blizzard was or maybe they had an epidemic last winter. Don’t you call that being on your toes? Maybe that’s enough in that key. I wanted to tell you about several good ideas I run across that maybe you would want to write an editorial on sometime if you think they are good. Here is one I told our preacher about and he’s Been doing it ever since. That is instead of the preacher staying up front and being held up by some good brethren that don’t need him so bad anyway he pro- nounces the bendiction and then has the chorister lead in a hymn while he walks to the back of the church and then he’s ready to shake hands with everybody in- cluding the boys that always dash for the door. Then another thing f found out was that aL one church tne superintendent never calls on anybody to pi ay unless he asks him betoreliand. That sure saved me a lot ol embarrassment. I’m not as lluent as you preachers and don’t get called on so often so I get sort of rattled when I’m supposed to pray out loud so sudden like, it would have really lius- Lered me away from home like that. But Lhat isn’t the most important reason 1 like the idea ihough. I think most anybody would be more likely Lo really Lead in prayer il he had a little time to consider what Lhe congregation needs. He can think who’s sick and say, "God bless Brother Smith,” and so forth, in- stead of just saying, “Bless the sick and the afHicted” e^ery Sunday. He could think what to pray lor in line with the Scripture that was read. He can remem- ber that he read in the conference mis- sion news that they need a new mission home in Bacon Holiow instead of say- ing, “Bless all our misionaries and sup- ply all their needs.” I’d think that would remind himself and the other people that God wants them to give a little more lor Bacon Hollow instead of leaving so much of it to be supplied if it ever is. Another thing tms same superintend- ent did they told me was to sometimes ask another brother a couple days ahead of time to prepare to read the devotional reading and lead in prayer. It always has struck me sorta queer that any eighth grader knows enough to study his piece lor literary but some leaders think they can look in the quarterly on the way to church to see what reading is suggested and then stumble over the words. It’s no wonder some of them still say “shoe” when they read “shew.” (Cory straight- ened me out on that soon after we was married.) I wish we’d have more reading like in Nehemiah’s time when they read “distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading.” No wonder those people “were attentive to the book of the law” a half day at once. Another thing on the good side of this plan I was telling about is that the leader of the prayer is up front where his petitions can be heard and not down fac- ing a bench, like as not with his head between his hands like he’s in the habit. I reckon there’s some who don’t think we ought to do anything different from what we’re always used to. But if we’re glad we don’t still worship like they done Before the Reformation we ought to be glad for some little reformations along where somebody sees they can be done. I ain’t much for this building sepulchres stuff myself while we try to kill every new idea that comes along be- fore we take a good look at it. Cory says she knew it would be like this if I got started writing again. I’ll try to write along when I think of things you might be interested in. Sincerely, Sam 6 GOSPEL HERALD What God Expects of Youth — A Christian Character Topic Presented at Prairie Street Men- nonite Church, Elkhart, Indiana By Ruth C. Roth By way of introduction to this topic, let us hrst of all detine the two mam words under consideration. A Christian, in the broadest sense of the term, is a disciple or follower of Christ. Character is wfiat one actually is; reputation, wliat he is thought to be by omers. God ex- pects a Christian character of youth who have chosen His name. Why? Because, as followers of Christ, we are to try, with His help, to live perfect lives. What are some of the “earmarks” of a Christian character? Honesty, temper- ance, personal holiness, and love are tour of the necessary traits of a Christian character that shall be considered in this topic. In Heb. 13:18 we read the following verse concerning HONESTY: “Pray for us: for we trust we have a good consci- ence, in all things willing to live hon- estly.” According to the dictionary, hon- esty means to be fair, true, just, upright, or trustworthy. The Program Builder offers the fol- lowing thoughts concerning honesty: “If someone asked us to name some traits of character, probably one of the first we would mention would be hon- esty. Even among non-Christians, to say ‘He’s an honest man’ is one of the highest tributes that one man can pay to an- other. ‘Honesty is the best policy’ sug- gests its advantages from a worldly point of view. If the world values honesty, God does much more. If honesty brings material advantages, much more does it bring spiritual blessings. God expects youth to be honest.” In Melvin Gingerich’s book Youth and Christian Citizenship, it is suggested “that people tend to fall into four class- es with respect to their attitude toward truthfulness. At the bottom are those who lie frequently, even when it would be just as easy to tell the truth. In the second position are those who always tell the truth except when their interests are deeply involved and they think they can gain an advantage by lying. The next two classes are on a higher moral plane. In the third group are those who never deliberately he. They always at- tempt to speak the truth, and people have faith and confidence in them. The fourth group occupies the highest po- sition of all. They have such a high re- gard for truth that they will spend time and energy in discovering it. They are aware of the fact that falsehoods often masquerade as truths.” They also know “that many statements are mere rumors” and are careful to discover the truth be- fore repeating it. This class of people “determine not merely to be passively honest, accepting and following truth when it is easy to do, but positively and actively honest. They do not merely ac- cept and follow the truth, but they fer- ret it out, look for it, find it, and pro- claim it.” “To be a Christian is to be genuinely truthful,” according to Bro. Gingerich. He states that “falsity and hypocrisy are sins that bring the wrath of God upon individuals, according to the teaching of the Scriptures.” In Phil. 4:8, as found in the Wey- mouth translation of the Bible, Paul says: “Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever wins respect, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is loveable, whatever is of good repute, if there is “He Staggered Not” Romans 4:20 By S. N. Leitner He staggered not but marched right on, The ancient hero Abraham ; He trusted in the Eternal One ; His heart had heard God say, I Am. He staggered not, though unbelief Sought everywhere to bar his way; The promise gripped his eager soul, And nothing could his progress stay. He staggered not, but strong in faith, Believing God with all his soul, By faith o’ercame his every foe; The promise led him to his goal. He staggered not but glory gave To God whose promise he believed. Sure that in God’s own good time The promised heir should be received. So let me live my life each day And stagger not but still believe, That in my Father’s own good way All that is best I shall receive. Birch Tree, Mo. any virtue or anything deemed worthy of praise— cherish the thought of these things.” TEMPERANCE is the next trait of Christian character about which we shall think. I Corinthians 9:25 reads as fol- lows: “And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things.” For the same verse, the American Stand- ard Version of the Bible states: “And every man that striveth in the games exerciseth self-control in all things.” According to Erdman’s Commentary on First Corinthians, “Paul was fond of picturing the Christian life under figures drawn from the Greek games. He refers here to these contests, in order to em- January t, 1952 l : V phasize the need of self-control and selt- uenial even in matters morally indiffer- ent. In answering tne question as to the use of meats oliered to idols, Paul has been insisting upon the necessity of retraining irom wnat is in itselt innocent in case indulgence may interfere with Christian service. He made it his rule to become ‘all things to ail men,’ that is to accommodate himself to the preju- dices and scruples of others in order that he might win them for Christ and be- come partakers with them of the fuff blessings of the Gospel. Here he insists that ad who are to share this blessed- ness must likewise limit their liberties and must practice the same denial which the apostle is imposing upon himself.” The Program Builder suggests the fol- lowing concerning temperance or self- control: “The backbone of Christian character is temperance or self-control. Possibly there is nothing so hard for young people to develop. We have a reputation (and can we deny that it is too often true?) for going to extremes. We are young, strong, abounding with life. Is it strange that youth should be a time when we are especially tempted to run to excess and abuse good things, or to trust in our strength and indulge in things that we should leave strictly alone? But under God we need to har- ness and direct our energies. He expects us to be temperate.” There are several paragraphs from an article entitled, “Solt Christians,” writ- ten by Lauren A. King, appearing in the February, 1949, Christian Digest that 1 would like to have you consider with me I" on this subject of temperance. “Soft Christians? Yes, soft, self-indul- ^ gent, undisciplined Christians! There j are far too many of them. Oh, they are probably Christians. They don’t seem ( wicked; they are not committing open sin; they are satisfactorily orthodox; 1 they are mildly active in the work of Christ. “But they are soft, flabby. They are without toughness and discipline of be- lief and life. “They are mild in everything. They don’t reject the fundamentals of the Christian faith; they don’t believe them passionately either. They are not a burning disgrace to their Christian pro- 1 fession; they are not an honor to it. At j times they are deeply stirred by religious feelings; at others, are perfectly un- emotional about religion; but they have no deep, unflagging passion for God. They see no harm in a great many pleas- ant but questionable or borderline prac- tices. Wide areas of their lives their professed Christianity seems not to touch. They are self-indulgent. They follow mostly their own feelings or de- sires or whims of the moment; they sel- dom refuse a personal desire or do a difficult and unselfish deed. . . . “Now, in contrast with this soft Chris- tianity, real Christianity is tough and requires self-control, self-discipline, self- : -r January i, 1952 GOSPEL HERALD 7 A Prayer for This Week Our Father, we thank Thee for Thy infinitude; that Thou art perfect in every virtue, and that we are Thy chil- dren. We praise Thee for Jesus Christ our Saviour, Lord, and Hign Priest: for His accomplished salvation, received and possessed; for Thy Holy Spirit, to com- fort, give light, life, guidance, and to intercede for us. We thank Thee for committing unto us the ministry and word of reconcilia- tion for the world. Enlighten and awake Thy sleeping churches. Revive and enlighten their leaders, to be not only preachers, but shepherds and teachers, to nurture every member, young and old. Cleanse our people from sin, that the church be not a mission field, but every member a mis- sionary. Open the closed countries for the Gospel, Lord, by Thy providence. Hold the devil’s wrath in abeyance. Let there be tranquillity among nations, instead of war. Prosper the Bible societies. Find translators for the thousand languages still waiting for the Gospel. Send faith- ful laborers to every nation and tribe and to the many thousands of islands, that millions may yet receive salvation before the judgment. Thou hast promised ALL through Christ: in His name we pray. —Shem Peachey. denial. ‘If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up Ins cross daily, and follow me’ (Luke y:23). Here is a ngure of speech built on cruci- fixion. It calls for a daily death by self- denial. It means that those desires that iead to evil must be so thoroughly denied every day that they are for eacfi occasion made as good as dead. We cannot follow every passing fancy, yield to every im- pulse, continually do what we like, in- dulge every appetite and desire— and yet follow Christ. Some desires must be con- trolled, some impulses tamed, some parts of ourselves denied. We must leave this softness, this moral flabbiness that ac- quiesces to all our desires. We must learn to say ‘No.’ Only thus can we fol- low Him.” God expects PERSONAL HOLINESS of youth. This is the third character trait of a Christian that we shall con- sider. The Herald Press has printed a tract entitled, “How Good Do I Need to Be?” which is condensed from a Goshen College chapel address by Carl Kreider. I wish to quote several paragraphs that express my thoughts on this topic as stated in the tract. “In the final analysis there are only two types of ethical ideals. One insists that there is an absolute standard to which all people should try to conform. In the Christian religion this standard is outlined in the Word of God and was manifested in the perfect life of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. The other type of ethical thinking says that all standards are relative, that what is right or wrong depends upon the time or place— upon what other people around you are doing. “If, as Christians, someone were to ask which ethical ideal we have, absolute or relative, we would all agree that we be- lieve in an absolute standard. If we re- flect on some of our actions in concrete cases, however, we may discover that the relative idea has made far greater in- roads into our thinking than one might suppose. . . . “In school students sometimes cheat on examinations. At some other time an instructor asks for written papers to be handed in. Perhaps he does not give enough time and perhaps the writing of papers seems without value. For these reasons it becomes a temptation to copy from a book and turn in the paper as the original work of the student. Do we try to justify such conduct by saying that it isn’t as bad as cheating on an examina- tion? If so, we are using a relative stand- ard of morality. . . . “ ‘Not as bad as . . .’ and ‘no worse than . . .’ are not really moral standards at all for two very important reasons. In the first place, any possible action could be defended in this way. This is true because we can always (in our own minds, at least) find someone else who is just a little worse than we are. Swear- ing would be all right because we can always find someone who is capable of using more vile language. Lying would be ail right because there is always some- one else who tells still greater falsehoods. Stealing would be all right because someone else has stolen still larger sums of money or still more valuable property. “The next time you hear yourself de- fending one of your actions by saying you are not being as bad as someone else, stop short and ask this question: ‘Am I as good as Jesus would want me to be?’ The next time you catch yourself saying that you have been no morse than some- one else, why don’t you immediately ask yourself the question: ‘Is the thing I have done the right thing for a Chris- tian to do?J “Jesus has commanded us, ‘Be ye there- fore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect’ (Matt. 5:48). Jesus’ remarks in the two verses immediately preceding this verse add a great deal of lorce to the verse: ‘For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?’ In other words. Prayer Requests — Pray that a former missionary in China may find an open door among the Chinese of Los Angeles. A sister who is ill and has poor vision re- quests the prayers of God’s children. Pray for Sister Dora Taylor as she min- isters through the newly established clinic in Honduras. Pray for a spiritual cleansing in the church. Pray for the lepers who come for treat- ment to our mission in Ethiopia. Pray that the curse of permanent mili- tarism may not come upon us through Universal Military Training. Pray that the way may be opened for effective witness in alternative service by our 1-0 men. Pray for the Mission and the Church in India as they prepare to operate unit- edly under a new constitution, begin- ning July 1. Pray for our young men of draft age, and their parents, that they may stand for Christian convictions on nonresist- ance, and be willing to make personal sacrifice in the interests of Christian witness. Pray that the door may continue to be open for teaching the Bible in the government schools in Tanganyika. ( Requests for this column must be signed.) though His hearers might have claimed that certain of their acts were no worse than others, Jesus condemned them for being ‘just as bad as’ some of the worst sinners of their day not meeting the perfection found in God. Certainly Je- sus would have had no use for a stand- ard of righteousness other than our per- fect Fattier in heaven, and if we aim to follow Him we too must have this ab- solute standard.” The fourth character trait of a Chris- tian which we shall consider is LOVE. All other traits of character fail without love. Let us meditate on portions of I Corinthians 15, according to the Wey- mouth translation of the Bibie, to find out what Paul thinks of love. “Love is forbearing and kind. Love knows no jealousy. Love does not brag; is not conceited. She is not unmanneny, nor selfish, nor irritable, nor mindful of wrongs. She does not rejoice in in- justice, but joyfully sides with the truth. She can overlook faults. She is full of trust, full of hope, full of endurance. 8 GOSPEL HERALD January i, 195 2 OUR SCHOOLS A Christian Witness Against Low Morals in Athletics By Nelson E. Kauffman Love never fails. . . . And so there re main faith, hope, love— these three; bui of these the greatest is love.” As previously suggested, four of the basic character traits that a Christian should have are honesty, temperance, personal holiness, and love. In order loi Christian youth to be what God wants them to be, they must try, with God's help, to develop strong characteristics along the lines mentioned. Since God has created mankind, He naturally has a right to expect every youth who has be- come a Christian to try to live up to those standards which He has given to us in His book, the Bible. Let us re- member that as Christian young people we are building the church of tomorrow. Unless we develop strong Christian char- acters today, we cannot expect to provide the church of tomorrow that will be pleasing to God.— Missionary Guide. Anticipation By F. Rose Buckwalter ‘‘Spring is just around the corner” has become a phrase in common usage in our American communities. Just how large is the corner? It may be a month or perhaps just a few weeks, or, wonder of wonders, a few days. How- ever long or short the corner is, Spring will inevitably come around it. The hint of its coming is either felt or seen or merely anticipated. It is one of those things we are sure will come; so we eagerly look for the signs. They are in the little green blades of grass, the returning robins, the swell- ing buds, blooming crocuses, pussy wil- lows, jonquils in the garden, and the honk, honk of wild geese flying north. This last one is the surest sign and gives the greatest thrill of anticipation. We greet the coming of Spring with a great purging of our homes and grounds. “Surely I come quickly” is not a com- mon household phrase; however, it is a promise laden with a greater antici- pation and surrounded with signs just as sure as those which point to the com- ing of Spring. But it is not held in es- teem by everyone. Why the difference? Perhaps we who believe this promise of Jesus’ coming are not showing our eager desire for it as we do for the tran- sient yearly coming of Spring. There are signs of His coming which are just as sure and even more thrilling. They are all written in the Book of books. We can see them in the budding fig tree, in the increased revealing of earth’s vast secrets to men, in the restless migration of the peoples of the world because of war or for other reasons. The flying of the wild geese following one leader is symbolic of humanity seek- ing One to give them peace. The major- ity find no peaceful habitation because they are following the wrong leader. He “that hath this hope [Christ | in him' purifieth himself, even as he is pure.” Hesston, Kans. During the past months few weeks have passed in which there were not articles in the press— editorials, columnist reactions, or reports of court proceed- ings regarding the crime and low morals in the field of intercollegiate athletics. In a barbershop today, while a football game was being broadcast, the barber remarked that the corruption in this area of college athletics was only a re- flection of crime and corruption in poli- tics, and other areas of public life. There is no doubt more than a grain of truth in that observation. In a metropolitan newspaper of Nov. 22 a columnist of that paper and con- tributing editor of Newsweek magazine says: “The full text of Judge Saul Streit’s statement in sentencing ‘fixed’ basket- ball players should be printed in every educational journal in the land. In that way or in some other way, the presidents and governing powers of our colleges should be shamed or frightened or other- wise persuaded to do what most of them have shirked doing up to date.” He then went on to describe “low college morals” which countenance virtual pur- chase of ballplayers and tampering with grades and transcripts in order to build a winning team. As we observe the reaction of the pub- lic to these scandals, and the editorial sentiment against these evils, we thank God that our Mennonite colleges have been free from the occasion to fall into such temptations because our Board of Education has firmly stood opposed to any form of intercollegiate athletics. But we are at the same time alarmed at the growing interest and participation of parents of our high-school and college students in commercialized sports, which is evidenced in their attendance at games. These students, then, bring to the church college campus a pressure for at least a limited form of intercollegiate athletics which college administrators and Board officials must face and resist. This form of worldliness must be recog- nized and definitely dealt with. Board members should be ready to stand by the position which the current exposure clearly indicates is the Christian position, an intramural program of athletics which is a means for the physical and social de- velopment of the student. This program must never become an end in itself. The temptation that besets our young men and athletic directors is to engage in questionable programs with compet- ing teams, under cover of semisecrecy or pretense of other interests. Young peo- ple may plan a trip, presumably for some other reason, but under close scrutiny it is clear that the real objective is some competitive game. This is the same type of low moral conduct which the press is combating. We as Christians must deal with it in the light of God’s Word. This is a day when the Christian Church must define its position on mod- ern types of recreation. Some are totally contrary to the way of Christ and others are sintul, if and when they become an j end in themselves, or if and when they I occupy an undue amount of time, ex- pense, and energy. We must have a clear, consistent, and genuinely Christian po- sition in this area of life, be it anything from playing with our children, to hunt- ing, college athletics, going South for the winter, or North for the summer. As ministers we need to be alert to the trends in church league ball games, do constructive thinking in this area, and furnish leadership in keeping every • phase of life under the control of Jesus j Christ. The Board of Education needs and seeks the support of the church in maintaining her position of total intra- mural athletics and to resist the pres- 1 sures that seek to inject a limited form of intercollegiate or interchurch sports into our institutions. In the area of athletics we are also called of God to be lights in the world. May we rise with spiritual strength, through the power of the Holy Spirit, to challenge our youth to a dedi- cation to Christ, which will gladly recog- nize that “bodily exercise profiteth little,” and utilize that little in the great struggle against the moral evils of our day, and to bring light and life to men through Christ, our Lord. Hannibal, Mo. Alluding to the Kefauver committee’s dis- closures about the loss of moral integrity in the nation, the National Council’s General Secretary said Senator Fulbright put his fin- ger on our condition when he said: “Too many people in our nation do not believe anything with conviction. The values of life which were clear to the Pilgrims and Founding Fathers have grown dim and fuz- zy in outline.” This sense of values has grown dim, Dr. Cavert suggested, because religious faith has grown dim. “Our moral standards cannot be strongly and permanently maintained apart from the faith that produced and nourishes them. Nothing is so crucial for America as an evan- gelistic and missionary ardor which will win the rank and file of our people to a robust Christian faith.” — News, from the National Council of Churches. January i, 1932 GOSPEL HERALD 9 FOR OUR SHUT-INS | The Sympathy of Christ . . so he was their Saviour; in all their afflictio?is, he ivas afflicted” (Isa. 63:8, 9). ’Tis sweet to know when we are tired, and pain Lies on our hearts; and when we look in vain For human comfort— that the heart divine Still understands these cares of yours and mine; Not only understands, but day by day Lives with us while we tread the earthly way; Bears with us all our weariness— and feels The shadow of the faintest cloud that steals Across our sunshine— even learns again The depth and bitterness of human pain. There is no sorrow that He will not share. No cross, no burden for our hearts to bear Without His help— no care of ours too small To cast on Jesus. Let us tell Him all- Lay at His feet the story of our woes, And in His sympathy find sweet repose. —Author Unknown. Thoughts for January By June B. Weber If I gave a pair of roller-skates to some- one sick in bed it would be an inap- propriate gift. Our heavenly Father is a wise gift-giver. At the end of an old and worn year He gives each one of us the welcome gift of a sparkling New Year. Everyone can use a new year. Old and young, well and sick, we all need new beginnings. In memory some of our actions in the old year make us ashamed. We may have resisted God’s plan for our spiritual growth. He lets us “trade in’’ our spotted, frayed year on a shining new one. How that calls us to use this year to bring Him honor and glory. Don’t forget to thank God for such a gracious gift. Ask for guidance and patience to live one step at a time with strong faith in Him “w'ho neither slumbers nor sleeps.” Then we can meet the challenge of this New Year. “That’s very well,” someone counters, “for people who are up and about, but when one lies in bed sick, life is just static. The New Year means nothing.” Don’t say that— don’t THINK that! It is not the purpose of our lives here to do what we think is best or most pleas- ant. The working out of God’s purpose for one’s life may cut clean to the soul. Then faith and trust come to maturity. We begin to understand how Job felt when he said, “Though he slay me yet will I trust in him.” We need to trust His wisdom in every circumstance. The way we respond to sickness and suffering can give witness to the suffici- ency of Jesus Christ. The world needs that witness. What will your life say lor Him this coming year? Oyster Point, Va. Satisfied He Shall Be Satisfied Isaiah 53: 11 He shall be satisfied When all He died to win By loving-kindness gently drawn, Are safely gathered in. When in the glory bright He views His glorious bride; Sees of the travail of His soul— He shall be satisfied. I Shall Be Satisfied Psalm 17:13 I shall be satisfied, But not while here below Where every earthly cup of bliss Is wisely mixed with woe. When this frail form shall be Forever laid aside, And in His likeness I awake I shall be satisfied. —Now. A Book Review Bedside Devotions, by Alfred Doerff- ler; Concordia Publishing House; 1950; 30 sheets; n.p. Each of the sheets is headed with a verse from the Psalms, the great devo- tional book. The author aptly continues the devotional spirit and brings it most tenderly to the bedside of the sufferer. One side is filled with meditative thoughts drawn from the Scripture verse above. The opposite side has a prayer well suited to the heart’s desire of every “shut-in.” Not only the afflicted, but also such as minister to the spiritual needs of the sick will find these brief devotional read- ings a means to that end. The busy pastor and Christian worker will find on each of these leaflets “seed-thoughts” that will stir his thinking, thus the better enabling him in this work of bringing comfort to the sick and courage to the despairing. I’he meditations are centered in the will of God. The prayers are unselfish, recognizing the overruling providence of God. So all prayers should be. “Thy will be done,” coming from the heart of the praying Christian, opens the heav- ens for every tried soul. The greatest blessing that can come to a suffering Christian is a rounded-out devotional life. Perhaps few of us who are in physi- cal health have ever come to the depth and power of a full devotional life. Most of the sheets have at the top some emblem, an “eye,” “anchor,” “rock,” the “dove,” thus already pre- figuring the message that follows. The prayers are so worded as to cover almost any type of sickbed experiences. The purpose of the author is to bring heavenly cheer to the sickroom. In this he has succeeded very well. The author has proved himself a boon to the af- flicted. The suffering will thank the author for so coming to the bedside. All who wait on the ailing will benefit by the reading of these devotional write- ups.—Moses G. Gehman. Why Doubt God’s Word? It is strange we trust each other-, And only doubt our Lord. JVe take the ivord of mortals And yet distrust His Word; But oh, what light and glory Would shine o’er all our days, If we always would remember God means just xahat He says. —A. B. Simpson. The Promised Rest Cares seem to grow heavier as the years go by. Perhaps it is that the flesh is weaker and less able to endure. Or is it that the enemy is busier today because his time is short? It does seem as though God’s children are more tested than ever before and the cares become “too heavy for thee” (Ex. 18:18). Let us be- ware lest we deserve the loving but faithful rebuke given to Martha. “Thou art careful and troubled.” Every day brings its own testings, but let us remember “He daily beareth our burden.” . . . He is touched with the feeling of our infirmities and longs to relieve the strain of every care.— Selected. “My Grace Is Sufficient” When, sin-stricken, burdened, and weary, From bondage I longed to be free, There came to my heart the sweet mes- sage: “My grace is sufficient for thee.” 10 GOSPEL HERALD January i, 1952 TO BE NEAR TO GOD THEME FOR THE WEEK: BABIES Sunday, January 6 "And Enoch lived sixty and five years, and begat Methuselah .... And all the days of Methuselah were nine hundred sixty and nine years: and he died" (Gen. 5:21, 27). When we modern parents name our babies it is usually the practice to name them after a favorite relative, or because there has al- ways been a Henry or Mary in the family. Or we may have thought a name sounded nice and we would like to tag our little one with it. But here was a man of God who named his son prophetically. It is true that the prophecy was concerning an event which as yet was nine hundred and sixty-nine years away, but no matter. Enoch, who walked with God, named his baby Methuselah, that is, “When he dies it shall come.” And it did, for Methuselah died in the year of the flood. Then was the “it” revealed as being God’s righteous judgment upon a wicked world. Even by a baby’s name was God preaching to the world for well-nigh a thousand years, yet the deaf old world would not hear. How is it with you? Monday, January 7 "Hannah . . . bare a son, and called his name Samuel, savina. 'R=cause I have asked him of the Lord" (I Sam. 1:20). The name means “asked of God.” No need to repeat the story. This woman per- petuated a memorial to answered prayer. Her son’s name has rung down through the ages. What a fine thing to ask for, and what a fine thing to get! But before she received a prom- ise even that her prayer was answered she dedicated her son — -if ever he was to be born — she dedicated her son to the Lord. Some people dedicate their son to the second farm, “the other place, not the home place”; you know what we mean. Some act as if the daughter is dedicated to wear the clothes Mother would like to wear but dare not. But Hannah wanted a son, for the Lord. Would to God all children were born that way. All children have the inalienable right to be “asked of God.” Tuesday, January 8 "Therefore David said unto his servants, Is the child dead? And they said, He is dead . . . But now he is dead, wherefore should I fast? can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me" (II Sam. 12:19, 23). Though born of grievous sin, the babe was sweet and innocent. He was loved. A palace awaited him; loving hands would do what they could. But he was taken. Mystery of life — who can fathom it? Born to breathe the Palestinian air for but a few short weeks or months — what was his mission? I do not know, except that his little life evoked the faith of the “sweet singer of Israel” who de- clares the living truth that our righteous de- parted dead await us in that haven from which it would be folly to return. Sweet babe of David and Bathsheba, your few breaths kindled love in David’s heart, and I know that I, as he, may go one day to where you, he, and mine own await me. No, babe, you did not draw breath in vain. You teach me. Wednesday, January 9 "And she called his name Moses: and she said, Because I drew him out of the water" (Ex. 2:10). This baby was named by a heathen wom- an, but Jochebed, his mother, couldn’t have done a better job of naming the baby. You see his name means “Drawn out.” How very prophetic was the name. Drawn out of the water, to be sure, but first he was drawn out of death, drawn out by faith. He was drawn out in spite of the king’s displeasure at his very birth. And then he was drawn out of the courts of Egypt when he was grown, magnetized by the recompense of the reward of the godly. Drawn out of the desert to the burning bush, drawn up to re- ceive the Ten Commandments, drawn up to view the land of Canaan, and drawn at last to the Mount of Transfiguration, there to converse about the plan of the ages. Baby Moses! You never can tell how far an in- nocent babe may go. Thursday, January 10 "And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thpe: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God" (Ruth 1:16). All grown people were once babies, and Ruth was no exception. Look at her name, for it means “Friendship.” How prophetic and satisfactory the name. Truly a friend to Naomi was she, and through that friendship was she also a friend of God. Here too was the Providence of God that a heathen family should name their girl thus. Is it supposing too much to think that they taught her to live up to her name? At least she did live up to it. And should not all our babies be taught to be friendly with the right people? Of course Ruth’s friendship did not extend to evervone, only to the righteous children of God. Well may we train our innocent babies to do the same. Friday, January 11 "Then said God, Call his name Loammi: for ye are not my people, and I will not be your God" (Hosea 1:9). If Hosea’s name were not enrolled among God’s obedient servants I should pity him. As it is I don’t. Married to a harlot at God’s command, naming his children prophetically with queer names, and then having to buy back from the slave market this runaway wife of his, who wouldn’t pity him? But no obedient servant of God needs pity. Any- wav he named his boy “Not my people.” But as “Not my people” ran around playing, his father by inspiration preached, with a lively object lesson in the neighborhood for all to see. Hear Hosea preach, perhaps with little (Continued on page 11) CALLED TO FOLLOW Sunday School Lesson for January 13 (Matthew 4:18-25; Mark 1:16-20; Luke 5:1-11) We say to God, “Where He leads I will follow.” Will we? Do we? What if He asks us to change jobs? What if He asks us to do a less remunerative job? or to do work that grants only a living allowance? Will we follow Him anywhere? In our lesson four successful businessmen were called to leave their business to go to a work that had only a living allowance. Who were they? What do we know about them before this? As disciples of John the Bap- tist they believed in the coming Messiah. When He came they recognized and accept- ed Him as the Messiah, as Master and as Lord. Often had they associated with Jesus in His work during the past year. The su- pernatural power of the Divine One was observed a number of times. In the important event of this lesson the Master is giving the four disciples a great demonstration of divine power and success of the Gospel. The crowd is pressing and the listening conditions are poor for hearing the word of God from the lips of Christ. The Master, “One standing over others,” request- ed the use of Peter’s boat which was gladly granted. Peter had what Jesus could use in His kingdom. After having finished preaching, Jesus asked Peter to “put out into the deep and lower your nets for a catch.” What a test Jesus put to Peter. “Will you believe what- ever I say? Will you go counter to all your fishing experience and disregard what the men about the shore might think and say, and do what I say?” Fishing in shallow waters and at nighttime v/as a natural meth- od for success, but Jesus was above the nat- ural. Peter declared that he would obey be- cause his Master had commanded it. This was an act of great faith in a Great Lord. Jesus learned Peter’s attitude toward Him. The great multitude of fish enclosed dem- onstrated Jesus’ miraculous and absolute power of nature. At that unlikely place and at that altogether wrong time many fish more than filled Peter’s net. Peter, realizing the deity of Jesus, felt his unworthiness to be in the presence of such an Holy One. Thus Jesus began the preparation of these fishermen to follow Him, “to catch alive” men. From this day on these disciples and believers entered the school of training under the great Teacher. It would be but a two- year period and then the Master would leave the catching to them alone (assisted by His Holy Spirit). Jesus has need of each one of us to for- sake all and follow Him. Do we doubt His power to do great things through us if we obey His commands? With Peter let us never think we know more than our Master, 1 but just trust and obey. And do not forget the enormous catch. — Alta Mae Erb. Lesson based on "International Sundav School Les- sons: the International Bible Lessons for Christian Teaching," copyrighted 1951 by the Division of Chris- tian Education National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. January i, 1952 GOSPEL HERALD 11 CHURCH MUSIC Instruments in Worship By Darrel Hostetler If you have recently visited a church where a musical instrument was used for congregational singing, will you try to recall how the singing sounded? That is, if they had congregational singing. Was everyone singing? Did the people really seem to be worshiping or were they just following the words? Did you hear four distinct voice parts or could you hear only the organ? Perhaps you heard only the loud banging of the pianist trying to keep the congregation going. At one time many people, leaders in their churches, were trying to keep un- accompanied congregational singing. Among these were Calvin, John Wesley, and Charles Spurgeon. It was Tohn Wes- ley who said, “I have no objection to instruments being in our chapels, pro- vided they are neither heard nor seen.” Robert Nevin, another church leader, said: “The effort should be to get the people to sing universally and heartily, and no paltry economy should be allowed to stand in the way of such a desirable con- summation. There may be some reason to complain in many quarters of the numbers who are dumb when God’s praise is being sung. The remedy is not to be found in the introduction of in- struments—that will only have the effect of multiplying the number of mute lis- teners—but in having the people in- structed in the art of singing. It is right and proper and much to be desired, not only that all should sing, but that they should do it skillfully; although there is a danger to be guarded against of being so absorbed in the outward and artistic effort, the merely bodily service, as to fail in rendering real worship in spirit and truth. God judges not as man judg- es. He looks upon the heart.” The Mennonite Church is one of the few churches which has maintained a stand against the use of instruments in the church throughout the centuries. Some of the reasons have already been implied. Another reason is to keep sim- plicity in the worship service. Machinery is often a hindrance to a truly edifying spirit of worship within the believer himself. The Mennonite Church has de- veloped a unique kind of congregational singing throughout the years by relying on the human voice for all the beauties of music. To depend on one’s own na- tive musical ability is to escape the danger of instrument-dependency and guarantees the development of the finest and best musical talent within the in- dividual. It is the belief of many people that the day musical instruments enter our churches, something else will leave. This is our good four-part congrega- tional singing. The introduction of in- struments will not liven the spirit and tempo of the service, nor will it inspire us to sing more heartily. Rather, it will make singing congregations just groups of listeners, and we will end up with just mediocre singing ability. Years ago the Mennonite Church did not have four-part singing. Everyone sang the melody. It was during the period from 1870 to 1916 that the church had singing schools led by capable men to procure the four-part singing which we have enjoyed to this day. The music in our churches has gone down since that period. There are too many light Gospel songs sung in churches where good hymns could be appreciated. Where Gos- pel songs are all that seemingly can be understood, the people should be gradu- ally led to the singing of hymns. There is a need for singing schools today. The Mennonite Church needs men trained to help us keep our four-part unaccom- panied congregational singing. In place of buying instruments, why not use that money to support these men, who would be playing a great part in keeping a worshipful attitude in our church? These men could not only help the congrega- tions, but could have special classes for those who are and would like to be choristers. They would be men qualified to work with the children of the church. There are some works, of course, such as The Messiah, which may require use of instruments. But since auditoriums are usually made available to church groups for such presentations, it would be senseless to buy an instrument for just those occasions. It is best to choose songs which are written for, or can be sung, a cappella. Good quality songs of this type are not hard to find. Instruments have their uses in the schools and homes, and it is hard to find a better way to increase general musical knowledge than by taking piano lessons. But for use in our worship services, the instrument is not in order, and the Men- nonite Church will do well to maintain her present witness. All of us must catch the vision of the consequences of a failure to maintain this witness, and realizing that it is worth all our efforts to with- stand the innovation of instruments into our churches, do all in our power to educate our people to the same under- standing and vision. It means that we will need to cultivate an even better type of congregational singing than we have now, and to do this means the giving of some basic knowledge and training to all our members. Something should be done soon. Are you willing to do your part to better our worship services through better singing? Goshen, Ind. Singing at Work Give us, oh, give us the man who sings at his work. Be his occupation what it may, he is equal to any of those who follow the same pursuit in silent sullen- ness. He will do more in the same time— he will do it better— he will persevere long- er. One is scarcely sensible of fatigue while he marches to music. The very stars are said to make harmony as they revolve in their spheres. Wondrous is the strength of cheerful- ness . . . past calculation its power of endurance. Efforts to be permanently useful must be uniformly joyful— a spirit all sunshine, graceful from very glad- ness, beautiful because bright.— Thomas Carlyle. TO BE NEAR TO GOD (Continued) Loammi perched on a stump and his father pointing to him. “Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be as the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured nor num- bered; and it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people, there it shall be said unto them, Ye are the sons of the living God.” I am one of those sons, and I thank you, baby Loammi, for your queer name; the whole story of your naming warms me up. Saturday, January 12 "And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins" (Matt. 1:21). The name is a contraction of the sentence, “Jehovah saves.” And in the giving of the Baby and His name there is a grand fulfill- ment of David’s Twenty-third Psalm when he says, “Jehovah is my shepherd; I shall not want.” That the world could receive a baby acknowledged as its Saviour before His birth even, that is a miracle. And that He could be received in my heart so many years later, that too is a miracle. Love was born in my heart when I first saw my little brothers, now grown and fathers of families. That love was begotten of that which is seen. But greater yet is the love of Him who is unseen. Love is born today in the hearts of our children as they receive Jesus. Just this December a small lad of eight told me that he is glad at Christmas because it is Jesus’ birthday and that even if he received no presents he would still be glad “because it’s Jesus’ birthday.” Thus has the babyhood of Jesus appealed to the children, “for of such is the kingdom of God.” — J. Paul Sauder. The safest road to hell is the gradual one — the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sud- den turnings, without milestones, without signpost. — C. S. Lewis. 12 GOSPEL HERALD January i, I952 FIELD NOTES Items to appear In this column for any issue. of the following Tuesday must reach Scottdale by Wednesday morning. Bro. Willard Hunsberger, Doylestown, Pa., has been appointed director of the Laurelville Mennonite Camp for next summer’s season. Fourteen young people were received into church fellowship by water baptism at the West Union Church, Wellman, Iowa, on Dec. 16. Junior-intermediate teachers are reminded to send in their reports for Herald Honor Roll to Words of Cheer by Jan. 15. Please give of- ficial name and address of the congregation, and for convenience list the names alpha- betically by last name. A score of 1350 points makes a child eligible for the honor roll. See Words of Cheer for Dec. 16 for detailed in- structions. Young people from the East Petersburg, Pa., congregation caroled at Steelton on Christmas Eve. Teachers of juniors and intermediates should note the new contest on “Our Church Leaders” beginning in Words of Cheer on Jan. 6. This contest is designed to help chil- dren understand that there have been follow- ers of Jesus in recent times and in the pres- ent day. Encourage individual participation throughout the quarter. Enter the class con- test. Table of Contents 1 — "Mortify Therefore" What Have You Done? (Poem) 2 — Our Readers Say 3 — The Work in Arkansas Respect for Personality 4 — Atomic Research Dates Oldest Bible Manuscript Carnal It Happened 5 — Sam Hoskins Writes XII 6 — What God Expects of Youth — a Christian Char- acter "He Staggered Not" (Poem) 7 — A Prayer for This Week Prayer Requests 8 — Anticipation A Christian Witness Against Low Morals in Athletics 9— The Sympathy of Christ (Poem) Thoughts for January Satisfied (Poem) A Book Review Why Doubt God's Word? (Poem) The Promised Rest My Grace Is Sufficient (Poem) 10 — To Be Near to God Sunday School Lesson for January 13 11 — Instruments in Worship Singing at Work 12 — Field Notes 13 — Mission News 14 — Evangelistic Efforts with the Puerto Ricans in Eastern Pennsylvania 15 — M.C.C. in Japan O Consistency! 16 — Dedication at Kushiro 17 — Average Church Giving Voluntary Service and Spiritual Needs Glimpses of Japan 18 — The Unevangelized Millions Shall We Expand? Women's Activities Gays Creek, Kentucky 19— M.C.C. Weekly Notes Church Correspondence 22 — Births Marriages Obituaries 23 — The Book Shelf Items and Comments A tape-recorder is a new addition to the equipment of the Orrville, Ohio, Church. Change of Address: Newton S. Weber, from West Liberty, Ohio, to Box 241, Gulf- port, Miss. Bro. and Sister Weber have been given charge of the M.C.C. voluntary service unit there. A winter Bible school will be conducted by the Clinton Frame and Benton congregations in Indiana. It will meet Tuesday, Wednes- day, and Thursday evenings for four weeks beginning Jan. 1. The instructors are Nor- man Kauffman, Amos Yontz, Ira S. Johns, Galen Johns, and Vernon Bontreger. Bro. Richard E. Martin, Elida, Ohio, spoke in a youth conference at the Shore Church, Shipshewana, Ind., Dec. 21-23. A remodeling of the church building at Yoder, Kans., is being planned. Bro. Glen Whitaker, Wichita, Kans., is ill at the Spears Sanitarium, East Tenth Street, Denver, Colo. Pray for his recovery. Bro. Aquilla E. Riehl was ordained to the ministry at 200 St. Annes Avenue, Bronx, New York City, on Dec. 16. The ordination was under the direction of the Lancaster Con- ference. A ministerial and Christian workers’ study course will be conducted at Souderton, Pa., Jan. 7-19. Classes will meet in twelve ses- sions Monday through Friday nights and Saturday afternoons for two weeks. Elmer B. Moyer is the director. Milton G. Brack- bill will teach The Work of the Holy Spirit; Markley H. Clemmer, Jewish Evangelism; Paul M. Lederach, Church History Survey; Paul R. Clemens, Old Testament Poetry and Prophecy. Seven persons were baptized and received into church fellowship at Elmira, Ont., on Dec. 25. Guest speakers in the annual district Christmas program which began at Leetonia, Ohio, on Dec. 22, were P. L. Frey, Archbold, Ohio, and Wyse Graber, Stryker, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Kim, Korean Chris- tians who are attending school in America, spoke in the Sunday morning services at Scottdale on Dec. 23. The Rocky Mountain Mennonite Camp Association was organized at La Junta, Colo., on Dec. 2. Officers are W. J. Dye, La Junta, Colo., president; Harold Dyck, Hesston, Kans., vice-president; Harold Hjelmstad, Denver, Colo., secretary-treasurer; Allen King, Yoder, Kans., Isaac Leatherman, Che- raw, Colo., and Clarence Ebersole, La Junta, Colo., additional members of the Board. Bro. Jess Kauffman, Colorado Springs, will direct the camp program in 1952. Bro. Roy D. Roth, president-elect of Hess- ton College, accompanied by a male quartet, toured Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Mississippi during the holidays. A second team from Hesston College, headed by Perry Miller, visited Amish churches in Iowa and Indiana in the interest of foreign students. Sister Isla Zink, employed in the treas- surer’s office of the Publishing House, was hospitalized on the evening of Dec. 25 after having been struck by an automobile. At the time of going to press the extent of her in- juries is not yet known. Announcements Hymn-sing, with special singing, at Deep Run meetinghouse, Deep Run, Pa., Jan. 1 at 7:30; speaker, Paul Clemens. Youth Fellow- ship Meeting, Millersville, Pa., Jan. 5, 7:30; speaker, Emory Herr. Young people’s meet- ing, Lititz, Pa.; subject, Return of the Lord; on Jan. 6. Evangelistic Meetings Mark Peachey, Grantsville, Md., closing Dec. 18. Visiting Speakers Nov. 29: Levi Headings, Hutchinson, Kans., at Bethel Springs School, Culp, Ark. Dec. 13: Nevin Bender, Greenwood, Del., at Yoder, Kans. Dec. 16: Rhoda Peachey and Shem Peach- ey, Kirkwood, Pa., at Perkasie, Pa.; Clayton Beyler, Hesston, Kans., at Pennsylvania Church, Hesston; Frank Raber, Kansas City, Mo., at Garden City, Mo.; Joe Pantana, with men’s quartet, Elida, Ohio, at Anderson Church, Ft. Wayne, Ind. Dec. 29: Milton Brackbill, Paoli, Pa., at Youth Gospel Evangelism, Vine Street, Lan- caster, Pa. Jan. 1: Simon Bucher, Amos W. Weaver. Henry Frank, and T. K. Hershey at Sunday School Meeting, Elizabethtown, Pa. Jan. 3: Raymond Bucher, Lititz, Pa., at Landis Valley Youth Fellowship group, Lan- caster, Pa. Calendar Winter Bible School, Loman, Minn., Jan. 7-27 Winter Bible Term, Hesston College and Bible School, Hesston, Kans., Jan. 2 to Feb. 8 Johnstown Bible School, Stahl Church, Johnstown, Pa., Jan. 2 to Feb. IS Canton Bible School, Canton, Ohio, Jan. 7 to Feb. 15 Michigan Mennonite Bible School, Fairview, Mich., Jan. 7 to Feb. 15 Winter Bible School of North Central Conference and Northern Light Gospel Mission, Loman, Minn., Jan. 7-25 Ministers' Normal, Stahl Church, Johnstown, Pa., Jan. 8-10 . , Maple Grove Winter Bible School, Atglen, Pa., Jan. Kishacoquillas Bible School, Pennsylvania, Jan. 14 to Feb. I Special Bible Term, Lancaster Mennonite School, Lancaster, Pa., Jan. 14 to Feb. 22 Conference on Summer Camps, Sponsored by Com- mission for Christian Education and Young Peo- ple's Work, Salem Church, Elida, Ohio, Jan. 25, 26 Winter Bible School, Goshen College, fin. 28 to Special Bible Term, Eastern Mennonite College, Har- risonburg, Va., Jan. 29 to March 10 Mennonite Publication Board, Annual Meeting, Way- land, Iowa, Feb. 20, 21 Conference on Christian Community Relations, Tis- kilwa. 111., March 27-29 Lay Evangelism Conference, Goshen College, Gosh- en, Ind., April 5-7 Mennonite Youth Fellowship Workshop. Iowa Men- nonite School, Kalona, Iowa, June 9-12 Mennonite Youth Fellowship Annual Meeting, Lower Deer Creek Church, Kalona, Iowa, June 13, 14 Mennonite Board of Missions and Charities, Annual Meeting, Lower Deer Creek Church, Kalona, Iowa, June 14-17 Southwestern Pennsylvania Conference, Springs, Pa., July 20-23 Illinois Mennonite Conference, Flanagan, 111., Aug 19-21 Mennonite General Conlerence, Place Undecided Aug. 26-30, 1953 January i, 1952 GOSPEL HERALD 13 Go, Preach . MISSIONS * Give, Pray The General BoaTd Headquarters ior Missions, Relie! and Service: 1711 Prairie Street, Elkhart, Indiana. Telephone, Elkhart 2-2786. Mission News Frank and Anna Byler write from Bra- gado, Argentina: “We received some summer Bible school material from Scottdale, printed in Spanish; and are making plans for using it this summer. So far they have translated and published the materials for grades 2 and 4, so that is what we will use: dividing the children into two groups, then dividing the groups for smaller classes. We will also have a preschool group, with materials which we are now preparing. There are some fine young girls in the church here who will serve as teachers, and they are really enthused with such nice teaching materials. The date set for Bible school is Dec. 5-15.” Philhaven, new mental hospital being con- structed by the Lancaster Conference, will likely open about April 1. A voluntary serv- ice unit is being organized to assist there. Brethren David Shank and Orley Swartz- entruber, Mennonite missionaries in Belgium, have been requested by the Mission Board Executive Committee to visit France and Spain during the Christmas holidays to make some preliminary investigations regarding missionary opportunity and challenge in those countries. November marked ten years since the Wooster, Ohio, Mennonite Mission moved into its present building on Gasche Street. The work was organized in 1944 with eight charter members. The Sunday-school at- tendance for 1950 averaged 113 and for 1951, 123. The Lord has blessed the work and the growth of the church has increased until the present membership is ninety-nine. The con- gregation is now in the process of moving into their new church built during the last year. On Monday, Dec. 17, the Missions class of Goshen College, under the instruction of Ernest E. Miller, visited Mission Board Head- quarters in Elkhart to get a bird’s-eye view of the work of the Board. New missionary appointees to Ethiopia are Robert and Alta Garber. Plans for the special training course for preparing young workers for service in Puer- to Rico were discussed at the meeting of the new evangelizing committee in Puerto Rico Dec. 11. The training program is to begin Jan. 10. Bro. Fidel Santiago, assistant to the pastor at Rabanal, and others interested in service, will plan to attend. A brief farewell service was conducted dur- ing the daily chapel period at the Mission Board headquarters on Dec. 19, for Delbert and Ruth Erb, missionaries to Argentina. A final farewell service was held for them at Scottdale on Dec. 23. They were scheduled to sail from New York on Dec. 29. and are due to arrive in Buenos Aires on Jan. 15: The Committee on Lay Evangelism, ap- pointed to plan a conference in April, met at Mission Board headquarters on Dec. 18, in preliminary session. The conference will be held April 5-7 on the Goshen College campus. The committee was appointed by the Goshen College Biblical Seminary and the Board Executive Committee, conjointly. Bro. Dale Nofziger, Cleveland, Ohio, plans to worship with the mission congregation at Fairpoint, Ohio, on Jan. 13. Bro. Howard Hammer, Wooster, Ohio, preached the Christmas sermon at the Wooster Mennonite Mission on Sunday morning, Dec. 23. Sister Una Cressman, missionary nurse in the Argentine Chaco, says: “There is not so much time on hand for the women to come together to knit, so Mabel and I are closing up our lengthy visits of several days at the outstations for the season. Through the aid of the flannelgraph, we have been trying to give the Christmas story step by step on our last visits.” Bro. Ezra Beachy writes from Pinckney. Mich.: “Anna Mabel Kilmer, who has assist- ed so nobly in the work for the past six years, has gone back to her home in Indiana, and is teaching there this year. We are grateful for the help of Floyd Eash and his wife. Both teach classes and she is church chorister and he is chairman of the young people’s meet- ing.” Grades seven to ten from the Sonnenberg Parochial School gave the Sunday evening Your Treasurer Reports Brother and Sister Alvin Hostetler from Topeka, Indiana, have recently been appoint- ed as missionaries to India to work in the area of maintenance and construction for the India hospital and other mission activities. Since Brother Hostetler is a trained mechanic and will be of great assistance to our mission effort, particularly in the hospital area, it is desirable to send with him considerable equipment for the work. Contributions to help purchase the field equipment and other special equipment for these outgoing workers would be much appreciated. The regular field equipment will amount to $700.00. In addition to this, funds will be needed for spe- cial mechanical and building tools. Brother and Sister Hostetler are being ap- pointed by the Mennonite Relief Committee as their first India long-term service workers. We trust the Lord will bless their labors in this field of service. H. Ernest Bennett, Treasurer Mennonite Board of Missions and Charities Elkhart, Indiana MENNONITE RELIEF COMMITTEE (M.R.C.) Bro. and Sister John Brandenberry, Julia, Robert, and Carmen have recently returned to their home near Middlebury, Ind., after a term of service in La Plata Mennonite Proj- ect, Puerto Rico. Carmen, a seven-and-one- half-year-old Puerto Rican girl, joined the Brandenberry family several months ago. Bro. and Sister Royal Snyder and son Vic- tor, La Plata, Puerto Rico, recently welcomed into their home a seven-week-old Puerto Ri- can baby boy left for adoption at the La Plata hospital. They have named him Danny. Bro. and Sister Jasper Roth, Rantoul, 111., Sisters Esther and Mary Neff, Lagrange, Ind., Bro. Kenneth Oswald, West Point, Nebr,. and Bro. James Hershberger, Hesston, Kans., completed their terms of service in the Kansas City hospital unit on Dec. 31. Over 600 Christmas bundles for the Nava- jo Indian children had been received by Dec. 15 with more still coming, according to re- ports from the unit at Phoenix, Ariz. Dis- tribution was to begin on Dec. 18. The unit is now working in three migrant camps west of Phoenix, two Navajo camps and one Ne- gro camp. As was anticipated, the unit is finding quite a few Indians in the Phoenix camps who had also lived in the camp near Grants, N. Mex., where they worked during the past summer and fall. Bro. and Sister William Swartzendruber, Telford, Pa., and Bro. Raymond Vallarta, Freeport, 111., left by car from Elkhart on Dec. 31 for Mathis, Texas, to begin a service program among the Spanish-speaking Amer- icans served by our mission there. Applications for summer service units have recently been sent to mission pastors and in- stitutional superintendents where units served last summer. Anyone else desiring the serv- ices of a unit next summer should contact the Secretary for Service and Relief as soon as possible. program at the Wooster, Ohio, Mennonite Mission on Dec. 16. Bro. T. K. Hershey, Elverson, Pa., began a mission study course on Latin America on Dec. 6 at the Maple Grove Church near At- glen, Pa. Some seventy persons were in at- tendance at the first meeting. Good interest and attention were reported. Prayer is requested for a family with a fine group of boys at Pinckney, Mich. The parents and two oldest boys are in the church, but are losing out. The spiritual problems have become a serious threat to their home life. Pray for complete consecration. The congregation at Palo Hincado, Puerto Rico, continues to worship in the concrete (Cpntmued..on page. . 2.0J. . 14 GOSPEL HERALD January i, 1952 One of the groups with whom religious services were held at the Oley, Pa., church. Evangelistic Efforts with the Puerto Ricans in Eastern Pennsylvania Bv T. K. Hershey TTN former years, the task of taking the Gospel to the migrant Puerto Ricans in Pennsylvania fell largely on the shoulders of the writer. The reason for this was that no one else in this section preached in Span- ish. This year, however, we were able to secure the most valuable help of Brother John T. N. Litwiller, who is an Argentine by birth and knows the Spanish language perfectly. Plans for the Work Plans to divide the work between Brother Litwiller and myself were prepared by a con- joint meeting of the bishops and ministers of the Lancaster Conference and bishops and ministers of the Ohio Mennonite and Eastern A.M. Joint Conference. This committee met several times. Plans as to location of church- es to hold these services, how conduct them, and how create interest in this work among the eastern churches were freely discussed. It was felt that this year the entire effort should be considered as a Voluntary Service project. Thus the Voluntary Service Unit of Eastern Mennonite Board of Missions and Charities was the principal factor in helping to create interest, as well as to divide the district and the work to be done. Several Mennonite churches were visited weeks before the work was launched. Ad- dresses were given and interest in this work was aroused. The importance of giving the Gospel to the Puerto Ricans was laid on the hearts of the brotherhood, and all were urged to co-operate in every way possible to make this work a success. MISSIONS SECTION The congregations assigned Brother Lit- willer were Slackwater, Bossier’s, and Hern- ley’s. These churches are west of Lancaster. The churches assigned to me were Parkes- burg, Oley, and the Rock. These are east of Lancaster. Before starting the services, each congregation where the meetings were to be conducted, appointed a committee of three whose duty it was to notify, and bring if necessary, all Puerto Ricans in the commu- nity to the services. The Work Launched The work began at some places in July and in others the first Sunday in August and closed the first Sunday in October. In all these services, we had many things in com- mon. The attendance in all of the churches was very good. The total weekly average was upward of 500. Besides these regular places of worship, we were called to con- duct Spanish services in several other points. One such service was about thirty miles north of Harrisburg. Another south and east of Parkesburg at a place called “West Grove.” Here the loud-speaker was used as the serv- ices were conducted in the open air. Literature Distributed The following were distributed among the Puerto Rican men: 243 Bibles, 376 New Testaments, 400 Gospels, 1,000 Heraldo Evan- gelicos (our Spanish monthly), and approxi- mately 20,000 tracts. The Bibles were usual- ly sold to them. Some of the congregations requested that we sell the Bibles at half price and they make up the other half. This re- sulted in their securing a Bible for 50^. The songbooks used were Canticos de Esperanza (Songs of Hope). Several hundred were purchased. At the end of the season, each man was given one of these songbooks (at least it was so in the eastern section). He was also given a New Testament, Gospels, and tracts to take with him to Puerto Rico. Out on the Farms with the Men Brother Litwiller and myself were called on to accompany and interpret for the two state representatives who were in charge of finding work and locating these men among the farmers. This gave us an opportunity to visit them in their living quarters, as well as out in the tomato and potato fields and in some of the fruit orchards. Thus we con- tacted the Puerto Rican men during the week and also on Sunday. It gave us exceptional opportunities to converse with them on their many perplexing family and individual prob- lems. Puerto Rican Assistance We were very glad for the help of Broth- er Jose Delgado and Arcadio Natal, young Puerto Rican men who had an experience of salvation and a burden for the lost. They came to work as did the rest. Both could deliver the Gospel message in a very force- ful manner. They were useful in singing, and when the invitation was given, they ac- companied the men into the prayer room where they further instructed them and had prayer with them. At present, both these young men are at Hesston College preparing themselves that someday they may return with the Gospel to their people. Pray for them. Results Only eternity will reveal the good done in this effort this summer. The visible results were most encouraging. Two to three hun- dred expressed their desire to know the way more perfectly. Surely, they need your pray- ers. Cards were given them to fill out, giving their names with address in Puerto Rico, the farmer for whom they worked, and which church they attended. With this system, we expect to keep in touch with them when they return to the island. At our closing and final meeting, we had a consecration service at the central church to which all attending the other meeting centers were invited. The church was well filled. The testimonies from the employers and the employees were in- spiring to hear of the spiritual times the farm- er had with his boys, and in turn hear the boys tell of the influence these Christian homes and the Gospel had on them. This made us all feel that our efforts were worth while. Grateful for Help We want to thank all our brethren volun- teers who so faithfully helped to make these meetings a success. Because of the many trips made to bring and to take the men to their homes after the services, some of our brethren did not retire until the late hours of the night. To do this noble work, all oth- er appointments were laid aside. May God bless all these efficient helpers for the sacri- fice made. We also want to thank the church- January i, 1952 GOSPEL HERALD 15 es for the financial help which made possi- have remained in the States, securing work ble literature, trips, and other expenses in- in factories and among farmers for the win- curred in this work. ter. May God bless all that was done to His Pray for these Puerto Rican migrants. Most honor and glory and the salvation of many, of them have returned to their homes. Some Elverson, Pa. M.C.C. in Japan By H. G. Thielman “And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest” (Gen. 28:15). HTHIS was the promise that God gave to Jacob, when he was on the way to Haran. As we read the history of Jacob, we can clearly see how God has been true to His promise. Many other passages tell us that we too can claim this promise of God for ourselves. This seems to be a special blessing and comfort if one labors in a for- eign country. It has been the privilege of the M.C.C. to be in Japan for more than two years. As we look back we admit that it has not always been easy, but that there have been trying hours in our time in Japan. However, the things we would like to keep in mind are the many blessings that we had and the many times when we so definitely felt the leading of God in our work. May these few lines be a testimony of thanks toward God and our churches at home, who have so nobly supported our work here. Five M.C.C. workers make up the Japan unit, each trying to serve “In the Name of Christ.” The sewing program is one of the main projects. In the morning at nine o’clock, mothers from poor families gather here to sew. We supply the materials and machines. Before the mothers start to sew, we have a brief devotional period with them every morning. I am sure that many of them have never before heard the Word of God, and that it will leave an influence upon them. Many English classes are conducted. This is a good way to contact people and enables us to have a Christian influence upon the students. Three times a week we have meetings with children. Many children come for these meet- ings, and it is a privilege that we are able to bring the Word of God to the children of the slum districts. We also have native Chris- tian help for this work. It is a real joy to hear these dirty, poorly dressed children sing Christian songs and pray the Lord’s Prayer. Three times a week we have dental work for children who are not able to have treat- ment otherwise. Two native dentists are devoting their spare time to help the poor people. These dentists are not yet Chris- tians, but it is our prayer that through con- tact with us they too may be led to Christ. Many Bible classes are conducted here at the center and elsewhere. This has proved a real blessing to many Japanese people as well as for the ones conducting them. Many Jap- anese have become interested in the Word of God and have been saved by His grace. Every Sunday evening we have regular church services. It is a joy to see how the room of a little over one hundred seats fills Through the work of M.C.C. many little Japa- nese boys and girls have received Christmas bundles. up to the last seat. Just now, I had a young man in my office again, who was in our meeting last night. He came to ask how he could become a Christian. Much of our work is in dealing with individual souls, listening to their problems, and trying to help them by pointing them to Christ. Osaka, Japan. 0 Consistency! According to the new requirements of the Belgian Government, missionaries to the Bel- gian Congo must come to study in Belgium for a year before beginning work in the colony. Examinations in the French lan- guage must be passed, followed by a stiff course on Colonial matters. Visits to spots of historic interest are part of the training. A group of missionaries accompanied by a Congolese visitor was being guided about the ancient city of Bruges this last year. The Congolese man was well educated and ca- pable of enjoying the architecture and rich art treasures of the cathedrals. As the group passed the high altar in one church, he paused to examine some wax objects hanging there. Wax legs, babies, and even pigs repre- sent the objects of fervent petitions. “Whatever are these things?” cried the Congolese to his embarrassed guide. “I can guess well enough what they represent, for we have them where I come from. You white men come from Belgium to take away our witchcraft, but when I come to your home churches, I find that vou too have fetishes.” — From “Flanders’ Fields.” MISSIONS SECTION 16 GOSPEL HERALD January i, 1952 Pastor Ito Sensei and some of the children from his kindergarten playing together. Pastor Ito has been a real help and inspiration in the work of our mission in Kushiro. Dedication at Kushiro By Ralph Buckwalter The Buckwalter family — Ralph, Genevieve, and Araya San — have now moved to their new home in Kushiro. In the letters which follow, they are rejoicing in the many opportunities they have in witnessing for Christ in Japan. — Ed. Our house is a little behind schedule, as we had anticipated, but we are quite certain of moving in before October 31. It is work- ing out just perfectly, for we have the use of our “dance hall” room only through this month, since they have started the dances again. We plan for the morning service to be held at No. 13 Tsurugadai Nov. 4. Tenta- tive plans are for our dedication service on Nov. 11. Then we expect to have baptism and communion service at Obihiro on Nov. 25, or about that date. Lee (Kanagy) will likely come up for that glad occasion. Then Becks’ dedication service will be around the middle of December. We rejoice in the way the Lord has blessed us during the summer, how He is calling and a few are answering to give themselves earnestly to Christ and to an eager study of the Word. We are hoping to begin a Sunday school soon after moving to Tsurugadai. One of the girls who is attending our meeting and has had some experience with children is eager to help. Several fellows who are attending the Teacher’s College want to help also. They are Christians from Kitami, Abashiri, and Yubetsu. We have a lot of work to do in gathering materials and in preparing a group of teachers to start this work for the children in the community. In another week I will begin a Bible class at the Teacher’s College. This is the oppor- tunity I’ve been looking for. The opportunity of teaching in four different schools this winter is a good one. We are going to have MISSIONS SECTION to go a little easy in order to reserve enough time for serious language study. We have started now spending every Monday and Sat- urday morning with a tutor studying new material. We are spending at least one more morning a week with Araya San reviewing lessons we had studied. We want to put in a minimum of twenty hours a week on lan- guage study this winter if at all possible. It is going to be a hard pull, but we really have to do it. A Month Later We wrote to you exactly one month ago to- day. The past four weeks have been exceed- ingly busy ones and work isn’t tapering off. We are actually moved into our new house. We have a different outlook on life here. There are fewer dogs, but more school chil- dren and a grand view. We moved over two weeks ago even though the work was not completed. There are still a few odds and ends and leaks in the water system which need correction before we can say the house is completed. Carls were here for the dedication service Sunday, Nov. 11. About five of their young people came along with them. We had sixty in the morning service. Carl preached. We figure we can get seventy-five or eighty peo- ple in our dining-living room combination. The chairs we ordered a month ago haven’t arrived yet; so we borrowed fifty stools from the Middle School for our special Sunday services. Pastor Ito led the afternoon dedication service and preached the sermon. He inter- preted the Mennonites to the congregation, explaining something of Anabaptist history, etc. Carl and I also spoke briefly. During the tea following the service a number of people gave aisatsu (greetings): the mayor, several of the teachers, Dr. Kogo. Mr. Hasegawa, one daughter, and a son came from their dairy farm for the service. (This is the fami- ly we visited, the story of which will appear in the Y.C.C.) They spent two days with us and were our first guests. We enjoyed their visit immensely. Much to their delight and our joy, it will be possible for the two Araya San (left) with some of the membersof the Bible class at Kushiro composed of Pres- byterian young people. January i, 1952 older girls to take turns spending the winter with us. It is their slack season, of course, and it will aflord a good opportunity for some social life for the girls. They will not come as maids to help Genny, but as part of the family. It will be a two-way learning process. When we made the suggestion at the breakfast table Monday morning just before Hasegawas took their leave, Keiko San could hardly keep the tears back. Mr. Hasegawa asked her whether she had sail! anything to us. She said, “No.” Mr. Hasegawa surprised us Monday morn- ing at breakfast by asking whether he could lead in prayer. He prayed with feeling. It was his first time and he told Araya San later that it was very hard for him. But he is not willing yet to become a committed follower of Christ. We pray that perhaps through the daughters, as the Lord uses us to help them to a life of faith in Christ, he too, and Mrs. Hasegawa will become open and com- pletely dedicated Christians. The student members of the Y.M.C.A., in- cluding about ten fellows and three girls, of the Teacher’s College have begun a weekly meeting in our home especially for Bible study. We are not in charge of the group, which is as it should be. We will help in an- swering questions and in giving guidance and suggestions as the opportunities present themselves. We are very happy with this ar- rangement. About five of the Y.M.C.A. fel- lows are very enthusiastic about getting a Sunday school started. They, along with sev- eral other young people who have been at- tending our meetings, will make up the first corps of teachers. This week we are making a survey of the community. Several of the students helped mimeograph the Sunday- school statement of purpose and the survey cards. Our plan is to begin the school early in December. We pray this may be a means of helping the young people who want to teach to a deep Christian experience and broad understanding of the Bible. They realize their need for knowing the Bible bet- ter and are committed to a program of serious study. This is throwing us into some phases of the work which we had not planned to begin quite so soon, but it is good and ours is the great responsibility of helping to channel energies and enthusiasm into the right chan- nel for the glory of God. Among those who come to our Bible study services are some of the former workers on our house. For this we are grateful. It is really true that the contacts one makes at the bicycle shop, the fruit store, the carpenter shop, the fish market can and must be cap- italized on for the glory of Christ. That’s the way it has worked for almost all who now come to our services and the group is steadily increasing. Soon we will be hoping for a real chapel. A number of earnest seekers, both at Obi- hiro and Kushiro, will not be ready for bap- tism this Sunday, but we think that later, perhaps in February, we can plan our first baptism service here at Kushiro. Truly the kingdom of heaven is as a grain of mustard seed and as a piece of yeast in a lump of dough. We do not pioneer for God with a GOSPEL HERALD jazz band, but we pray that the Word of the Lord may run with power as the mustard seed grows. Kushiro, Japan. Average Church Giving Recently the United Stewardship Council released figures for per capita giving in 195(1 in forty-eight Protestant denominations. The average gift for all purposes is reported to have been $30.58. In that same year the na- tional aggregate of personal income for that year was set at an all-time high of 217 billion dollars; the per capita income for that year was $1,436.00. If in 1950 Protestants had con- tributed the same percentage of personal in- come as they gave in 1933, the average con- tribution— when the per capita income was $368.00 — would have amounted to $79.78. If they had given the tithe, it would have amounted to $143.60. (The Federal govern- ment would have permitted an average de- duction of $215.40.) Thus it will be seen that our Protestant giving was at a per capita rate of two per cent. Total giving of the American people for all religious and philanthropic purposes amounted to less than half of the eight bil- lion spent for liquors. The Golden Rule Foundation, which has released these computations, makes no com- ment on them. Perhaps no comment is need- ed. We cannot, however, resist the raising of a question or so. Are we in our individual churches holding before our people sufficiently high and chal- lenging objectives? Is the rigid budget sys- tem, with its dehumanizing of issues and ap- peals, reaching merely pocketbooks and not hearts as well? Does not that system make for coldly calculated, rather than for spon- taneous giving? — “The Protestant World.” Voluntary Service and Spiritual Needs By H. Raymond Charles V.S. Director, Eastern Mennonite Board of Missiotis and Charities The time and energy spent by Voluntary Service workers from our conference this summer would add up to about the service of one person serving for eight continuous years. Most of the workers served in outpost Bible school work such as Steam Valley. An- other important phase of need is that of the migrant farm laborer who finds his way into the harvest fields of America. A missionary is usually sent into the field of possibility, but in recent years we are having the mission field come to us. One current example of this is the increasing number of Puerto Ricans who are coming into our country. This summer Bro. John Litwiller, who was born in a Spanish-speaking country, has giv- en his whole summer to ministering both to the physical and spiritual needs of these peo- ple. As a pastor to them he has visited them in the fields and also preached to them in the church. As a result of the invitation he 17 gave for them to decide for Christ we have discovered that about one hundred of these persons have a desire to become Christians. Bro. Litwiller feels they are very sincere. Now they will soon be returning to their homes on that tiny, crowded island to have no spiritual help until they come to us again. 1 am deeply moved at this response and want to enlist your prayers for them. Also pray that someone may be sent to visit them in their home and help both them and their families to become true followers of Jesus. Another need right in front of us is in evidence in the Kirkland Bros, labor camp. One needs only to drive by the camp to see the plight and need of these persons. The Home Missions Council of North America has been carrying on a spiritual and recrea- tional ministry at this camp until last Mon- day when their worker left to take up school- work. As Voluntary Service Director, I was called and asked whether we would assume responsibility for the Sunday morning serv- ice. As long as the camp continues to operate we have planned to have the Landisville and Salunga Mennonite congregation to take care of this service. This is not a service for you to visit. It is intended that only workers with assigned responsibility attend. Potter County, Pa., has nineteen separate camps for Negro migrant workers such as the one at Salunga. Will you pray that we may meet the challenge of these needs? Lancaster, Pa. Glimpses of Japan Early one Sunday morning, we climbed one of Japan’s loveliest mountains to see the sun rise. As we stood on top of Tohaki, and watched the lovely pink tint the clouds, 1 caught a vision of the beauty and order of the world. That same week, I stood almost ankle-deep in mud and looked out over an area devas- tated by the atom bomb. I climbed over the ruins of what was once a gorgeous cathedral. I looked across the way to the skeleton of Chinzei, once a steppingstone into a life of service. My mind could scarcely grasp the destruction for which man is responsible. Japan presents many such contrasts — lovely mountain peaks above disease-laden valleys. Somehow the work of men’s hands must match the beauty of God’s world. — Alice F. Boyer, Japan, in World Outlook. # * # As for the “success” of Christianity in Ja- pan, I will not attempt to estimate it. You can read the reports published by the church- es, and those given by people who have a more over-all view than I do. As the old say- ing goes, “I can’t see the forest for the trees.” There is a great deal in practical Christianity which the Japanese people need and want. They need a religion stripped of gaudy trap- pings—they need a Christianity that works. And here I offer a plea: you, back home, please do all you can to see that Christianity works in America. All types of unfairness, MISSIONS SECTION 18 shady deals in government, signs of race prejudice coming from America do not pass unnoticed by these “new” Christians. Some of them come to me, genuinely puzzled by something they have read in a magizine or heard from different sources. I never hesitate to tell them that “American” and “Christian” are not synonymous; I can only wish that they were.- — Ruth Myers Taylor, Japan. The Unevangelized Millions The tragedy of the yet unevangelized mil- lions of the world should stir the church to missionary action. Three hundred millions are still in the maze of superstition-ridden Confucianism and Taoism; 240,000,000 are still steeped in the idolatry of Hinduism; 300,000,000 are still in the ugly grip of sensual, loveless, heart-hardening Mohammedanism; 180,000,- 000 are bound in the weird mysticism and demon worship of Buddhism and Lamaism; 158,000,000 are still groping in the unrelieved darkness and superstition of Animism; 327,- 000,000 are shadowed beneath the sinister cloak of Rome, with its Mariolatry, its saint worship, its magic ritual of the mass (in which God is carried aloft as a piece of bread), its false doctrine of purgatory, its abominable confessionals, and many other de- ceiving teachings and ceremonials. There are still 12,000,000 Jews who are turning their backs on Him who is indeed the “Light to lighten the Gentiles and the glory of thy people, Israel!” 150,000,000 are still atheists, agnostics, or unconcerned. Think of it: over 2,000,000,000 human be- ings on earth today, with moral accountabili- ty, intellectual activity, and immortal destiny — a mighty host marching to the grave and to a vast beyond. For their present and eter- nal happiness do we spare merely a passing or passive thought? Over 1,500,000,000 of the world’s twentieth-century population are non-Christians! Of the approximately 500,- 000,000 in so-called Christendom, including the millions of Roman Catholics and those of the Greek and Eastern churches, how many are merely nominal Christians, hypo- crites, heretics, reprobates, unregenerate, and spiritually unenlightened? Missionaries are said to number in Africa only one to every 80,000; in Korea, one to every 120,000; in Japan, one to every 170,000; in India, one to every 320,000; in China, one to every 470,000. It is said that, at the present rate of missionary progress, 80,000,0u0 Ne- groes are beyond all prospect of hearing the Gospel in their lifetime. Two thirds of India’s population are yet unevangelized and over three quarters of the peoples in South America. 160 towns and villages in China are yet denied the Gospel. In Japan the heathen population is greater today than it was when missions first started. Look on the fields waiting to be reaped for Christ! While churches delay, unrelenting death — that other reaper with his wide, un- sparing scythe — lays millions low at a turn. 90,000 die out of Christ each day, and sixty every minute. It is time for Christian action in Christian missions ! — Condensed from United Evangelical Action. GOSPEL HERALD Missions Editorial Shall We Expand? The Executive and Missions Committees of the General Mission Board met for an all-day session in Elkhart on Dec. 13. There was routine business. There were personal inter- views with prospective missionaries. But the chief discussion of the day was concerning an enlarging vision. We hung a large world map on the wall before us. It is surprising how a map like this influences one’s thinking, and how it helps to bring the world challenge home. That is why a world map on the wall or a good-sized globe on the mantel is such an appropriate “ornament” in a missionary- minded home. We looked at the home field. There is so much more that we should be doing in our cities — millions, literally, without the Gos- pel. The Negroes as a race are remarkably responsive to the Gospel. They are surprised to find earnest Christian people who love them and who bring to them the love of God in Christ without racial prejudice. The groups of these people are large and are rapidly growing in dozens of our northern cities. We looked at blueprints and tenta- tive drawings for our proposed new church and service center in the midst of Chicago’s vast, new housing projects. More evangelism in the home church; more outposts; more advance into neglected rural areas; more mass evangelism; more personal soul-winning; more Holy Spirit in- spired missionary zeal among all our people — these were a few of the imperatives for the Mennonite Church which we saw more clearly again as we faced up to the oppor- tunity and the challenge in the home field. Our eyes wandered over the map and we saw Alaska, Japan, Malaya, Indonesia, Oceania, and the huge blacked-out area be- hind the iron curtain in Asia. In Europe one sees Spain, France, Italy, Belgium, Eng- land— country after country with a mature culture, but with so little of the living Gos- pel. Our eyes turn southward to Latin Amer- ica— from our own next-door neighbor of Mexico on down through twenty-one repub- lics to Cape Horn — a vast continent seething in political unrest, which unrest is but sym- bolic of millions of souls who do not know the “peace that passeth understanding.” Africa, the Middle East, the Moslem world — we were overwhelmed as we “looked on the fields” and as we weighed world need against Mennonite resources — as we meas- ured our own meager missionary outreach with the command of Christ to “go into all the world and make disciples of all people.” January /, 1952 We have a mandate from Christ to expand our witness, and we believe we have a man- date from the Mennonite Church to do more, go farther, and to enter new fields.— J. D. Graber. Women’s Activities In the November Women’s Activities letter there is a request for bandages for Java and Formosa. Sister Ida Stoltzfus says that this is a project that Juniors love to do. How about it, Juniors? The bandages should be torn from old sheets in 2-, 3-, and 4-inch widths, and rolled tightly. The roll may be two or three inches in diameter, each roll being wrapped in a piece of cloth and sewed to keep it clean. Winter dresses are needed for Germany in the children’s home and for distribution. Many warm dresses made of wool, spun rayon, or gabardine are needed in cold damp Germany where many homes are not proper- ly heated. — Mrs. C. L. Shank. GAYS CREEK, KENTUCKY Dear Christian Friends: Greetings of love in the Master’s name. Since we last wrote to you, our church build- ing has been erected with the help that a number of you gave. We have appreciated very much the interest that you have had in the work and above all, we are glad for your prayers for the work. Christians from West Liberty, Ohio, have very generously donated and delivered to us some used benches which we are using. We will likely need a few more benches in the future, but there are enough for the present. November 8 marked the close of the first week of evangelistic meetings which have been held here in this community by our group since our arrival on the field. Brethren Emanuel Swartzendruber, Pigeon, Mich., and Alvin Swartz, Talbert, Ky., were our speakers during the week. Bro. and Sister Eli Swartzentruber, Greenwood, Del., were also with us during most of the week and we were happy for the help they were able to give at that time. The assistance of John Detwiler was also much appreciated. Since the close of the meetings we have ex- perienced a fresh thrust of the enemy against the work and Word of the Lord. A number seem at the point of turning away to a seem- ingly easier path because ot the Bible teach- ings on marriage and divorce and on nonre- sistance. They and we need your prayers that Satan may not get an advantage of us. Although there are some who seem at the point of going away, we are encouraged by those who are making real progress in their Christian life and are going on with the Lord. Thanksgiving season is here again and we have much to praise the Lord for and we long that He may receive from our lives and lips the praise and thanksgiving due unto Him. David and Rhoda Showalter, Ruth Yoder. January i, 1952 GOSPEL HERALD 19 CHURCH CORRESPONDENCE M.C.C. Weekly Notes DJP.’s Must Report Address The Internal Security Act of 1950 requires that all aliens admitted to the United States for permanent residence, file an address re- port each year between Jan. 1 and 11. Reports are to be made on an “Address Report Card” (Form 1-53) which may be secured at any U.S. post office. The com- pleted card should be taken (not mailed) to the post office and handed to the postal clerk. Parents or guardians should submit this re- port for aliens under fourteen years of age. Sponsors should be sure that the D.P. im- migrants are aware of their responsibility in this matter. Service Units Follow Migrants Even in the winter season, service units are in contact with needy migrant labor camps. Near Coalinga, Calif., the M.C.C. unit of our young people carries on Bible classes and other religious teaching, recrea- tion and crafts, in the camps of Negro and Mexican laborers. The Lancaster Mennonite Conference has opened a service project in the Redlands migrant camp at Homestead, Fla. Women Needed in Voluntary Service Young women are needed in several serv- ice units, including housekeepers, cooks, hos- pital attendants, workers with children, nurses, and others. Although the V.S. pro- gram is preparing to accommodate some young drafted men, there will continue to be need and opportunity for purely volun- tary workers, both women and men. Wom- en are especially needed now because some are completing terms of service in projects which are significant. Far East Relief News A cablegram from Franklin Beahn brings the word that he arrived in Hong Kong on Nov. 16. He had been the last M.C.C. work- er to be engaged in a relief project in China, that of directing the Free Christian Voca- tional School in Shanghai. Even after the Communist occupation of Shanghai he was able to continue until regulations made it impossible for him as a foreigner to receive remittances and to direct the school. For the past months he has been endeavoring to leave Shanghai. In addition to helping to care for forty children in an orphanage at Taichung, For- mosa, Ruth Fisher has been asked to con- duct three weekly half-hour programs on a local radio station. Two of these are English Bible lessons, and the third is religious music and poetry. Through these contacts she also is called upon for other services, such as telling Bible stories in a high school with over 2,000 students. Released December 21, 1951 Via Mennonite Central Committee Akron, Pennsylvania Retirement is not quitting one’s career, but fitting into one’s sphere. — Dr. Howard T. Kuist. MARION, PENNSYLVANIA Dear Herald Readers: We have been blessed with a number of missionaries wor- shiping with us in the past few months. Bro. and Sister Harvey Miller were with us Aug. 25, just a week before their sailing. Bro. Clarence Fretz, with whom the Millers sailed, had been here at a service on June 23. Bro. and Sister Herschkowitz, missionaries to the Jews, were with us in regular service Oct. 7. Bro. Herschkowitz gave us his life history. Bro. Henry F. Garber, president of the Eastern Board of Missions and Charities, of the Lancaster Conference, was present on Dec. 9 and brought a message from Ezek. 9:4, “A Mark ot a Christian.” The after- noon of that day a large group met for the farewell service for Bro. and Sister Lester Eshleman, who expect to sail on Dec. 20 for the Tanganyika mission field in Africa. Bro. Amos Martin, Sister Eshleman’s uncle, spoke on John 20:21, after which testimonies were given by Bro. Garber, Lois and Lester Eshle- man, and the home ministers. We are glad there are those among us who are willing to use their talents in telling the glad news of salvation. We wish them the blessing of the Lord. May the Lord also bless those whose part is to “tarry by the stuff,” for they are needed too. On Dec. 3 our sewing circle was reor- ganized, with Sisters Elizabeth Martin and Mattie Shank as presidents. The same eve- ning our annual business meeting was held. Merle Cordell and Glenn Shank were elected superintendents of the Sunday school for the coming year. During October we were richly fed on spiritual food by Bro. Emanuel Peachey, who was with us in our fall revival meetings. Several brethren from neighboring con- gregations have filled the pulpit several times this fall, in the absence of our home ministers. “Make me a channel of blessing today.” May this be our prayer as we think of the newborn King our Saviour. Dec. 10, 1951. Lydia R. Hess. PRYOR, OKLAHOMA (Zion Congregation) Dear Herald Readers: Greetings in the name of Him who loved us and gave His life for us. The year 1951 is nearly gone. With it go the joys and sorrows of another year. Truly the Lord has been good to us. “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ.” The new Sunday-school year is well on its way. Our Sunday school was reorganized on Sept. 23: Supt., William M. Chupp; Asst., Eli Miller; Pri. Supt., Jerry L. Troyer; Chor., Gladys Yoder; Asst., Elmer Miller; Libr., Eunice Mae Histand; Secy., Kenneth Schef- fel. On Oct. 14 we were privileged to again commemorate the suffering and death of our blessed Lord and Saviour. Bro. Nelson His- tand, our minister who was ordained to the office of bishop on Dec. 31, broke the bread and passed the cup in this service. Our summer Biofe school was well attend- ed. Many outside children were given trans- portation to and from the school. Bro. and lister Leo Miller, now of Wichita, Kans., were in charge. Twelve members were received into the church by letter this year. We are looking forward to evangelistic meetings some time in January. Bro. D. D. Miller, Berlin, Ohio, is to be our evangelist. Pray for these meetings, that souls may be won for Christ, and that we may ail be strengthened in the faith. Pray that Bro. Miller may be used in a mighty way in de- claring unto us God’s Word. Bro. Baldwin Miller has been suffering for nearly a year from paralysis. Remember him in prayer. Pray for us. And God bless you all. Jerry F. Troyer. NORTH LAWRENCE, OHIO (Pleasant View Congregation) Dear Herald Readers: Since our last let- ter we have enjoyed many good services, es- pecially the Brunk brothers’ tent meetings held Sept. 9 to Oct. 14. Bro. Elmer Yoder, of Elida, has been com- ing about every two weeks to preach in the morning services. He and his family have also visited in many of the homes. Other brethren who have brought us good messages are Howard Hammer, Jacob Wei- rich, Keuben Hofstetter, Stanford Mumaw, Isaac Zuercher, and Marion Berg. Bro. Lawrence Brunk also gave us a mes- sage one Sunday. The same day a busload from Souderton, Pa., worshiped with us. Sister Mabel Hess, missionary to Africa, and formerly of this community, spoke dur- ing the Sunday-school hour on Aug. 19. Our services were held in the basement sev- eral Sundays while the auditorium was be- ing redecorated. On Sept. 15 we were glad to have the Eastern Ohio Women’s Missionary meeting. The attendance was good and many inspiring talks were given. Sister Ruth Miller, wife of E. E. Miller, of Goshen, Ind., was guest speaker. On Sept. 9 the annual Sunday-school gath- ering was held at the Melvin Boley home. A week-end Bible conference was held Nov. 9-11, with B. B. King, of Sheldon, Wis., and Elmer Yoder as instructors. Many used this opportunity to study God’s Word to- gether. Bro. Albert and Sister Ann (Hosteder) Fath, who were recently married, have taken up work at the Home for the Aged, Eureka, 111. Our prayers and good wishes go with them. (Continued on next page) 20 GOSPEL HERALD January i, 1952 MISSION NEWS (Continued) building which was originally built as a bakery. For several reasons it was impossible to purchase land to build a new church in Palo Hincado. However, the Baptist Church held possession to a small plot of ground which the Insular government had given them for the purpose of building a chapel. This plot is located in a very densely popu- lated area called “Las Pamelas.” The Bap- tist Church has given permission to the Men- nonite Church to build a chapel on this plot. This note of appreciation comes from the Chaco: “We have planned to give each of the women who have met with us regularly a booklet of the Christmas story which we made out of the Christmas cards that many of you sent to us. We prepared 100 of them. We think they look nice and we’re sure they will treasure them.” The clinic building in Pulguillas, Puerto Rico, will be ready for use soon. This build- ing was the first tabernacle church at that place, then converted into a school, and now again changed into a clinic. The work was done by two builders from the La Plata serv- ice unit, brethren John Miller and Alvin Kauffman. A few India calendars are still available. Send your order soon if you wish to have one or have some sent to your friends. They may be purchased for 25 apiece. Order from Mennonite Board of Missions and Charities, Elkhart, Ind. Sister Florence Nafziger, missionary on furlough from India, may be addressed at 523 Seventeenth Avenue North, Nampa, Idaho. Let us continue to remember the church in India as they meet for their annual con- ference and Jalsa during this season of the year. Bro. and Sister George Beare, missionaries in India, were scheduled to leave on furlough on Dec. 29. They will visit our missions in Africa, stop in Ireland to visit some of Bro. Beare’s relatives, arriving in the States some time before annual Board meeting in June. Bro. Ezra Beachy, Pinckney, Mich., writes: “Rejoice with us for three young girls and a middle-aged lady who made the happy de- cision for the Lord and were received by bap- tism during the past year. Pray that they may continue to grow in Him.” Sister Goldie Hummel, missionary in In- dia, will be stationed at Drug for the coming year. She says: “Although the work of med- ical science has done much in recent years, yet as one sees the many lepers of India, the compassion of Jesus and His love comes to us anew.” Leprosy clinic work is carried on at Drug and will be in charge of Sister Eliza- beth Penner, with whom Goldie will be liv- ing. Bro. and Sister Lester Eshleman sailed for the Africa mission field, if plans carried, on Dec. 20. Sister Marie Naffziger becomes, on Jan. 1, director of nursing at the Kiowa County Memorial Hospital at Greensburg, Kans. This hospital is under the direction of the Mennonite Board of Missions and Charities. Johnny Allison, who was wonderfully con- verted at Palmyra, Mo., after his imprison- ment for murder, has begun a life term at the Missouri state penitentiary. His address Is Reg. No. 65381, Box 900, Jefferson City, Mo. He is allowed to Write only two letters week- ly but may receive all letters sent to him. A special missionary program was held at Fisher, 111., Dec. 15, 16. Paul Lauver and L. C. Hartzler were the visiting speakers. It was the occasion also for a farewell service for the Elmer Springer family, who are re- turning to mission work in Puerto Rico. Bro. Hartzler also filled appointments at Dewey and at the colored church in Gibson City. CORRESPONDENCE (Continued) The Martins congregation were with us in a union Thanksgiving service. Bro. Frank Sturpe, of Toledo, Ohio, gave a stirring and practical message. Remember the work at this place in your prayers. Mrs. David Falb. PROTECTION, KANSAS Dear Herald Readers: Sept. 23 we had the privilege of listening to Sister Ida Stoltz- fus, from Pennsylvania, who showed slides of the work and conditions in northern India. Oct. 14 the Protection, Greensburg, and Perryton, Texas, congregations of the Men- nonite Church met at Greensburg for the semiannual Sunday School Conference. The weather was fine and we had an excellent meeting. Bro. John Duerksen, Hesston, MENNONITE MUTUAL AID, INC. 1413 South Eighth Street Goshen, Indiana Organized in 1945 by General Conference to meet financial needs of the Mennonite Church. Several plans available to put capi- tal to work in the church. Money available for loans to establish homes or livelihood in the Mennonite community. Write for informa- tion. Kans., who was holding meetings at Greens- burg at the time, brought the morning mes- sage. Nov. 4 we had our communion, at which time Bro. and Sister Earl Buckwalter wor- shiped with us. Nov. 11 was the day Bro. Peter Dyck, Moundridge, Kans., spoke at the Protection Church. A number came from Greensburg, Kans., to hear Bro. Dyck and to see his pic- tures. The house was well filled. Bro. Earl Buckwalter held meetings for our group each evening Nov. 25 to Dec. 2. Those who heard the messages were strength- ened. Bro. Clayton Beyler and family, Hess- ton, Kans., visited our congregation Sunday morning, Dec. 9. Bro. Beyler brought an in- spiring message. The junior sewing circle made some fruit plates to pass to shut-ins at Thanksgiving time. The primary department of the Sun- day school is preparing a Christmas program for Christmas morning. The adult sewing circle has been meeting twice a month during the winter. Besides our regular offering we bring an article for relief or missions, each time something dif- ferent, as designated by the chairman. Dec. 12, 1951. Ursula Miller. FISHER, ILLINOIS Dear Herald Readers: On Sept. 16 bap- tismal services were held here. Thirteen boys and girls were received into church fellow- ship by Bro. J. N. Kaufman. “But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever” (II Peter 3:18) was the key verse to the series of meet- ings that was held in our congregation on Nov. 9-20. The theme song was “Higher Ground.” Bro. Milo Kauffman served as evangelist and Bro. I. Mark Ross was song leader. The presence of the Holy Spirit was felt, and we trust that East Bend will go forth better fitted to serve Christ as a result of these meetings. Bro. Ross stayed and brought the message on Thanksgiving morning. The local chorus sang several numbers. Bro. Paul DePaepe is making good recov- ery following the amputation of his limb. The sewing circle prepared over a hundred Thanksgiving plates to give to the patients at convalescent homes and to other shut-in friends in this vicinity. Each plate had a suitable tract and Scripture stickers. It warmed our hearts to see the joy of the in- dividuals as they received these. Since Bro. and Sister Elmer Springer will soon be returning to Puerto Rico, a mission- ary program was planned for the evening of Dec. 15 and an all-day meeting Dec. 16, in recognition of their labors. Guest speakers were the brethren Paul Lauver and Levi C. Hartzler. Dec. 17, 1951. Mrs. A. R. Zehr. GREENWOOD, DELAWARE (Tressler Congregation) On Sept. 2 Bro. Omar Kurtz, Oley, Pa., filled the pulpit in the absence of our pastor, Bro. Campbell, who with his family was spending several days in the Masontown, Pa., community, where they lived before coming here. On Saturday evening, Sept. 29, our bishop, Bro. Isaac Metzler, was with us for prepara- tory service. Sunday morning, Sept. 30, we had communion services. John Ash, one of our members, passed away Oct. 13. We were again reminded that we have no continuing city but seek one to come. Our weekly prayer meetings are held in the homes again during the winter months. We were thankful for the privilege of at- tending revival meetings at our neighboring sister church. Bro. Andrew Jantzi conducted these meetings, at the Greenwood C.A. Men- nonite Church. We welcome into our church two new families who moved here from Virginia, the Wendell Berkshires and the Glenn Berk- shires. Wendell and Glenn are brothers of Sister Hazel Campbell, our pastor’s wife. Pray for us, that the Lord’s will may be accomplished. Dec. 14, 1951. Amanda Ash. January i, 1952 21 LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA (Calvary Mennonite Church) On Oct. 7 our bishop, Sherman Maust, served communion. It was a very impressive service, reminding us again of our Saviour’s love and sacrificial death for us. One young girl was received into our number by bap- tism. Our pastor, John David Zehr, was the delegate from the South Pacific Conference to the annual meeting of the Board of Edu- cation at Morgantown, Pa. One Sunday dur- ing his absence Bro. William G. Detweiler, of the Calvary Hour broadcast, filled our pulpit. Sister Detweiler told of their work from the beginning until the present time. Nov. 18 a Joint Missionary Day service was held at Upland, at the Seventh Street Men- nonite Church. Most of our members at- tended. Nov. 22-24 our South Pacific Conference held its third annual meeting at Winton, Calif. Sixteen from our congregation attend- ed. They report a good meeting. Oct. 28 our group opened a Mexican mis- sion Sunday school, with Bro. Joseph Toledo as superintendent and Bro. and Sister Ezra Kennel and Sister Mary Wenger assisting in the work. Bro. and Sister Stanley Weaver, leader and matron of the M.R.C. Navajo Indian migrant work, who are now stationed at Phoenix, Ariz., were with us Nov. 25 and spoke interestingly of their work with the migrants. Also in November the M.Y.F. unit spon- sored a Sunday evening meeting. After the service Sister Alice Klassen from Coalinga, Calif., gave an interesting talk on M.C.C. migrant work and showed her colored slides. Sister Florence Nafziger, missionary on furlough from India, arrived at Los Angeles, Calif., Nov. 19 and was met by her parents who are spending the winter in Upland, Calif. On Dec. 2 Sister Nafziger spent the morning and evening with our congregation. In the morning she wore the garb of India and showed us various other things from there. In the evening she gave a good talk on India, about the Christian natives and the work of the Mennonite hospital. Our boys and girls club work had forty- seven in attendance recently. Bro. and Sister Hersey Bumstead, formerly of Goshen, Ind., have moved into the city and are joining our fellowship. John Horst and Amos Drawbond, Mary Drawbond, Mar- tha Harshbarger, and Arlene Mishler are working in our city. We welcome them into our fellowship. Bro. and Sister Ralph Holderman and daughter left for Alaska for the school year. They are located at Deering, Alaska. No ships can reach them; they can be contacted only by air mail. Letters from them tell of their work among the Eskimos. They are busy from morning until night, with people coming to them continually with medical needs. So they serve not only in school teach- ing but also as nurse, doctor, and missionary. Bro. and Sister J. M. Brubaker, from Orange, Calif., are not very well at present. Bro. Zehrs visit them occasionally. GOSPEL HERALD The Lord bless you, every one, until He comes. Catharine B. Kulp. LANCASTER, PENNSYLVANIA (North End Mission) Dear Christian Friends: Greetings of love in the Master’s name. Our revival meetings were held Oct. 7-14, with Bro. John S. Hess as evangelist. An elderly man and a mother of eight children accepted the Lord. The mother has grown cold in her spiritual life and has stopped coming to church. We re- quest your prayers for her. Bro. Frank Kreider from the East Peters- burg congregation brought us an inspiring message one Sunday in October. Roy Wissler was elected superintendent and Richard Lehman assistant superintendent for the fol- lowing year. We miss the ones who have left us. Milton and Lois Good have gone to E.M.C. A fare- well service was held for Sister Anna Neff, a worker for the past nine years, who is go- ing to a new field of labor — the Slack water Mission near Millersville. May God richly bless her. Dec. 12, 1951. Mrs. Glenn Ranck. WADSWORTH^ OHIO (Bethel Congregation) We can truly say with the psalmist, “The Lord hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad.” We thank God that we have had the privilege of having the Brunk broth- ers in our community for five weeks this fall. We praise God for revival in the hearts of many and for the spiritual blessings we have received. Many of our hearts have been blessed with deeper fellowship with our Lord and Saviour. On the morning of Sept. 23 Bro. J. D. Gra- ber brought us a missionary sermon. The same morning Bro. Matthew Kolb, from Spring City, Pa., had devotions. In the after- noon Bro. J. D. Graber and Bro. O. N. Johns were with us for the farewell services for Sister Anna Lois Rohrer of this congregation, who sailed for India in October. Word has been received of her safe arrival. On Oct. 21 Bro. Warren Miller, of Millers- burg, Ohio, brought us the morning mes- sage and on the evening of Dec. 2 Bro. Gerald Studer spoke on “Why Live a Separated Life.” A special Missionary Day program was given by the primary department, followed by a missionary sermon by Bro. S. D. Rohrer on the evening of Nov. 18. As we come to the close of a year and the beginning of another, we pray that we may continually serve the Lord in whatever way He may lead, even more faithfully than in the past. Bertha Gehman. UPLAND, CALIFORNIA Dear Herald Readers: The last of the yams have been dug and the grape vineyards appear lifeless and bare. And again we are reminded of God’s faithfulness to us, for He has kept His promise recorded in Gen. 8:22. New officers were elected for the Sunday school and took their places on the first Sun- day of October. Robert Groff is superintend- ent and Lloyd Eason assistant. Our choristers are appointed to serve monthly. Jacob Shetler superintends the children’s Sunday-school pe- riod. Bro. Merle Bender, representative of Hess- ton College, told us of the needs of the school on the evening of Oct. 14. Bro. and Sister W. G. Detweiler, Orrville, Ohio, were other October visitors. We now feel a new kinship with the Calvary Hour. Nov. 11 was a special day for us as we re- membered together the suffering and death of our Lord Jesus and observed the commun- ion service. A joint Missionary Day program with the Los Angeles congregation as our guests stirred us anew and made us realize our re- sponsibility to our fellow men on Nov. 18. Quite a few of our group were privileged to attend the South Pacific Conference, held at Winton, Calif., Nov. 22-24. We appreciate the many visitors among us for the winter months. L. J. Miller, from Idaho, Joe Driver from Missouri, and Moses Brenneman from Oregon have all added in- spiration to our worship services by their messages from God’s Word. We were also glad for Sister Florence Nafziger’s recent account of India mission work. Dec. 9, 1951. Olive Shetler. ORRVILLE, OHIO Dear Christian Friends: Surely the Lord has been good to us. How thankful we arc for His abiding presence! Revival meetings were held June 25 to July 1, with Bro. C. F. Derstine as evangelist. Singing classes were held on Friday even- ings during June, July, and August, with Dwight Weldy as instructor. During the month of July members of the congregation helped in readying the recently purchased parsonage for occupancy by Bro. Bauman and his family. On Aug. 12 Bro. A. J. Steiner was with us to conduct baptismal service. Aug. 19 James Welty, of the Lima Rescue Mission, was with us in our evening service. On Aug. 31 Lester Hostetler, who spent a year in Berlin in M.C.C. work, showed pic- tures and spoke concerning the work and his experiences. During the month of September the Brunk brothers held revival meetings. Many of our congregation renewed their covenant with the Lord. On Sept. 9 election of officers was held, with Marion Lehman elected Sunday-school superintendent and Edward Gerber assistant. Sept. 23 Bro. George Brunk was with us for the morning worship service. Communion service was observed on Oct. 7. Our annual business meeting was held Oct. 24. On Nov. 17 Bro. S. Jay Hostetler showed pictures of India mission work. He was also with us on Nov. 18, giving a missionary ser- mon. On Nov. 22 a Thanksgiving service was held in the evening. Remember us as a congregation in your prayers as we endeavor to carry on the work of the Lord. Dec. 6, 1951. Virginia Hartzler. 22 GOSPEL HERALD January i, 1952 BIRTHS "Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord" (Ps. 127:3a). Bowman. — To Paul and Geneva (Heatwole) Bowman, Harrisonburg, Va., a daughter, San- dra Louise, Nov. 30, 1951. Brubaker. — To Paul G. and Martha (Herr) Brubaker, Lancaster, Pa., a son, Dale La Mar, Dec. 6. 1951. Denlinger. — To Harold D. and A. Miriam (Neff) Denlinger, Honks, Pa., a daughter, Rhoda Jean, Dec. 1, 1951. Deter. — To Clayton L. and Dorrine (Bos) Deter, Morrison, 111., a son, Randy Lee, Dec. 2, 1951. Freed. — To Russell L. and Dorothy (Hagey) Freed, Franconia, Pa., a daughter, Mary Ann, Oct. 18, 1951. Hochstetler. — To Milan M. and Martha (Kra- mer) Hochstetler, Fentress, Va., a daughter, Dana Fern, Dec. 2, 1951. King. — To Lloyd and Ccna (Plank) K’.ug, Oley, Pa., a daughter, Sylvia Ruth, Nov. 27. 1951. „ „ Kramer. — To Daniel and Edna (Troyer) Kra- mer, Portsmouth, Va., a daughter, Lois Evelyn, Oct. 17, 1951. , /Ti Kropf. — To John, Jr., and Hannah (Bru- baker) Kropf, Sheridan, Oreg., a daughter, Er- lene Faye, Dec. 4. 1951. Miller. — To Cecil E. and Verda (Hershberger) Miller, Kalona, Iowa, a son, Galen La Von (born Dec. 3, 1951), by adoption, Dec. 6, 1951. Oyer. — To Walter and Freda (Teuscher) Oyer, Fisher, 111., twin sons, Donald Dean (still- born) and Ronald Gene, Nov. 30, 1951. Smoker. — To Wilmer and Ruth (Smoker) Smoker, Parkesburg, Pa., a daughter, Lorraine Fay, Nov. 22, 1951. Stutzman. — To James, Jr., and Beulah (Det- weiler) Stutzman, Schwenksville, Pa., a daugh- ter, Linda Rose, Oct. 22, 1951. MARRIAGES May the blessings of God be upon the homes established by the marriages here listed. A year's subscription to the Gospel Herald is given to those whose address is supplied by the officiating minister. Bender — Roi. — Daniel Bender, Maple View congregation, and Agnes Roi, East Zorra con- gregation, Tavistock, Out., by Henry Yantzi at the Cassel Church Nov. 1, 1951. Brubaker — Stahl. — .T. Clarence Brubaker, East Chestnut Street congregation, Lancaster, Pa., and Grace E. Stall), Kaufman congregation, Ilollsopple, Pa., by Pastor Sturgil of the Bap- tist Church, Elkton, Aid., Sept. 29, 1951. Godshall — Shenk. — Ernest Godshall, Souder- ton, Pa., and Martha Shenk, Denbigh, Va., by John H. Shenk at the home of the bride Oct. 14, 1951. Hege — Zimmerman.— -Noah H. Hege, Marion congregation, Chambersburg, Pa., and Ella L. Zimmerman, Slate Hill congregation, Shire- manstown, Pa., by W. M. Strong, with J. Irvin Lehman and (Marlin Lauver assisting, at the Slate Hill Church June 23, 1951. Leiss — 'Gerber. — Elton Leiss, East Zorra con- gregation, Tavistock, Ont., and Ellen Gerber, Steinman congregation, by Henry Yantzi at the Tavistock Church Oct. 13, 1951. Martin — Clymer. — Benjamin F. Martin, Jr., and Esther Clymer by D. Stoner Krady, assist- ed by Noah Hershey, at the Laurel Street Church, Lancaster, Pa., Dec. 5, 1951. Roth — Ruby.— Wilfred Roth and Jean Ruby, both of the East Zorra congregation, Tavis- tock, Ont., by Henry Yantzi at his home Oct. 20. 1951. Wagler — Jutzi. — Elmer L. Wagler, Steinman congregation, and Hilda Jutzi, East Zorra con- gregation. Tavistock, Ont., by Henry Yantzi at the East Zorra Church Oct. 17, 1951. Wagler — Yantzi.— Leander Wagler and Bea- trice Yantzi, both of the East Zorra congrega- tion, Tavistock, Ont:, by Henry Yantzi at the’ East Zorra Church Nov. 3, 1951. Weaver — Hack. — Joseph Milton Weaver and Margaret Jane Hack, of the Churclitown con- gregation, Narvon, Pa., by W. M. Strong at their new home, Mt. Holly Springs, Dec. 8, 1951. Weaver — Zimmerman. — George M. Weaver, Narvon, Pa., Weaverland congregation, and Marian Zimmerman, Blue Ball, Pa., also of Weaverland, by Joseph O. Weaver, father of the groom, assisted by John B. Weaver, at the home of the bride Nov. 18, 1951. Yantzi — Gerber. — Lester Yantzi, East Zorra congregation, Tavistock, Ont., and Helen Ger- ber, Steinman congregation, by Henry Yantzi at the Tavistock Church Oct. 13, 1951. Zehr — Birky. — John Zehr, Rantoul, 111., and Betty Birky, Foosland, 111., both of the East Bend congregation, by Harold Zehr, father of the groom, at the church Dec. 7, 1951. OBITUARIES May the sustaining grace and comfort of our Lord bless those who are bereaved. Helka. — Norman Clayton, son of the late Elias Helka and Mary Ann Hoover, was born near Selkirk, Out., Aug. 23, 1903 ; passed away at the Hamilton, Ont., General Hospital Oct. 22, 1951; aged 48 y. 1 m. 29 d. In 1926 he was converted and joined the Rainham Men- nonite Church, wfiere he served his Master until his homegoing. He cared for his widowed moth- er while operating a small farm and general re- pair business. Surviving are his mother, a broth- er (Freeman, of Selkirk), 3 nephews, one great- nephew, and a large circle of other relatives and friends. For a number of years he suffered ill health, and in his more recent illness called for the special prayers of God’s people for the heal- ing of his body. But God planned otherwise. The funeral was held Oct. 25, with a short serv- ice at the Fisherville Funeral Parlor and a pub- lic service at the Rainham Mennonite Church, in charge of A. Lewis Fretz, assisted by Amsa and Urias Martin, of Elmira, and Abram Smith, of Markham. Burial was made in the Lake Shore Cemetery. Herr. — Harry B., son of the late C. B. S. and Lizzie A. (Herr) Herr, was born June 21, 1871 ; entered into rest Nov. 13, 1951, at his home, near Lancaster, Pa.; aged 80 y. 4 m. 22 d. He and his wife (Minnie Groff Herr) celebrated their fifty-fifth wedding anniversary Nov. 4. Surviving besides his wife are 3 children (Anna — Mrs. Clair Deiter, Strasburg, Pa.; Willis G. and Harry G., both of West Lampeter, Pa.), 8 grandchildren, and 2 great-grandchildren. He was a member of the Willow Street Mennonite Church and a teacher in the Sunday school for many years. Brief funeral services were held at the home Nov. 16 by John A. Breneman, with further services at the Willow Street Church by Emory H. Herr and Jacob T. Harnish. Texts: II Cor. 5:1; Job 14:14. Burial was made in the cemetery adjoining the church. Hochstedler. — Savilla, daughter of Samuel and Rosa (Schrock) Hochstetler, was born in Wash- ington Twp., Johnson Co., Iowa, Sept. 23, 1875 ; died at the Mercy Hospital in Iowa City, Iowa, Nov. 25, 1951; aged 76 y. 2 m. 2 d. Jan. 22, 1907, she was united in marriage to John A. Hochstedler. They lived in the Sharon-Frytown community. She leaves her husband, one sister (Lizzie), her brothers (Noah and Aaron S., of Kalona ; Lewis, Grants Pass, Oreg.), and a num- ber of other relatives and friends. In her youth she accepted Christ as her Saviour and united with the Mennonite Church. She was a faith- ful and devoted member of the East Union con- gregation. Death resulted from a stroke, from which she did not regain consciousness. She was a true friend and her daily life was a tes- timony to her profession as a Christian ; her influence will be remembered long in the church and community. Funeral services were held at the East Union Mennonite Church, with bur- ial in the East Union Cemetery. D. J. Fisher and Albert S. Miller officiated. Kropf. — -Mattie, daughter of John and Cath- erine (Rhodes) Keim, was born in Elkhart Co., Ind., Jan. 23, 1878 ; departed from this life Nov. 8, 1951, at her late home north of Wellman, Iowa, after an illness of several months; aged 73 y. 9 m. 16 d. She was united in marriage March 22, 190S, to Noah Kropf. To this union 4 children were born. Three died in infancy. Surviving are his father,; one -son (Emery), one brother (Menno . Keim,. AliddLcr bury, Ind.), 2 grandchildren, and other rela- tives and friends. She accepted Christ in her youth and was a member of the East Union congregation. She will be remembered by her friends for her devotion and concern for the church which she loved. After their marriage they established their home on a farm in In- diana, until 1938, when they moved to Iowa. They have lived in the Kalona and Wellman communities. Funeral services were held Nov. 11 at the East Union Church, with D. J. Fisher, D. C. Bissinger, and S. B. Nafziger in charge. Burial was made in the East Union Cemetery. Lantz. — Eva Delilah, daughter of David A. and Elizabeth (Yoder) Miller, was born near Middlebury, Ind., Aug. 18, 1877 ; passed away at the Washington Co., Iowa, Hospital Nov. 6, 1951; aged 74 y. 2 m. 19 d. Death was caused by diabetes, from which she suffered the last six years. She was confined to bed the last four years. The family moved to West Liberty^ Kans., where she grew to womanhood. In 1897 she went to Iowa and was married to Milo J. Kempf. After their marriage they settled on a farm in the Kalona community. There they lived until 1923, when they moved to Wayland. To this union 8 children were born. Her hus- band, 2 daughters (Addie — Mrs. Harley Keiser and an infant), her parents, and 2 brothers pre- deceased her. December, 1943, she was united in marriage to David Lantz, after which she resided in Kalona. Surviving are her husband, 6 children (Mrs. Milo J. Miller and Mrs. Law- rence J. Miller, of Kalona ; Mrs. Chester Miller, of Wellman; Loyd, Wayland, Iowa; Glen, Charles City, Iowa; and Zene, Pasadena, Calif.), 11 grandchildren, 2 great-grandchildren, 4 sis- ters (Mrs. Will Hel-muth, Harrisonville, Mo.; Mrs. Barbara Zink, Inman, Kans. ; Mrs. Roy Troyer, Hesston, Kans. ; Mrs. Sam Troyer, Harper, Kans.), 4 brothers (Roy Miller, Hutch- inson, Kans. ; Samuel Miller, Nampa, Idaho ; Chris Miller, Harrisonburg, Va. ; David Miller, Edwards, Mo.), and a large number of other relatives and friends. At the age of thirteen she accepted Christ as her Saviour and united with the Mennonite Church. At the time of her death she was a member of the East Union Men- nonite Church. She bore her affliction with Christian fortitude, never complaining. The reading of the Scriptures and prayer brought her much comfort. Funeral services were held at the East Union Church Nov. 9, conducted by Edward Diener and D. J. Fisher. Burial was made in the East Union Cemetery. Martin. — Fannie, daughter of the late Daniel and Anna Burkholder, was born May 5, 1865; died at her home near Ephrata, Pa., Sept. 11, 1951 ; aged 86 y. 4 m. 6 d. She had been in fail- ing health for over a year. From the time of her youth she was a member of the Martindale Mennonite Church. Nov. 22, 1887, she was united in marriage to Henry M. Martin, who preceded her in death eleven years ago. To this union were born 9 children : Mrs. Ada Hoover, Brownstown, Pa. : Daniel, Titus, Mary, and Ervin, Ephrata. Pa. ; Leah — Mrs. John B. Weaver, Terre Hill, Pa. ; Anna — Mrs. George Horst, Weaverland; Abel, Bards Crossing; and Eva — Ms. George Zimmerman, deceased. Sur- viving besides 8 children are 49 grandchildren, 110 great-grandchildren, one sister (Mrs. Mary Weaver), and 3 brothers (Moses, David, and Daniel, Hinkletown, Pa.). The funeral was held Sept. 14 at the home by Harry Martin, and at the Martindale Church by Aaron Sen- senig and Isaac Zimmerman. Interment was made in the adjoining cemetery. Schrock. — Lewis R., son of Levi and Mattie (Stutzman) Schrock, was born in Sheldon, Nebr., Feb. 11, 1910; passed away very sudden- ly, of a heart attack, while attending services at the Wellman Mennonite Church Sept. 30, 1951 ; aged 41 y. 7 m. 19 d. He was united in marriage to Ada Lehman Nov. 6, 1930, and lived in Nebraska until 1935, when they moved to Iowa. From that time they farmed in the Kalona community. He leaves his companion, 2 sons (Dellis and Leroy, both students at Hesston College, Hesston, Kans.), 3 daughters (Lila Mae, Wilma, and Thelma, at home), his father and stepmother, one half sister (Doro- thy Schrock, Kalona, Iowa), 2 foster brothers ( Clarence Schrock, Downey, Iowa, and James Pearl, Canton, Ohio), and a large number of other relatives and friends. His mother, one brother, and 2 sisters preceded him in death. In his youth he accepted Christ as his Sav- iour and united with the Mennonite Church at W’ood River, Nebr. At the time of his death he was. a member of the Iowa City Mennonite Church. There he was active and faithful, a teacher- ‘In’ the Sunday school and a member of the,- local mission board-. He served in various other offices of the church, where he filled a large place. He will be missed in the home and community as well. He was a kind and loving husband and father, a good neighbor; his daily life was a testimony of his profession. Funeral January i, 195 2 services were held at the East Union Church, in charge of D. J. Fisher, Norman Hobbs, and Paul T. Guengerich. Burial was made in the family lot in the East Union Cemetery. Springer. — John B., son of John and Lizzie (Sutter) Springer, was born in Biarn, Ger- many, May 24, 1873; departed from this life Oct. 20, 1951 ; aged 78 y. 4 m. 25 d. At the age of seven he came to America with his par- ents, first settling in Illinois. A few years later he moved to Stuttgart, Ark. There he lived until 1920, when he moved with his family to Pryor, Okla., where he resided until deatli. Eeb. 14, 1895, he was united in marriage to Elizabeth Kuntze. To this union were born 2 sons and 3 daughters. His wife preceded him in death Jan. 6, 1929. March, 1943, he was united in marriage to Mrs. Iva Sutter, who survives. Also surviving are 2 sons (Jacob C., Archbold, Ohio; and Samuel W., Pryor, Okla.), 3 daughters (Ida E. — Mrs. Dan Sommers, Arch- bold, Ohio ; Susie M. — Mrs. Alvin Oswald, Shickley, Nebr. ; and Mrs. Ellen Kennel, of Archbold), one sister (Mrs. Barbara Roth, Wayland, Iowa), 11 grandchildren, 9 great- grandchildren, and a large number of nephews and nieces, other relatives and friends. In his youth he accepted Christ as his Saviour and united with the Mennonite Church, remaining a member until death. He will be greatly missed by the family and the community. Funeral services were held Oct. 23 at the Green Funeral Home and at the Zion Mennonite Church, con- ducted by I. J. Hartzler, Nelson Histand, and Alva Swartzendruber. Burial was made in the Fairview Cemetery. THE BOOK SHELF Books reviewed in these columns may be ordered trom the Mennonite Publishing House, Scottdale, Pa. i seen him when he done it, by Gladys Blanchard Muller and Dorothy Blanchard Bennet; Van Kampen Press; 1951; 70 pp.; $1.25. The authors, their father a minister, grew up with a vantage point from which they were able to see many of the bad habits prac- ticed in Christian circles and the resultant damage, not only to the Christians them- selves but also to those they were trying to win. In this book they tactfully present in a humorous style a handbook on Christian etiquette. By presenting exaggerated ex- amples of ill manners, bad taste, and thought- less conduct by Christians both in the church service and out, they achieve a thought-pro- voking self-examination without causing needless offense. Ordinarily, dealing in this sensitive area of human weakness becomes a delicate operation. The style of writing makes it very easy reading. The average reader will not be con- tent to lay the book down until he has fin- ished it. One is lured on with a growing conviction that things are being said that need saying badly. One also has the com- fortable feeling that they are being said in such a way that does not do harm. No names are mentioned (except highly fictitious ones) and no finger is pointed. The faults and not the persons are condemned. Some of the ideas may seem old-fashioned to many today, but are well founded in pious Chris- tian propriety. There is a protest made to appearing in a worship service in the infor- mal attire which is so popular today. While the book does not have a Mennonite back- ground or flavor, the things dealt with in general do not confine themselves to de- nominational boundaries. The book carries a number of pen sketch GOSPEL HERALD illustrations which caricature various ex- amples of offensive habits. While some of these seem to be overdone and grate on one’s finer sensibilities, they effectively make their point. This book should have a wide reading in Christian circles. — Amos W. Weaver. Sunrise in the Nation’s Capital, by Dale Crowley; Van Kampen Press; 1950; 192 pp.; $2.00. 1 he title of this spiritually invigorating book, “Sunrise in the Nation’s Capital,” in- dicates its origin. It is a compilation of several of the morning radio messages by “Washington’s radio minister” for nine years, Dale Crowley. Twice each morning he has conducted broadcasts under the headline, “The Right Start for the Day,” which have given just that to many people. He is also the director of “radio’s original Bible quiz, ‘Quiz- piration,’ ” and the author of “The Bible Has the Answer,” “Red World Revolution,” and “The Curse of a Nation.” One forms the concept from Dale Crowley’s use of Scripture in his works, the nature of his evan- gelistic activity, and the fundamental con- tent of his messages that Dale Crowley is a man of God who is vitally interested in winning men and women to Christ, a man who can sense human need, a man well quali- fied to be the author of such a book as “Sunrise in the Nation’s Capital.” Whether you are just setting out on the trail of Christian living, or whether you are well toward its destination, I believe that “Sunrise in the Nation’s Capital” may well prove to be an inspirational, challenging de- votional book for you. It is divided into a series of short messages under such broad divisions as “Prayer, Faith, and Power,” and “The Believer’s Abundant Resources.” You will find set forth in these messages whole- some thoughts and Scripture passages which will provide abundant material for your own reflection and meditation and which will act as incentives to worship. — Nancy Burk- holder. 2.3 ITEMS and COMMENTS The total membership in the United States of the Society of Friends is approximately 115,000. Membership is distributed in forty- six states, with Mississippi and Nevada the only states unrepresented. Indiana ranks first in the number of meetings, Ohio second, and Pennsylvania third. About thirty-one new monthly meetings have been organized in the past fourteen years. * * * A federal judge in West Virginia has sup- ported a Roman Catholic conscientious ob- jector, ruling that a man may be a conscien- tious objector by personal conviction, though the religious faith he professes requires no abstention from bearing arms. * # # Religious News Service reports that plans are being completed by state welfare and selective service officials to assign conscien- tious objectors to duty in Pennsylvania men- tal hospitals. * # Seventh Day Adventists maintain 4,438 schools throughout the world, an increase of 800 since 1948. Of the total, 283 are colleges and academies, the balance, elementary schools. * * * A record distribution of Bibles, Testa- ments, and Gospel portions in the United States this year was reported to the thirty- third annual meeting of the Advisory Coun- cil of the American Bible Society recently. Some fifty denominations support the work of the agency and had representatives at- tending this session. The 1951 domestic dis- tribution is the greatest in the 135-year his- tory of the Society. Dr. Eric M. North, gen- eral secretary, reported that no Bibles have been printed in Russia for two decades and Middle-East So/* ourn By SAMUEL A. YODER There wasn’t much literature available on Ethiopia. Consequently the author learned as he went. So will you— in five of the book’s twenty-four interesting chap- ters. Here is also an unglossed picture of relief work — its tragedy, its humor, its frustrations and compensa- tions. “As a record of relief experiences this volume ought to prove a valuable help to future outgoing work- ers who have not had experience of this nature, espe- cially those who have not worked previously with refu- gees.”— Peter J. Dyck in the Introduction. A book for the family including especially those con- templating relief work. 310 pp. $2.75. MENNONITE PUBLISHING HOUSE, SCOTTDALE, PA. 24 GOSPEL HERALD January i, 1952 What’s ahead 'ilium11 i iiiM* . . ; Prepare for the future by evaluating ivhat is past How did wax affect the inner life of the Mennonite Church? THE MENNONITE CHURCH IN THE SEC- OND WORLD WAR seeks to answer this question. The war crisis revealed severe weaknesses. On the other hand there were a number of desirable outcomes. Guy F. Hersh- berger points out both phases. Chapters cover such areas as missions, education, CPS, relief, voluntary service, peace literature, and the relation of the Mennonite Church to other peace groups. CPS as pictured here is shown in re- lation to the total church program during the war years. The information given in this book should provide guid- ance for future planning. 308 pp., $3.50. Mennonite Publishing House Scottdale, Pennsylvania few had been distributed. No Scriptures have entered the Soviet Union in the last three years, but the American Bible Society has $125,000 worth of Scriptures on hand for distribution in Russia if and when the situa- tion changes. Next year’s production pro- gram of the Society calls for 14,599,750 volumes. * # * The American Council of Churches, the more pronounced Fundamentalist group in this country, has adopted a sharply worded resolution favoring universal military train- ing. “Some form of military training is in- dispensable to the security of our nation and the maintenance of freedom in other areas of the world,” the resolution reads. And yet this organization claims to stand firmly for the literal Word of God. * * * Dr. Benjamin Mays, Negro educator from Atlanta, Georgia, has expressed opinion that pressure upon the Federal Courts rather than any religious belief is responsible for the im- provement of race relations in the South. * * * A nation-wide survey released by the Na- tional Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. shows that this past year the mi- grant workers in the United States had helped to bring in $48,000,000 worth of cot- ton in New Mexico; $700,000,000 in fruits, vegetables, and other crops in Washington; $1,500,000,000 in nuts, fruits, vegetables, and cotton in California; $311,000,000 in toma- toes and other crops in New Jersey; $121,- 557.000 in fruit and vegetables in Florida. But these migrants, contributing so largely to the nation’s prosperity, are often jobless and hungry, shut out of local schools and churches, ignored or resented by the com- munities where they work for a little while. More than a million of these seasonal work- ers and their families move up and down the country following the crops. Only a small portion of them receive any spiritual ministry. * * * Approximately 25 per cent of the total re- tail expenditures of the American people is now being annually confined to purposes that carry with them antisocial consequences, such as crime costs, commercialized vice, gambling, and alcoholic beverages. In 1950 about twenty-seven times as much money was spent for these purposes as for religious pur- poses, and about eight times as much as is being spent for education. About the only encouraging thing in the list of 1950 ex- penditures is the fact that milk and dairy products have outstripped alcoholic bever- ages. * * # Heifer Project, which has shipped over 6.000 heifers and a large number of goats to twenty-one different nations in the past five years, is making plans to send 10,000 milk goats to Korea as soon as possible after an armistice. Since the average farm in Korea is only three and one-half acres, and since a goat can live on less than a cow and is prac- tically immune to tuberculosis, it is better to ship goats than cattle to this country. American school executives are faced by the fact that 8 million additional children will be enrolled in the American schools by I960. This will require more school build- ings and more teachers. There is always a great opportunity for Christian teachers. * * * Although 62 churches were denied steel by the National Production Authority, in a re- cent allotment the agency, at the insistence of the Department of State, granted 41 tons of steel for the completion of the new mosque in Washington. This new mosque will be X completed by June. All funds for its con- struction have been contributed by Moslem rulers, chief among them, the King of Egypt. Evidently the State Department is playing for the good will of Mohammedans. * * * The American Bible Society has contribu- ted 240 different translations of the Scrip- tures to the projected Truman Library at Grandview, Missouri. The 240 volumes are writen in 120 languages and dialects. One of them is in Braille. Ill h l OUVDIHD 3AV NMV1G-Q0M GOSPEL HE In the defence and confirmation of the gospel" “Jdotv beautiful are the feet of them that preach the volume XLV TUESDAY, JANUARY 8, 1952 Jacob BY JOSEF I. HERSCHKOWITZ For centuries the character of one of our patriarchs has been very much dis- torted. He has been called from the pul- pit such names as deceiver, supplanter, cheater, thief, and once I even heard him called a murderer. When after the serv- ice I went to this minister (not a Men- nonite), and asked him where he finds that Jacob was a murderer, he said he just used his ministerial imagination. I believe that is the case with the most of them who teach Jacob today. They use a lot of imagination, while God’s Word is very clear about it. In Rom. 9:11-13 we find these words: “ (For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;) it was said unto her. The elder shall serve the younger. As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.” Those are very, very strong words— “Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.” God could have used more delicate words, such as “I have liked Jacob, but have disliked Esau,” and yet He put the contrast as He did— the one have I hated while the other one I have loved. That is right in the New Testament. Now when we go to the last book of the Old Testament, Malachi, we read: “I have loved you, saith the Lord. Yet ye say. Wherein hast thou loved us? Was not Esau Jacob’s brother? saith the Lord: yet I loved Jacob, and I hated Esau, and laid his mountains and his heritage waste for the dragons of the wilderness”— again, a very big contrast in expressions. We read in Obadiah 18, “And the house of Jacob shall be a fire, and the house of Joseph a flame, and the house of Esau for stubble, and they shall kindle in them, and devour them; and there shall not be any remaining of the house of Esau; for the Lord hath spoken it.” As there was a big contrast in hate and love, there is more contrast in “The one shall be fire and the other one shall be the stubble.” Let me begin with the story of Jacob in Genesis. In Gen. 25:21 we find the story about the birth of Esau and Jacob. It is very interesting to note that it was Isaac who intreated the Lord for his barren wife and after the Lord granted the wish we read in verse 22 that the children strug- gled within her and she went to the Lord to enquire. We have to realize that it was a very unusual thing under the law for a woman to go directly to the Lord. We have only a very few instances re- corded, and yet the Lord listened and not only listened, but answered her. I do not believe that Rebekah was so ac- customed to listening to the voice of the Lord, that she would not have spoken about it to Isaac later on. The Lord told her, in verse 23, “Two nations are in thy womb, and two man- ner of people shall be separated from thy bowels: and the one people shall be stronger than the other people; and the elder shall serve the younger.” When it speaks of two nations and two manner of people, that does not mean brother nations as you would think of the Ger- mans and Austrians— different nations, but speaking the same language and hav- ing the same customs. It means two an- tagonistic people— people with two dif- ferent characters and habits; one people shall be stronger than the other people, and the elder shall serve the younger. Now if God told her that the elder should serve the younger, that again was a very remarkable thing, and I do not think it makes good sense to believe that she did not tell her husband about that too. When Esau was born he was all over red, having a hairy garment, and they called his name Esau. In the time of old a name and appearance had a meaning, and was not as it is in this day and age in which we live. Then, it was taken that being red all over was pointing to the fact that he would be a very brutal, blood-hungry man. And after that came his brother, Jacob, having his hand on Esau’s heel and for that he was called Jacob. Now Jacob is commonly trans- lated as supplanter, but the real meaning of it is heel. Many teachers today call Jacob a heel, because the name implies it, but that is not the type of a heel. He was called Jacob because he had his hand on Esau, exercising already the right which God had given him to rule over his elder brother just as if to say, “Take it easy, brother, and do not hurry so much.” number 2 In verse 27 we read the description about the boys. Esau was a cunning hunter. If we look up the word cunning, we find a lot of synonyms for it, such as able, sly, clever, and crafty. It is good to remember that he was this type of a hunter, while Jacob was called a plain man— the first and only plain man men- tioned in the Bible. Then a statement is made which is very important— “And he dwelt in tents.” Why this? Didn’t they all dwell in tents? They surely did, but it had a special meaning. Jacob stayed at home. Esau, as the older son, should have been filling the priestly duties of the family, but he was what we would call today, an outdoor man, while Jacob was the type of a homemaker. Jacob was for filling the priestly duties of the family,* and as suggested, he was very devoted to the Lord and his greatest longing was to receive the Messianic blessing which God had given to his grandfather, Abraham, and to his father, Isaac. Thy God Hath Led Thee . . . In the Wilderness Deuteronomy 8:1-10 By Theodore Wentland The Lord thy God hath led thee In the wilderness of life , In your desert vast and dreary Where despair cuts like a knife. He suffered thee to hunger That He might humble thee; Lead thee to brooks of water, To the Christ of Galilee. To prove thee and to know thee; To see deep in thy heart; To teach thee that bread only Is of life, but just a part. Manna will come from heaven When God is all in all; When self you have forgotten, And for God you humbly call. Always thou shalt remember The way which God thee led; In thy heart thou shalt consider How with manna He thee fed! Charlotte, 111. 26 GOSPEL HERALD January 8, 195 2 While filling his priestly duty one day and preparing a dish of pottage, his brother, Esau, came from the field and wanted some of the pottage. It is in- teresting to notice in verse 30, “Esau said to Jacob, Feed me, I pray thee, with that same red pottage.” He did not want to be fed with anything else but with the red pottage. It is surprising that Esau, the cunning hunter, should have been faint, and yet if he was, why did he not go into the tent of his mother— just be- cause he smelled his favorite dish. When he said, “Feed me, for I am faint,” it re- minds me of our children. When they come home, they declare, “Can I get something to eat, for I am starved?” It seems this was not the first time this hap- pened, and Jacob was tired of always having to feed his brother, Esau, with this red pottage, and then having to start all over again in preparing it. Besides, Jacob should not have done it at all. It really would have been the duty of his brother, Esau, to do it. And so he said to himself, “If I have to keep the duties, then, why should not I have the right to do it,” and when Esau asked him for the food, he just very plainly and outspoken- ly said, “Now sell me this day thy birth- right,” which Esau did, declaring, “There is no profit in it.” There is nowhere recorded in the Bible that Ja- cob forced Esau to do it. But Esau, not caring for it, willingly gave it for the dish of lentiles, and “Thus Esau despised his birthright.” In chapter 27 Isaac is blind and speaks to Esau about fetching some venison. Rebekah overheard it and she remem- bered what the Lord had told her, that Jacob, not Esau, should receive the bless- ing. She remembered that she had spok- en to Isaac about it, and yet, there was no use to remind him of it, because he was set in his ways and if she would have told him about it, he would still have gone ahead. But she did not want her husband to get the wrath of God, and so she chose a woman’s way and called Jacob, and it was he whom she sent out to get the kids. Jacob answers in verse 12. He does not say, “My father will feel me and I shall be to him a deceiver,” but he says, “And I shall seem to him a de- ceiver.” He knew he had bought the birthright and it was his. Let me il- lustrate. If I would buy a large company, Pomeroy’s for instance, and Mr. Pome- roy would sell me his store for a dish of lentiles, that is his business and no one else’s. But, after he sold it, Pome- roy’s Store is mine with all its rights and liabilities. Now, should there come some- thing whereby that store is called before the court, and the court crier would cry, “Mr. Pomeroy” and I would say, “Here I am,” am I a deceiver? I have bought the store with the name. It is mine. In the eyes of the law, I am Mr. Pomeroy. Or we can put it another way. For in- stance, I am living here in Harrisonburg. I would have to make some kind of transaction in Minneapolis. Instead of just going there for that purpose, I could hire a lawyer and if the court crier would cry, “Mr. Herschkowitz,” then the lawyer would answer, “Here I am.” Is he a de- ceiver? When Isaac called Esau and asked “Art thou my very son, Esau,” then Jacob very rightly could answer, “Here I am.” fust as I gave to the lawyer accreditment which would show that he has my rights, so Jacob had to put on the kidskin that his father might be convinced it was Esau, which through the price he had paid, he was. But Isaac somehow was irritated, and in verse 22 of the same chapter, “The voice is Jacob’s voice, but the hands are the hands of Esau. So he blessed him.” In verse 28 the blessing is given and Isaac put first, “the dew of heaven” and second, “the fatness of the earth.” Then when Esau comes home and finds out what happened he did like every crook— he cries and weeps and makes a statement which is astonishing. In verse 36 we read “Is not he rightly named Jacob? for he hath supplanted me these two times.” Remember, who is calling him a supplanter? God or Esau? And then he makes a very, very, star- tling statement. “He took away my birth- right.” As we have read, he sold it. And then he says, “Behold, now he hath taken away my blessing.” That was going with the birthright. He begs his father if he has for him a blessing too. The blessing that Isaac gives to him is just the op- posite from the one Jacob received. Here the fatness of the land is put first and the dew of heaven put in the second place. Rebekah saw what was going on in the mind of her boy, Esau, that he was going to slay his brother, Jacob, and again, using a woman’s way, she talked to Isaac. She may have talked to him as though she was not worried about Esau getting married to one of the daughters round about, because he was a he-man, but she was very much concerned about Jacob, who was of a much more sensitive nature and wondered if it would not be a good idea to send him to Padan-aram to her father, that he might take a girl from them. And Isaac called Jacob, now knowing very definitely it was Jacob, and gave him the Messianic blessing. Genesis 28:3, 4: “And God Almighty bless thee, and make thee fruitful, and multiply thee, that thou mayest be a multitude of people; and give thee the blessing of Abraham, to thee, and to thy seed with thee; that thou mayest inherit the land wherein thou art a stranger, which God gave unto Abraham.” And Isaac sent away his son, Jacob, to Padan-aram. And on his journey the first night, he lighted upon a certain place and tarried there all night. Every day the Jews have an evening prayer which they say originated right here when Jacob lighted on this certain place, and so it is not true, as is sometimes said, that Jacob went without God. Jews to- day still base their evening prayer on this occasion. Now when Jacob fell asleep, he dreamed and behold, there was a large (Continued on page 35) Our Readers Say — A number of years ago I heard over the radio (WMBI) that a partially shut-in lady would be glad to have pictures from outdated Gospel text calendars. She would mount them and send them to missionaries. I sent her some and we have had a scattered correspondence ever since. My husband was the church janitor, and we had good reason to know that there were many left- over picture cards and quite a number of pic- ture rolls. We asked for them and sent them to the lady. She had evidently never seen picture rolls before, as she was so profuse in her ap- preciation. She has friends and addresses among missionaries all over the world, who are now requesting the rolls. She knows of no other place to get them, and last summer wrote to the publishers in Rhode Island. Due to a state law of some kind the company does not sell out- dated copies outside the state. Now I am laying the matter before your judgment. If our Mennonite workers can use the rolls, I am in favor of supplying them. But I have a feeling that many primary superin- tendents chuck the old materials into a handy place where the janitor will see them and take care of them. Bro. Janitor probably chucks them into an wwhandy place out of his way where they collect all the dust available. Wouldn’t it be better to send them to this Presbyterian lady? Her name and address is Miss Ruth L. Holmes, 732 South Euclid, Oak Park, 111. The lady’s eyesight consists of about half vision from one eye. — Mrs. E. A. Stutsman, 1306 Berkey Ave., Goshen, Ind. * • * Enclosed ... a check . . . for a five-year sub- scription. . . . We enjoy this “voice” of the church more and more and wish you God’s blessings in this work. — Lloyd J. Fisher, Albany, Oreg. GOSPEL HERALD ESTABLISHED ISOS AS SUCCESSOR TO GOSPEL WITNESS (1905) AND HERALD OF TRUTH (1864) PAUL ERB, EDITOR CATHERINE HERNLEY, EDITORIAL ASSISTANT J. D. GRABER, MISSIONS EDITOR JOHN L. HORST, MILLARD C. LIND, ASSOCIATE EDITORS THE GOSPEL HERALD IS A RELIGIOUS WEEKLY PUBLISHED IN THE INTERESTS OF THE MENNONITE CHURCH BY THE MENNONITE PUBLICATION BOARD, SCOTTDALE, PA. ENTERED AS SECOND-CLASS MATTER IN 1908 AT THE POST OFFICE AT SCOTTDALE, PA., UNDER ACT OF MARCH 3, 1879. SUBSCRIPTION PRICE: $3.00 PER YEAR, THREE YEARS IN ADVANCE, $8.00, FIVE YEARS IN ADVANCE, $13.80. SAMPLE COPIES SENT FREE ON REQUEST. SEND ALL MATERIAI FOR PUBLICATION TO GOSPEL HERALD, SCOTTDALE, PA. PRINTED IN U.S.A. January 8, 1952 GOSPEL HERALD 27 EDITORIAL The Weakness of Isolationism In commenting on recent efforts of certain Amish parents to have their chil- dren exempted from laws requiring school attendance until the age of six- teen, the Connellsville, Pa., Daily Cour- ier says editorially: The idea that contact with the world would influence children away from their beliefs is not without a certain amount of truth, but the very admission that it could do so is an admission of weakness. If the Amish, or people of any other religious faith, cannot ground children well enough in their beliefs to insure them against wavering or straying from the “paths of right- eousness,” then those parents and that religion have failed. The outside world to most religi- ous-minded persons has always presented a challenge — something to be met with faith and the courage which comes from the knowledge of being right. A man, according to most beliefs, cannot regenerate or become a better member of so- ciety fit to enter the kingdom of heaven unless he is given freedom of choice. Unless a person has the freedom to choose between good and evil, he cannot truly be “saved,” for there is no credit due where no temptation exists. The person who has only one course of action to follow never learns the self-control which is acquired by making the choice between good and evil. One can understand why our Amish brethren, wishing to keep their families to a traditional way of life, would like to shield them from the influence of the modern high school. Is it for similar reasons that we have our church educa- tional program— seminary, college, high school, and now elementary? Is it for similar reasons that we try to get our young families to settle down in a Men- nonite community? Is it for these rea- sons that we fear what may happen to our young men if in their alternative service they are sent singly here and there in government service? Is it true that our efforts to hold our people to each other and to ourselves is a confes- sion that their earlier nurture in faith has been weak and ineffective? Not altogether, we believe. For the process of training is continuous. Our children and young people in school are securing a vital and essential part of their training. They are in the process of getting an integrated viewpoint, a phi- losophy of life. It is obvious that Chris- tian teachers can help parents and preachers to make them thoroughly Christian in thought and conduct. It is equally obvious that a secular society, professedly nonreligious but often anti- Christian, at least in our sense of the term, is unable to impart an acceptable viewpoint, and will be a powerful in- fluence toward unacceptable philosophy and standard of life. We seem justified, therefore, in feeling that the church and the Christian home need the supplement- ing of a Christian school and a Chris- tian community. But partly yes. By far the most in- fluential part of one’s training comes in the first decade of life. That training should be so effective that there need not be too much fear of its being overcome by later influence. When a man thinks what he does merely because he has never heard anything else, his thinking is not very well based. One’s faith ought to be able to meet victoriously some op- position. There must be adequate safe- guards for babes in Christ. But babies normally grow up and learn to stand on their own feet and meet their problems with resources which have become their own. Otherwise we are in a sorry case. We cannot send out missionaries, for they will often be alone and will become con- verts of error, rather than propagandists for truth. We cannot evangelize by col- onization, for the frontier families will be swallowed up by the spirit of the com- munities to which they go. We cannot send our young people in voluntary service units, for in a strange environ- ment they will lose their faith and their testimony. We must build walls around our self-contained and isolated com- munities, so we can keep our people in and the world out. We naturally shrink from contact with evil. It is nice to move always among people who are just like ourselves. But let us remember that the church is or- dained to carry a Gospel out to the world. We must be strong enough to do that, and still keep our faith and a Christian way of life. Christ prayed not that His disciples should be taken out of the world, but that in that world they should be kept from its evil. A retreat to isolationism can be indeed a confes- sion of weakness. An intelligent, spirit- ual, effective resistance to evil is what God expects and the world needs. Only a face straight forward is worthy of a Christian soldier. Taking Church to Shut-Ins We have seen sick people taken to church— perhaps carried into the build- ing and wheeled to a spot where they could see and hear. What a joy it was to them to hear the songs, the prayers, the sermon which they perhaps had not heard for months. It is good to make such privileges possible. But oftentimes the ill are not able even to be carried to the church and into its sanctuary. The only public worship they will be able to enjoy is that which is brought into the rooms where they stay day after day, week after week. Modern invention has made that possible. Some churches carry the services to near-by homes by loud-speaker wire. Some have been able to use short-wave radio. But for most the best device is the recorder, which is on the market now in a variety of styles, and which can make most ex- cellent recordings. Most churches, it would seem, should have use for one of these machines. To make this service available to the ill is an excellent type of lay activity. Some young people’s groups get much joy from the weekly call at the homes of shut-ins, where they reproduce for these happy persons the whole church service. One of these shut- ins recently said: “During the service I am taken out of this room. I just close my eyes and imagine I am in church.” The Weakest Moment By Stanley C. Shenk “Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.” A man is never so weak as in the hour of a great victory. This sounds like a contradic- tion, but it is the sober truth. In one day Elijah put to rout the prophets of Baal, slew them by the brook Kishon, saw the great drought broken with a storm of darkness and rain, and under “the hand of the Lord” ran ten miles through the storm and the gathering night before the chariot of Ahab. The next day a woman threatened him, and he ran again— but not this time under “the hand of the Lord.” He ran all the way to Beer- sheba, and beyond, into the wilderness, where he sat down under a juniper tree and prayed that he might die. A man is never so weak as in the hour of a great victory. “Take heed ."—Herald Youth Bible Studies. 28 GOSPEL HERALD January 8, 195 2 At Close Quarters By Edwin Raymond Anderson It is the “nevertheless afterwards’’ of supreme worth and blessedness for the soul to really come to “close quarters,” and to “tight grips” with the Lord God. Too much of our dealings with Him often seem— alas!— to be carried along with the sense of veil and distance, and for all pious profession. He has some- how become the Accepted Unreality. We sing about Him, we preach about Him, we pray to Him, we seek to serve Him, but all of it comes to accentuate and to emphasize our great need and lack. After all is said, and carried out, the Lord God is simply not real. Let us come to the place of the whole and true heart-ad- mission concerning that. There is a holy need, for many of the saints, for a “divine something” to be wrought forth in the depths of the heart, that shall bring us to “close quarters,” and to “tight grips.” It may be that I am not using the right terminology, but my spirit is “indeed willing” to rightly set forth the solemn matter. It will be a sad day when we allow ourselves to be- come trapped by technicalities, and thus miserably miss the touch of the triumph and the divine testimony. You may use your own terminology, and assuredly the Holy Spirit of God can understand your words, as well as mine. Really, the day is far too nearly spent for the saints to be spending themselves over secondary sen- tences, with the precious Lord left on the outside. All in all, and beneath all of our terminology, there is the need of the new and fresh and vital EXPERIENCE of the Lord Jesus Christ, for Himself, alone and apart from all else. Such an experience brings its own enduement, and brings us into right relationships with Himself, and where, through all, HE becomes more dear and near and real. But at least if my terminology is not correct, I can with due relief turn to the Word of God, and read some inspired phrasing from the lips and heart of one who was truly concerned about this matter. For we are not alone in this need, nor are we the only saints who have so desperately longed for this deeper ex- perience. I turn to the “heart-treasury” of the psalmist, and read such a word as this— “Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me and know my thoughts” (Ps. 139:23)— and feel that here indeed is a saint of God who has, for all of us, expressed in words pleasing to the Holy Spirit of God, that which is the true and holy longing of so many of us. We do want a searching out to the core and to the quick. Not that we naturally wel- come the searching of itself— for how much it might really uncover!— but we do sense that the “nevertheless afterwards” of such searching, will bring: HIM out from the pious haze we have built about Him, and truly crown His precious Per- son in the midst. After the searching cometh the divine satisfaction, and all things brought into sharp, clear spiritual focus. But that petition of the psalmist!— how “daring” it almost seems to be! Search ME, O God; try ME and know MY thoughts”— one cannot escape the intense personal heat herein generated. Here is a saint who “means business,” as we say, and is willing for all of the piercing and probing of the Lord God, in order that preciousness might be proved. I can honestly say that for a long time I was almost afraid to read that word. It felt so uncomfortably close, and carried a sense of the very pressure of the Holy Spirit, waiting to begin such a corre- sponding work with me. Would the psalmist have really “dared” to breathe so “bold” a prayer, knowing what would be involved? Yet, beloved, I am thankful that I have learned some lessons from this text. I have come to see that it is meant to be- come “uncomfortably close,” and we must first be made uncomfortable be- fore we can begin to fathom and lay hold upon the comfort of God. Here again is the upsurging of this vital, personal busi- ness of coming to “dose quarters” and “tight grips” with the Holy One; to- gether with the corresponding sense that nothing else, or less, can suffice, nor sur- vive. I well know that many of the saints would rather have the Lord do anything with their hearts, than SEARCH them. There is a sad shrinking from such searching, and its own loss soon becomes evident. Yet everything is based upon this, for HE begins at the beginning with these hearts of ours. First the searching, and all blessings will follow. Preciousness and provision and power cometh after the probing. And that has been proved over and over again in the lives of many of the saints. They rejoice now in what has been wrought then, whatever the personal cost. For how blessed to be able to turn the heart upward with the full assurance and confidence of praising HIM with the good testimony, “O but Thou art REAL to me, Lord Jesus!” Be- loved, how is it with thine heart? and how is thine heart with the Lord of that heart? Waterbury, Conn. I am convinced that in this “show me” world, service is one of the best ways to make an approach to needy men. — Levi C. Hartz- ler. It Happened — FIFTY YEARS AGO ( From Herald of Truth, Jan. 1, 1902) Meetings were held at New Stark, . . . Ohio, recently, conducted by Bro. D. D. Miller of Middlebury, Ind. There have been some requests re- cently from Ft. Wayne, Ind., to have our ministers hold services there. Bro. M. S. Steiner has been looking into the matter, and it is possible that mission services will be held there. Bro. J. D. Brunk, . . . who did the edi- torial work on the new hymnal, recently sustained a sad loss in the death of his only son. It is one of those strange coin- cidences that the first time the new Hymnal was used in his home congrega- tion was at the funeral service of his child. We have in our fifteen conferences a membership of over 35,000 in the United States and Canada. Bro. E. S. Hallman of Berlin, Ont., has been holding meetings in Bloomingdale, Ont., with good interest. Bro. J. S. Hartzler, Sec’y of the Elkhart Institute, left for Holmes Co., Ohio, on the 23d, where he will assist in a Bible conference. On the 17th of December ordination services were held in the Mennonite M.H. near Freeport, 111., when Bro. J. S. Shoemaker . . . was . . . ordained to the office of bishop. Disappointment — His Appointment By Laura Showalter “Don’t let me scare you, Martha, but is there anything I can do for you? I think the case is serious.” Joel spoke earnestly. “It’s true Lazarus was never so ill be- fore. What more can we do to make him comfortable? We’ve tried everything we know.” “If only Jesus were here!” Mary spoke the thought of both sisters. “Could I take a message to Him for you?” asked Joel, eager to do anything that would be of any help. “How would you find Him? There is no way of knowing where He is when He never stays at the same place any length of time,” spoke Martha. “It’s asking a big favor, I know,” agreed Mary, “but it would be so kind of you to try.” January 8 , 1952 GOSPEL HERALD 29 “He started toward Perea the last time He left here,” said Joel, “and I could in- quire along the way for those who have seen Him.” In his own home a few minutes later Joel explained to his wife, Priscilla, where and why he was going, as hasty preparations were made for the trip. Meanwhile Martha urged Mary to try to get some rest while she watched by the bed and offered a drink of water to the fevered lips. “You know, Lazarus, you will soon be better. Joel has gone to call the Master. Remember how He healed the centurion’s servant and the nobleman’s son without so much as go- ing where the sick ones were?” The thought comforted Martha, but the answer from Lazarus was only a moan and she could not be sure that he even heard. The hours dragged on, with first Martha and then Mary filling the place of nurse, while neighbors gave help in every way possible— even the small un- expected kindnesses that mean so much. And Joel? Mile after weary mile he hurried as he had never hurried before. “If only I can reach Him before He gets too far awayl If I am too late the whole long trek will be for nothing.” And with that thought he kept up his speed even on the long steep hills. When a pelting rain threatened to stop him he remem- bered the distressed sisters and wondered how he could face them unless he could say he had tried his best. How would he want a messenger to carry an important life-and-death message for him? And on he went. Inquiries sometimes assured Joel that he was going the road that would find the Master; at other times he had to turn around and retrace his steps. At last his diligence was rewarded and he found the Lord. “Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick,” he said. There was no need to urge or insist. It was best to let Jesus decide whether to go to Lazarus or merely to speak the word just where He was. Surely now all would be well. After a good rest the messenger start- ed home, taking his time. No doubt Martha and Mary and their friends were rejoicing by this time. Imagine his surprise and disappoint- ment when his good wife, with tears in her eyes, met him at the door. “Lazarus is at rest and the funeral is over. I don’t see how the girls will get along now,” she sobbed. “How can it be possible? Didn’t He understand it was Lazarus? It’s true I didn’t mention his name.” “Well, I’m still glad you went, Joel, even if it was all for nothing.” “Yes, I’m glad too. If I had not gone I could never have felt I did my part; but I don’t understand what’s wrong, that’s sure.” # * * “Do you really expect me to believe that? You must have been mistaken about seeing Lazarus, Priscilla.” Dear Friend By Edna M. Mertz Don’t you love to look to Jesus, Just to know His glorious power, And the joy of deep communion Every day and every hour? Don’t you love to talk things over With this precious, loving Friend Who will never, never leave you, Who’ll be with you to the end! When your heart is deeply burdened, And your cup’s full to the brim, In the midst of pain and sorrow, You may safely trust in Him. Let the atom bombs break o’er us, Let the worlds crash, all around ; Through the aeons of the ages In His presence we’ll be found. Hallelujah! Ft. Wayne, Ind. “You needn’t take my word for it, Joel. Come and talk with him yourself -I did!” “I know you too well, Priscilla, to think that you would joke about some- thing—especially something so serious as claiming to have seen a man four days after his funeral.” “But even now you needn’t regret your ‘wild goose chase’ into Perea.” “Oh, I hadn’t thought of that. Well,” he added after a thoughtful silence, “that is just one more proof that when my Christian duty is clear it is not in my place to ask whether it is going to pay, nor even whether it is going to be ap- preciated, for that matter.” Scottdale, Pa. Preacher, Are You a Modern Jonah ? By Orrie D. Yoder “Now the word of the Lord came unto Jonah . . . , Arise, go to Nineveh . . . and cry against it ... . But Jonah rose up to flee . . . from the presence of the Lord’’ (Jon. 1:1-5). Inasmuch as we profess to worship and serve God with the more humble and simple class of Christianity, we us- ually somewhat disdain and avoid the more popular church and revival move- ments. Since they look to us like an un- due compromise of religion and popu- larity, we claim that we have little or nothing to learn from such movements, even though we recognize them to be a blessing to the world at large. However, while the truth of all this may be conceded, let us not after all be so self-righteous that God cannot through them, or apart from them, teach us some solemn lessons that we need to learn. As an attendant at one of the Billy Graham meetings for one single service, we were seriously struck with some heart-searching questions as to our own Mennonite philosophy of preaching. Lis- tening to this popular man who is now going up and down our land preaching to thousands of souls (about thirty thou- sand in the service that evening) and proclaiming without any seeming re- serve the terrible impending judgments of God upon the world and upon Amer- ica, we were made to wonder. Why does this man so preach with unique clarity the predicted judgments of the Word of God? (1) Does he so preach because it is pleasing to his own carnal flesh and de- sires? (2) Is the preaching of “hell fire” popular with the spirit of the world to- day? And (3) Is the world with its “itch- ing-ears” begging for such messages and sermons? To each of these questions, there seems to be but one answer, No! He can- not be so preaching for any such reasons. Why then does this man draw his audiences of many thousands, and preach to them the coming judgments of a holy God? Must God be back of such a program, and must God be moving hungry hearts to listen to such solemn truths? It must be that God has found a man whose ears are tuned to “hear what the Spirit would say” to the people of the world and of our land, in these solemn and perilous times which we are called to witness today. It must be that a holy God, who in His mercy has always in the past warned sinful man of approaching judgments, is yet on the throne. Now to react to ourselves and to our modern manner of preaching about com- ing judgment, we must wonder, again and again, Why do we who profess to teach and preach “the all things” of Scripture lack so much this solemn warn- ing note and couch on “beds of ease” when awful judgments are divinely out- lined before us? Since Paul “warned day and night with tears” and since our Christ is not only Saviour, but also judge of all men and of the world, why do the souls who must meet Him, hear from us so little of these awful coming times and events? Preacher, if you, or I, do not like to preach “hell fire” and the coming judg- ments outlined in God’s Word, is it be- cause God is finding among us some modern Jonahs who would “flee” and shirk duty when He has told us to cry against sin, or warn of its judgment? What about the terrible judgments outlined plainly in the Word against this world of sinners, against blinded Is- rael, or against lukewarm churchianity— 30 January 8 , 1952 shall we be silent and let souls, without warning, drift headlong into these awful judgments? Has not our God charged us to be “watchmen” and warn all oth- ers! Would we rather, like Jonah, see people perish than to see them warned unto mercy and salvation? Surely we would rather be like an- other prophet, Jeremiah, the man of God whose personal likes and dislikes were overcome by the Word of God “burning” in his “bones.” When the people said to him. This is Jerusalem the city of God— judgment cannot strike here, Jeremiah was not deterred from declaring the solemn warnings of judg- ment. But, how sad for us today, if we find ourselves among those who little read or believe the prophecies of the Word of God. For this reason the Word of God does not, cannot burn in our bones, the living message of God. When people say, “This is America,” or “We are Men- nonites— judgments cannot come upon us,” too many of us are modern Jonahs, and not Jeremiahs. Portland, Oreg. Come Ye Apart |A talk given at the Annual Women’s Mis- sionary Meeting at Goshen, Indiana, in May, 1951. j By Verna B. Troyer We are indeed grateful for times such as these when we can respond to Christ’s invitation to come apart from a troubled world and rest a while in His presence. Jesus bade His disciples to do this very thing after they had returned from a program of missionary activity. The Charles B. Williams translation of Mark 6:30 reads: “The apostles returned and met Jesus and reported to Him everything they had done and taught.” It was after having heard this report that Jesus says with kindness and understanding “Come away for a bit. Let’s talk things over.” We have no indication that Jesus was grieved because the apostles thought too highly of what they had accomplished, or that He was saddened because they had accomplished so little. At any rate, Jesus saw that what these followers of His needed most of all was communion with Himself. It certainly is possible that the apostles felt as I have felt since returning from India— that what they had accomplished for their Lord was indeed a poor offering to lay at His feet. Perhaps they too re- called village after village still un- touched with the message of the Gospel. Before their eyes must have passed streams of people walking along the dusty oriental roads without hope in their hearts. Perhaps they recalled in- dividuals with whom they had had in- timate contact whom they had not led to a full realization of Christ’s claim on GOSPEL HERALD their lives. But the apostles didn’t turn away in defeat and regret! They went to Jesus and told Him all, to which He replied, “Come ye apart and rest a while.” This drawing apart is the peculiar privilege of Christians— this fellowship with Jesus when we present to Him the labors of our hands and hearts, and ask Him to help us re-examine our purposes and desires. Surely we recognize the fact that each of us is essential in Christ’s program of making Himself real to men. Has Je- sus not said, “Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain . . .”? No longer is the missionary task the ex- clusive work of the set-apart few. The task is too large and the time too short. It’s the work of the mother, the teacher, nurse, doctor, and office worker to pro- claim Christ to those who know Him not. Elton Trueblood says, “We need not so much full-time Christian workers as full-life Christian workers.” Leslie Weatherhead presents the fol- lowing questions to converted people. Let us at this moment in Christ’s pres- ence ask ourselves: “1. If every person in the early church had been like me, how far would Christianity have spread? “2. Every day my life touches the lives of other people. Probably in office, school, hospital, workshop, factory, warehouse, or whatever it is, I touch the same people day after day. Have they gathered that I have a secret resource in Christ, and does the quality of my life make them desire to possess what I have found in Him? “3. If someone came to me and said, ‘You are a Christian; you, therefore, have a personal experience of Christ. I want to get it. Will you show me?’ could I do so, not by tell- ing them to read a book, or to go hear such-and-such a preacher, but could I out of my own experience lead another to Christ? “4. Have I really got an experience which has done so much for me that it is worth passing on, and am I quite happy to have found some- thing that can make such a differ- ence and yet about which I have never raised a finger or pen, never spoken a word, to give others what I have? “5. Do I in my heart of hearts think that Christ’s parables and Paul’s metaphors were exaggerated? Jesus, in the parable of the hidden treas- ure, implied that it was worth los- ing everything to gain this relation- ship of the soul with God, and in the story of the pearl of great price, He implied that, though a lot of other things in life were very de- sirable, His was more precious than them all.” Let us, with H. H. Tweedy, pray: “Eternal God , whose power upholds Both flower and flaming star , To whom there is no here nor there , No time , no near nor far, No alien race, no foreign shore, No child unsought, unknown, Oh, send us forth, Thy prophets true, To make all lands Thine own!” New Orleans, La. Pros and Cons of the Scofield Bible By C. F. Derstine The Bible with the Scofield reference notes has been frequently attacked by many men. Personally, the writer has sought to give rightful consideration to these attacks. Some attacks are above- board; others make elephants out of chipmunks. Perhaps an edition of the Bible that is handled by most evangelical publishing houses and bookstores needs no defense. The Scofield Bible is ap- preciated by millions of Christians the world over for various reasons. In the writer’s home you will find at least a dozen different types of Bibles, which number includes a good edition of the Scofield Bible, for which I would make no apology. As a student of the Bible all of us reserve the right to disagree with footnotes; and for that matter with notes at the top of the page, and at the chapter heads of other editions. None of these notes are inspired— only the Bible is! Even translations of the Bible need Tract News As we close the biggest year in Men- nonite tract history we rejoice again with our Bro. Ralph Palmer who writes that a man under the power of strong drink has come under the power of the Gospel. This man came personally to Bro. Palmer for help after reading some of the tracts. His wife writes that he has now been living victoriously for more than a year and is a steward in his church and faithful in its service. Bro. Palmer starts out the new year on a tour through a hundred of the larger cities of the south. A new speaker system mounted on the car plays hymns while Bro. Ralph is near by giving out the tracts. They stand in particular need of prayer. May we put them definitely on our daily prayer lists in 1952. In a few weeks we expect to have in- teresting facts and figures for 1951. Watch for the record of what the Lord has enabled your Publishing House to do this past year. January 8, 1952 31 A Prayer for This Week Dear God of all boys far from home, In Navy, Air, or Field, Wilt Thou just make Thy presence felt And grant them grace to yield Their lives to Thee; 0I1, speak to them When Satan’s lures entice. Escape from each temptation make; Lord, keep them free from vice. And oh, dear Lord, we humbly pray That wars and strife may cease; Help each of us to do our part In bringing world-wide peace. —Ida M. Yoder. correction. Only the Scriptures in the original Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek languages are accepted as the Word of God by intelligent evangelical students. I. CONS “Legal Obedience’’ The most serious charge which has been made against the footnotes of the Scofield Bible is on John 1:17, the one line in the middle of the note, page 1 1 15. Dr. Scofield said, “The point of testing is no longer legal obedience as the con- dition of salvation, but acceptance or rejection of Christ, with good works as the fruit of salvation.” He implies that men in former days were justified on the grounds of their obedience, rather than justified by grace. As a matter of the- ological fact, men were never saved in any age by “legal obedience.” The com- ment, page 1115, must have been an unfortunate oversight, for all the rest of his comments negate the idea which is implied in such a sentence. “Hebrew Translation Error” Another gross error is pointed out in the comment on Isaiah 45:7, where God declares “He created evil.” Dr. Scofield states that the word ra, which is trans- lated several times by “sorrow, wretched- ness, adversity, afflictions, calamities,” was never translated sin. Dr. Scofield, not being a Hebrew scholar, evidently picked up this note in his studies, for the word ra is translated evil more than a hundred times elsewhere. To err is hu- man. The Sermon on the Mount Some appear to think that the Scofield Bible relegates the Sermon on the Mount to a future dispensation. This accusa- tion is a straw man, because of some comments which state otherwise. Here they are: “These principles fundament- ally reappear in the teachings of the Epistles.” “There is a moral application to the Christian” (p. 1,000). GOSPEL HERALD The Seven Dispensations This objection is a minor point, and only incidental. It is true that many Christians and good Bible students stay by the simple designation of the “Old Covenant” and the “New Covenant.” Such interpretations and applications do not invalidate an edition of the Bible. Lately my good friend. Dr. Harry Rim- mer, said, “I believe in lour dispensa- tions. First, from Creation to Calvary. Second, from Calvary to the Lord’s Re- turn. Third, from the Lord’s Return to the End of the Millennium. Fourth, the Eternal Kingdom, the “New Heaven and the New Earth.” This is his personal privilege. Like all comments on Scripture other faults could be pointed out, but they are minor. In the library of all ministers and Bible students will be found com- ments on the Word of God, with which many of us do not agree. Now for several “Pro’s.” II. PROS Bible Conscious The Scofield Bible has made America Bible-conscious, more than any other book. It has made Bible students of two generations of Christians. A great Bible scholar recently said: “The Scofield Bible will bring a baby Christian faster to maturity than any other single set of Bible study methods that has ever been devised.” He warned ministers thus: “I would say to any minister that even finds difficulties in the Scofield reference notes, he is cutting off his nose to spite his face if he withholds this book from his young people, since there is abun- dant evidence that its notes have led many thousands of people swiftly from the position of baby Christians to ma- ture Christians.” Lately a Christian worker took some “uneducated hill billies” through the Bible in seven lessons, expecting never to meet these babes in Christ again. One remarked: “This is the first time in my life that I know how to find my way through the Scriptures.” This same per- son, today a real Bible scholar, told me: “I am a minister today, because the Scofield Bible made the Scriptures in- telligible to me, when I was first saved.” Recently a minister in a denomination where the Scriptures are not properly preached came across a Scofield Bible. He was astonished at the wealth of truth found in the footnotes. Today this man “finds himself studying the Bible long after midnight hours.” An official of the Oxford University Press told a friend of mine that “they had more complaints on the binding of the Scofield Bible with its reference notes than any other book.” Evangelical Doctrines In these days of “Modernism” and “Liberalism” it is at least noteworthy that the Scofield Bible has done much to stem this tide. The footnotes accept Prayer Requests — Pray for the safe journeying of mission- aries on the way to and from their fields. Pray that Bro. J. D. Graber may be a real blessing to our churches in Argentina, and that he may be guided in planning for future extension. Pray that a former missionary in China may find an open door among the Chinese of Los Angeles. Pray that the curse of permanent mili- tarism may not come upon us through Universal Military Training. Pray that the way may be opened fo*- effective witness in alternative service by our 1-0 men. Pray for the Mission and the Church in India as they prepare to operate unit- edly under a new constitution, begin- ning July 1. Pray for our young men of draft age, and their parents, that they may stand for Christian convictions on nonresist- ance, and be willing to make personal sacrifice in the interests of Christian witness. Pray that the door may continue to be open for teaching the Bible in the government schools in Tanganyika. ( Requests for this column must be signed.) the inspiration of the Bible, its authen- ticity and reliability. In the conflict be- tween so-called Science and Revelation, it stands four square on the Book. The person of the Lord Jesus Christ is given the place of pre-eminence; both His hu- manity and deity are presented faith- fully. The Gospel of the grace of God, which bringeth salvation, is constantly kept to the forefront. Other evangelical doctrines concerning God, man, the church, etc., are not by-passed. The Scofield Bible with its footnotes has accomplished more to make Chris- tians expectant of the Lord’s return, than any other known agency. At least it has been one of the mightiest factors in what Jesus Christ declared would hap- pen at the end time of the age: “And at midnight there was a cry made. Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him” (Matt. 25:6). This opinion is shared by many others. Much more could be said about the “Pros” as well as the “Cons.” It would seem to the writer that we had better not endorse all the footnotes, nor too sweep- ingly condemn a work which has borne such fruit— world-wide. 32 January 8, 1952 May we in conclusion appeal to our constituency: do not stay by any one edition of the Bible. Allow me to name several others which should be given a large place in the minister’s library, on the Christian worker’s desk, in the read- ing room of the average Christian. They are such editions as the Thompson Chain Reference Bible and the Dixon GOSPEL HERALD New Analytical Bible. Also, such trans- lations as the Weymouth and J. P. Phil- lips, “Letters to Young Churches.” It may be a personal opinion, take it for what it is worth: the Scofield Reference Bible with its excellent chapter divisions is one of the best for the beginner. Kitchener, Ont. OUR SCHOOLS IOWA MENNONITE SCHOOL Six years ago Iowa Mennonite School opened her doors to thirty-eight young peo- ple from southeastern Iowa. On the day of her debut I.M.S. was staffed by three teachers and offered only two years of high-school work. The sole building, a remodeled dwell- ing house, was located on two and one-half acres of donated land just south of the Lower Deer Creek Mennonite Church. This year one hundred and twenty stu- dents (three from Ohio, one from Indiana, one from Illinois, four from Missouri, and two from Nebraska) attend classes in a modern three-story brick building located just a few yards from the original building. Now an accredited four-year high school, I.M.S. employs eight teachers. At the time of this writing the basement floor of an auditorium- gymnasium is rapidly being completed. Men of the community have been donating their labor from the initial stages, and, along with other communities in the Iowa-Nebraska Conference, have also donated funds. When the concrete work was in full swing prac- tically every male member of the student body contributed some time in order to keep the work moving. This building will indeed be a valuable asset to the school, for with the growing student body we are being cramped for classroom and laboratory space. Recrea- tional facilities during the winter months have been very meager up to this point, but this will greatly relieve the situation. In addition to the usual high-school courses I.M.S. offers a number of Bible class- es. This year agriculture has been added to the curriculum. The teachers are Paul T. Guengerich, principal, Parnell, Iowa; Samuel B. Nafziger, dean, Kalona, Iowa; Katie M. Yoder, Wellman, Iowa; Alvin }. Blough, Ka- lona, Iowa; Alice Miller, Clarence, New York; Grace Showalter, Broadway, Va.; Alvin K. Grasse, Chalfont, Pa.; and Ada Schrock, Salisbury, Pa. Sister Showalter is giving ap- proximately half of her time to library work and Sister Schrock serves as secretary to the school in addition to her teaching. Extracurricular activities include mixed chorus, ladies’ chorus, and men’s chorus; four literaries (this year the larger enroll- ment necessitated forming smaller groups to take the place of last year’s two); printing the biweekly school paper, the “Reflector”; and preparing the annual, the “Reverie,” for publication in the spring. Student Council, now in its second year, has adopted a con- stitution and is functioning in a number of ways; they have sponsored a Christmas card sale and are responsible for student prayer meeting groups, among other things. Each day the students and faculty meet for a twenty-minute period of devotion and in- spiration in chapel. Visiting speakers this year included, among others, Alvin J. Miller, Kent State University, Ohio; Harold Brenne- man, Scottdale, Pa.; Ernest Garber, Nampa, Idaho; Nelson, Kauffman, Hannibal, Mo.; Alvin Mast, Greenwood, Del.; S. J. Miller, Leo, Ind.; and Phil Frey, Archbold, Ohio. Brother Guengerich gave a series of chapel talks one week on nonconformity. Doubtless everyone— students, faculty, and parents — will agree that the first week in December, designated as this year’s Spiritual Life Week, was the high light of the current school year thus far. B. Charles Hostetter, student pastor at Eastern Mennonite College, served as a mighty instrument in God’s hand to bring us chapel messages of powerful im- port each day. Following are excerpts from the report of a student, Janice Bender, for the “Reflector.” “The message on Monday morning was entitled ‘Our Enemy.’ Satan is just as real as any person and we should be just as afraid of him as we would be of wild animals, a desperate criminal, or some other danger. “Tuesday morning the theme of the mes- sage was salvation. ‘What is getting saved? If Jesus came right now, who would go and who would be left behind? Are you really born again or did you just turn over a new leaf?’ “Wednesday in the message, ‘How to Live a Victorious Christian Life,’ Bro. Hostetter told us about three kinds of Christians — the rowboat Christian who just drifts along, the sailboat Christian who goes whichever way the wind blows, and the steamboat Christian who can go against the wind. If we are truly born again we can be steamboat Christians and withstand temptation. “Gal. 6:7, ‘God is not mocked,’ was the text used Thursday. ‘You can’t fool God. You may fool your bishop or minister or other people, but not God. Many people use God merely as a convenience.’ “A very inspirational testimony meeting began our chapel service Friday, after which Bro. Hostetter talked on ‘Investing Our Lives.’ ‘What is your life going to be? Are you laying up treasure in heaven or on earth? It’s within your power to make a good or a bad investment in life. It depends upon us ! “This Spiritual Life Week has been a wonderful week of strengthening, consecra- tion, and many prayers, and I’m sure it will long be remembered.” Bro. Hostetter also gave us his oration, “The Folly of War,” causing a number of students to rethink their ideas on war. It was indeed a graphic picture of the futility and awfulness of war. Friday afternoon he spoke to the group on some vital points dealing with Christian courtship. Parents, teachers, and students met together Friday evening to hear a challenging message from Bro. Hos- tetter as a fitting close to a real week of in- spiration. Bro. Hostetter was occupied in counseling with individual students each day prior to and following his messages to the group. Students learned to recognize him as a real friend who could listen, advise, and instruct young people. Truly the Spirit was moving in a marvelous way in our midst as new commitments and reconsecrations were made; many students found a new peace and joy in the Lord that they hadn’t realized be- fore. We feel a real need for the prayers of God’s people in the church that we as teach- ers might be used in helping to build up these young lives in the faith. The work here at I.M.S. is at times diffi- cult; always it is a challenge; and surely it is a “joy forever” to be working so closely with these energetic young people of the Mennon- ite faith. — Ada Schrock. EASTERN MENNONITE COLLEGE As we pause in the midst of the Christmas vacation and take a backward glance at the activities of the past weeks we are reminded again of the goodness and blessings of the Lord. The high point of spiritual blessings was reached during the annual fall revivals, held during the latter part of October. This year the revival followed a somewhat different pattern as compared with former years, with a study of the Book of Romans, conducted over a period of three weeks in lengthened chapel periods. As Brother Charles Hostetter unfolded the rich truths of this great epistle we were challenged to deeper Christian liv- ing. Many can testify to rich blessings re- ceived during this period of revival effort. The emphasis of the Fall Missionary Con- ference, held on Nov. 10 and 11, was Rural Missions. Among those serving on the pro- gram were Elam Hollinger, Brewton, Ala., Irwin Schantz, Loman, Minn., and Paul Landis, Crockett, Ky. Our vision of the rural field was enlarged as we saw anew the spiritual needs in our rural areas. The fall of the year is the time for off- campus educational tours at E.M.C. The high-school seniors enjoyed three days in the nation’s capital on Nov. 15-17. On the six- teenth the high-school juniors visited historic Williamsburg and Jamestown. Two weeks later two college groups were on tour — one (Continued on page 35) January 8, 195 2 GOSPEL HERALD 33 FAMILY CIRCLE For James By Miriam Sieber Lind What shall he be, This morning-seed planted By faith and by hope In the heart of our home? To what shall he flower, This growing, this budding That sets us a-quiver With love and with pride? What storms of winter And what heat of summer Shall bend his young life And shall season its green? How shall he prosper And what shall he suffer Before he be born To the kingdom of God? What shall he be, This morning-seed growing To faith and to love From the heart of our home? Scottdale, Pa. Training Children to Take Responsibility By Clara Lehman Hershberger One summer afternoon, Mrs. Martin left nine-year-old Susan and her friend Janet playing in the yard while she went on an errand. While she was gone, a car with an out-of-state license drove up and three women whom Susan had never seen before came into the yard. “Is this where Ralph Martins live? And you must be Susan. You don’t know me, but I’m Alice Witmer.’’ “Oh, I do know you,” Susan smiled understandingly. “You’re Mother’s dear- est friend and you sent me ‘Skippack School’ last Christmas. . . . Mother will be back soon. Won’t you come in and wait?” The three ladies came in. Susan and Janet left them and went to the kitchen, where Susan began squeezing lemons. “Why, Susan Martin, whatever are you going to do?’* Janet asked worried- ly. “My mother’d scold me if I did any- thing in our kitchen while she was away.” “I know. But I can’t let Mrs. Witmer, who is my mother’s best friend, sit there without giving her something to drink on this hot day.” When Mrs. Martin returned, she found the ladies sipping Susan’s over- sweetened lemonade. Nobody men- tioned the fact that it was a bit sugary or that Susan had spilled some in serving it. There would be better moments to teach proper proportions of fruit juice and sugar. Mrs. Martin saw the main point— that Susan had sized up a situa- tion and had met it well. Responsible children aren’t just born that way. Behind Susan’s ability to ad- just graciously to a situation that re- quired mature thinking lay years of patient guidance. As a very little girl of three and four Susan had loved to help. She liked to work because it was a grown- up activity. It gave her a feeling of im- portance to do the things that only the older members of her family ordinarily did. Later when this aspect of helping lost its charm, Susan’s mother planned that she should work with somebody, thus making it a delightful social ac- tivity. As a teen-ager, however, school and church activities began to crowd in and Susan no longer worked just because it was fun. But she helped of her own volition, just the same, because she un- derstood the meaning of work and learned to assume her share of responsi- bility. It wasn’t the easiest way for Susan’s mother to have chosen. Many times she could have breezed through her work in a third of the time it took to patiently direct Susan. But it was the best way, for Susan learned very early that every person in the home had some responsi- bility in making the home a comfortable and happy place in which to live. Perhaps some of us as parents need to revamp our ideas of what it means for a child to take responsibility. Surely it must mean more than a grim carrying out of assigned tasks in solitary boredom. Why shouldn’t work be made as pleasant as possible? On the other hand, not all work can be made appealing, and par- ents are too often disappointed or un- duly alarmed when their children need to be urged to do their share of the work. Children should not be allowed to shirk their work just because they don’t like to do it, but parents need to be under- standing, too. For example, ten-year-old Bill, absorbed in plans for a surprise shower which his class was giving for a hospitalized classmate, forgot to empty the ashes before he went to school, as his father had instructed. Yet, in an im- portant area of his life he was behaving in a highly responsible manner. In general, there are two ways in which children develop responsibility: through the way in which their parents handle them; and through what their parents themselves are. Let us look at the first of these two ways briefly. Children take seriously our estimate of their dependability; so first of all we must have faith in them. Spoken or unspoken, the attitude that our chil- dren can be trusted may make a small person grows inches in responsibleness. Then we must provide them with suit- able opportunities to use their talents or abilities. This is one of our educa- tional tasks as parents, for it is only through the chance to try out his powers in a safe setting that the young child grows. When we let a three-year-old carry a plate of cookies across the room or a twelve-year-old conduct family wor- ship, we are laying a foundation for the assuming of greater responsibilities later on. Accompanying the opportunity for ex- periences there must be an atmosphere that encourages initiative. Children must feel that it is all right to try, to choose their own course of action even though their first efforts may leave much to be desired from an adult viewpoint. Another matter that influences our children’s willingness to take responsi- bility is the way we treat their failures. Have we set such an extremely high standard that our children, being hu- man, can’t possibly live up to them? Con tinually failing to achieve Mother and Father’s goal, constantly being nagged at instead of praised, can cause any boy or girl to give up in despair. If we always have to do things “Mom’s way” or “like Dad said” there isn’t much satisfaction in doing it at all. Now what about ourselves as mothers and fathers? Children learn their most vital lessons in responsibility from the way we as parents handle our problems in daily living. Our example is the most influential teacher they have, for it is constantly before them. Learning to take responsibility is not inherited— it is largely absorbed. If Father comes home weary from work and says, “I certainly don’t feel like tearing down that closet tonight, but I said I’d get started on it; so here goes!”— his children are likely to behave in the same responsible manner someday. But what if the children have heard nothing but: “I should have sent Grand- ma’s birthday gift today, but I just didn’t get around to it. She won’t get it now for her birthday, but better late than never!” Or: “I promised old Mr. Barnes that I’d drive him over to Benton tonight, but I don’t feel like going. If I don’t say anything, he’ll think I forgot.” Or: “Why should we give anything for this special missionary offering? We (Continued on page 35) EXPRESSIONS OF APPRECIATION I want to take this means of expressing my sincere appreciation for the prayers as well as cards and well-wiskes of the many who remem- bered me during my sickness and stay at the hospital. — J. G. Hochstetler, Creston, Mont. 34 GOSPEL HERALD TO BE NEAR TO GOD THEME FOR THE WEEK: PEOPLE IN THE PRIME OF LIFE Sunday, January 6 Job "But now they that are younger than I have me in derision, whose iathers I would have disdained to have set with the dogs of my flock" (Job 30:1). It certainly was difficult for Job to be ad- vised without understanding. It was all the more so because of the cocksureness of his mistaken advisers. Still he bore with their cocksureness, and with their every argument. Somehow, in the end, all that evaporated and Job learned to abhor himself. All were cor- rected. Today we go to church. At that church may be some folks concerning whom we also have an opinion that would cause us to “dis- dain to set them with the dogs of the flock.” Yet, if that be the case, it must still be true that we bear with them, and forbear, and learn. Perhaps we also need to learn to abhor ourselves and repent in dust and ashes. Monday, January 7 Ezekiel "Son of man, thou dwellest in the midst of a re- bellious house, which have eyes to see, and see not; they have ears to hear, and hear not: for they are a rebellious house" (Ezek. 12:2). By the time one has advanced to the age which marks the middle of his mature years he has learned something of how the Lord deals with people. Youth will not always lis- ten to him as he outlines the probable result of trends of action. Israel was thus blind. Eyes and ears they had, but apparently for looking only at the desires of today. The fu- ture bothered them not a whit. Yet Ezekiel prophesied. Some doubtless heard. It seems that he was not discouraged by the disobedi- ence to his spoken word. Those of mature years in our day need the attitude of Ezekiel. His effort was crowned with success in the end, for years later a faithful remnant re- turned. Our prayer today is the faithful dedi- cation to the right, knowing the ultimate outcome. Tuesday, January 8 Deborah "And Barak said unto her, If thou wilt go with me, then I will go: but if thou wilt not go with me, then I will not go. And she said, I will surely go with thee: notwithstanding the journey that thou takest shall not be for thine honour; for the Lord shall sell Sisepa into the hand of a woman. And Deborah arose, and went with Barak to Kedesh" (Judg. 4:8, 9). It is said that a female goose leads the fly- ing wedge in migratory flight. All credit to woman, the helpmeet for man. Barak would not go without the prophetess. It was simple, elementary good sense to have God’s mouth- piece at hand while he was conducting the campaign. He knew full well that the honor of the campaign was to go to a woman. Good! He would go! The prophetess and the unnamed woman deserved honor; why shouldn’t they have it! Many a man is “made” by a woman today; her inspiration sparks his life. She “knows him like a book” and discreetly governs his actions according- ly. She is brave and so she accompanies him. In many things she possesses the right coun- sels and is willing to be near at hand. In short, she is a Deborah. Today we thank God for Deborahs. Do any live in your com- munity? Wednesday, January 9 Ananias "And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias .... And the Lord said unto him, ... go ... . Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man .... But the Lord said, ... Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me" (Acts 9:10-16). How enjoyable is this account! What grand obedience! How the Lord spoke to him we do not know, but we do know that Ananias heard. Many young people have learned to hear the Lord before their elders have; so we must not reason that Ananias was necessarily older than Paul; yet, I believe that he was. How pleasant was the obedience to the Lord, when all the straws of human testimony were blowing the other way. This one deed of Ananias was sufficient to set in motion a glorious chain of events. Life was worth liv- ing for the sake of being on hand just that one time. Is your time today? May you be ready to meet it by God’s appointment. Thursday, January 10 The Older Brother of the Prodigal Son "As soon as this thy son was come" (Luke 15:30). Rather “sot in his ways,” wasn’t he? He knew not only what was right, but who was right. Everybody knew that his father’s oth- er son wasn’t right, and father wasn’t right either. And if a fellow wants a feast, it isn’t right that he put up the roast himself — costs too much these days. I shouldn’t wonder if such a fellow didn’t turn out to be the father of more than one prodigal son — if he could find a wife. No, no, he knew what life was for. Stay home, mind your business, hang on to yours, and don’t be so soft-hearted as to fall for this forgiving business. And yet, he is tagged for the ages. Honestly, what do you think of this man who was sure he was right? Any relation to events in your com- munity today? Friday, January 11 John the Baptist "But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the coun- sel of God against themselves, being not baptized of him" (Luke 7:30). John was right: the Pharisees and lawyers needed to repent, and symbolize it by “the baptism of John.” They were “tough cus- tomers.” This man of thirty-one or thirty- two had them “up a tree,” as Jesus so abun- dantly proved during Passion Week. The man’s preaching unnerved them. They who profited so much materially from their pro- (Continued on page 35) January 8, 195 2 A CROOKED BUSINESSMAN CALLED Sunday School Lesson for January 20 (Matt. 9:9-17; Luke 5:27-39) Another businessman is called to follow Jesus. Who? What kind of business was he in ? Crooked ! According to the news- papers today, our country is full of crooked businessmen and no doubt many who never make the headlines. These men need a Saviour. Matthew’s business was no doubt a big one and an important one, but surely not a very pleasing one. His own countrymen loathed him. The people despised these tax- gatherers. He may have been rich, but sure- ly not happy. One wonders if any dishonest rich men really enjoy the returns of their business. A publican really was a traitor to his coun- try. His family must have been ostracized socially. He had no fellowship in the syna- gogue. In his heart of hearts he must have been wretched. Then the seeking Jesus came his way. Je- sus “saw” him, saw his sin and his wretched- ness. All he needed was the short invitation, “Follow me,” and Matthew left all, econom- ically and socially, for spiritual gain. After all, man is a soul and can’t be happy if only his body is at peace. Matthew forsook all. He was a fool in the eyes of the world, but a very courageous soul in his trust to follow the Master. This new follower had a testimony in a “great feast” he gave to a “multitude of pub- licans and of others.” Why did he give this feast? (Let your pupils find several reasons.) A true believer is glad and anxious that his friends meet and believe in his Lord and Saviour. Also this was a good way for Mat- thew to declare his break with his old busi- ness. Jesus’ presence also showed what His attitude was to social ostracism, which atti- tude belongs to true Christianity, but was not found in the Judaism of the day. What impression was made on the pub- licans we are not told. But the self-righteous Pharisees and scribes, who were more and more convicted by this new Teacher, came to murmur against the disciples and really against Jesus too. Jesus was seeking these lost men. How masterfully He answered them! “I am not come to call the righteous but sinners.” (They knew where He classed them.) Jesus identified Himself as the Bride- groom, the fulfillment of Scriptures they must have known. And then in two parables He told them that they couldn’t patch Juda- ism up. They must have new life. With Je- sus it is all or nothing. A follower can’t take a little of Jesus. He either forsakes all or doesn’t become a follower. How glad we are that Matthew followed! Consider what God made of this man. In Jesus it is that life really amounjts to some- thing worth while, and in Him only. — Alta Mae Erb. Lesson based on "International "Sunday School Les- sons: the International Bible Lessons for Christian Teaching," copyrighted 1951 by the Division of Chris- tian Education National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. January 8, 195 2 GOSPEL HERALD 35 JACOB (Continued) ladder set upon the earth and the top reached to heaven. And the angels of Gqd were ascending and descending. Would it not better be said they were descending and ascending? No. Since the angels of God came with Jacob there, they went into heaven. In verses 13:15 God speaks to Jacob in a wonderfully kind way, renewing all the promises which He had given to Abraham and to Isaac. God gives him the special promises that were to keep him in all the places where he goes. There is not one word of scolding. If Jacob would have done something wrong, surely God would have rebuked him. Let us take two of the most outstand- ing Bible characters, Moses and David. God had prepared Moses for 40 years to be somebody and for 40 years to be no- body, so that He could use him for 40 years. He did a very small thing— struck the rock when God had not told him to do so, and for that God told him, “Thou shalt not enter the promised land.” David, a man after God’s own heart, when he had taken his captain’s wife, the prophet came and told the story about the rich man and the poor man’s lamb. When David got all upset, he told him, “Thou art the man”— a rebuke of God. However, there was not a word of re- buke to Jacob, but the promise, "I will go with thee.” As is often said, there at Laban’s home, Jacob found his match. I do know that Laban realized that Je- hovah blessed him on account of Jacob. Laban cheated Jacob. He had to serve for two wives. He changed his wages ten times and then finally in Gen. 31:10-12 it is told how Jacob got the ringstraked, speckled, and grisled cattle. God told him about it. Some of the teachers claim that Jacob was a thief, because in 31:20 we read that Jacob stole away. They say he stole. That is not the meaning of that word. And we read as we go on in the story in chapter 32, verses 1-3, a very interest- ing passage. “And Jacob went on his way, and the angels of God met him. And when Jacob saw them, he said, This is God’s host: and he called the name of that place Mahanaim. And Jacob sent messengers before him to Esau his brother unto the land of Seir, the coun- try of Edom.” Now if this would be the original word ruach and we would read it in the place where it belongs, the same verses would be like this: “And Jacob went on his way and the ruach of God met him and when Jacob saw them he said, This is God’s host and he called the name of that place Mahanaim. And Jacob sent ruach before him . . . .” There the same word is used in verse 3 for mes- sengers as was used in verse 1 for angels. I think that explains how the mind of Esau, who already was waiting with 400 men to kill Jacob, was changed. In the meantime Jacob was left alone as we read in verse 24 and there hap- pened his wrestling with the angel of God. It is pointed out so many times that until then Jacob was away from God, which surely has no foundation. He must have lived a life close to God, or otherwise he would have served idols like his wives and servants. But I much rather believe he was like so many of our church members who are serving the Lord today, but are lacking the one great experience where God has to break them down that they may realize their noth- ingness. I have heard many unbelievers say, “Pray for me.” But I have never heard an unbeliever say, “Bless me.” That is exactly what Jacob said to the angel. “I will not let thee go until thou hast blessed me.” And it was there that Jacob got his new name, Israel— Gen. 35:9-12. Again all the promises are renewed. The name of Israel means “Prince with God, Power with God, Upright with God.” My dear friend, how then are you con- demning Jacob whom the Lord has blessed? Harrisonburg, Va. * According to Jewish tradition. TO BE NEAR TO GOD (Continued) fessional religion could not imagine a man who profited nothing, and ate grasshoppers and wild honey — a real “nature man.” Our verse declares that through just such a mouth- piece was God speaking to unrepentant men, and to the common people who were re- pentant and had been baptized. The greatest of the prophets might have had his queer ways but he watered men with God’s truth. Search the ways of men the world over and you will find good drinking water flowing through all sorts of pipes, even bamboo. Who is piping God’s truth to you today? Be not ye like unto the Pharisees and lawyers. Saturday, January 12 A Syrophoenician Greek "A certain woman . . . besought him .... But Jesus said unto her, Let the children first be filled: for it is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it unto the dogs. And she answered . . . him, Yes, Lord: yet the dogs under the table eat of the children's crumbs" (Mark 7:25-28). What a mixture of nationalities! Greeks ought to be living in Greece, you think; but here was a Greek woman, born across the sea from Greece, asking a favor of a Jew who was taking a vacation. Quite an intrusion, I’d say. Yet there was necessity. Depend on a mother to intercede for a child ! There’s many a slip ’twixt the cup and the lip where children are concerned; so this woman asks for only that which misses the mouth of the Jew. And anyway, Gentile friend, that’s the only kind of salvation you have yourself. If you doubt my word, read the Book of Rom- ans. So all of this mother’s necessity was met with what some other person didn’t have the faith to grasp. What goes ungrasped for lack of faith in your community? Any crumbs of faith that could be put to the use of some needy soul ? — J. Paul Sauder. OUR SCHOOLS (Continued) group spending three days visiting educa- tional points in Virginia while the other group spent four days in New York City. The annual Christian Day School Insti- tute, held on Nov. 16 and 17, was well at- tended by teachers, board members, and patrons. The visiting speaker for this con- ference was Mark Fakkema of Chicago, 111. In keeping with the approach of the Christ- mas season, several Christmas programs were given during the first part of Decem- ber— Public Literary Christmas Program on Dec. 7, Astral Christmas Program on Dec. 8, the annual reading of Dickens’ “Christ- mas Carol” by M. T. Brackbill on Dec. 15, the Vesper and Collegiate Chorus Program on Dec. 17, and the singing of “Bethlehem” by faculty and employees on the morning of Dec. 18. Following the pattern of the past several years, school was dismissed two and one-half days earlier than originally planned in order to give students and faculty opportunity to work in the interests of the Women’s Dormi- tory Building Fund. The returns from this year’s student-work project will be applied toward the completion of the first floor of the building. A mixed octet, with two additional speak- ers, is on tour during the first part of the Christmas vacation, bringing messages in talks and song to churches in southwestern Pennsylvania and Ohio. Again we solicit your prayers in behalf of the work of Eastern Mennonitc College as we enter the new year. We desire it to be a year of continuing spiritual growth on the part of faculty and students. — Lester C. Shank. FAMILY CIRCLE (Continued) give enough. Anyway we need to save for that new living room suite.” Look at your children honestly. Ap- praise their ability to take responsibility. Do they have a sense of responsibility for themselves and their property? Do they share in the work at home, if not too willingly, at least dutifully? Are they careful about being on time at school, at church, for appointments? Are they willing to serve on young peo- ple’s meeting programs even though pre- paring talks is not particularly to their liking? Do they use their leisure time well and spend their money wisely? Do they keep their promises regardless of what it might cost them? If you can answer affirmatively, you have done well. If we want our children to be respon- sible Christian young people, we can not be less than responsible Christian par- ents. The divine injunction, “Train up a child in the way he should go . . . ,” means training in responsibility, too. Scottdale, Pa. Living creatively far more than liv- ing possessively, is the clue to happiness. —Dr. Case. 36 GOSPEL HERALD January 8, 1952 FIELD NOTES Items to appear in this column for any issue _of the following Tuesday must reach Scottdale by Wednesday morning. Fifty-three young people attended the Bible Normal held at Roanoke, 111., during the holi- days. Bro. Norman Kauffman was ordained to the office of deacon at the Clinton Frame Church, Goshen, Ind., on Dec. 30. The serv- ice was in charge of Bishops E. J. Yoder and Oscar Hostetler. The Indiana-Michigan M.Y.F. sponsored a meeting at Goshen College auditorium on Jan. 5, in which Harry W. Saunier, head of the Pacific Garden Mission in Chicago, gave an illustrated talk concerning the work on Skid Row. The program included testimonies by souls saved in this work and also special music by them. Bro. Mark Hege was ordained by lot on Dec. 27 to the office of deacon at the Rowe Church near Shippensburg, Pa. Bro. Amos E. Martin officiated, assisted by Bishops Amos G. Horst, Moses K. Horst, and Harvey E. Shank. God bless our brother in his call- ing. Workers from the Kansas churches are continuing to assist in reconstruction work in the flooded area of Kansas City. Opportunities for witness to the Jews were given to the Brethren Abner Stoltzfus and Jesse Short during their recent visit in Pales- tine. Bro. C. F. Derstine, Kitchener, Ont., was the speaker in a prophecy conference at Mat- tawana, Pa., Jan. 2-6. Table of Contents 25 — Jacob Thy God Hath Led Thee ... in the Wilderness (Poem) 26 — Our Readers Say 27 — The Weakness of Isolationism Taking Church to Shut-Ins The Weakest Moment 28 — At Close Quarters It Happened Disappointment — His Appointment 29 — Dear Friend (Poem) Preacher, Are You a Modern Jonah? 30 — Come Ye Apart Pros and Cons of the Scofield Bible Tract News 31 — A Prayer for This Week Prayer Requests 32 — Iowa Mennonite School Eastern Mennonite College 33 — For James (Poem) Training Children to Take Responsibility Expressions of Appreciation 34 — To Be Near to God Sundav School Lesson for January 20 36 — Field Notes 37 — Mission News 38 — Whv Don't They Read the Bible? 39 — A Spiritual Interpretation of the Work of the Sewing Circles 40 — There Are Lands (Poem) 41 — Baptisms in Bihar Sacred or SeculaT 42 — Women's Day of Prayer A Laymen's Conference on Evangelism 43 — Balodgahan, via Dhamtari, M.P., India Church Correspondence 45 — Births Marriages Obituaries 47 — The Book Shelf Items and Comments Sixteen new members were received by water baptism at the East Chestnut St. Church, Lancaster, Pa., on Dec. 2. The Messiah was sung at the West Liber- ty, Ohio, high school by the Mennonite Choral Society on Sunday evening, Dec. 23. Sister Isla Zink is making a satisfactory re- covery from the accident reported in last week’s issue. The Iowa Mennonite School Chorus gave a program at the East Union Church the eve- ning of Dec. 23. Bro. George M. Hostetler, bishop of the Holly Grove congregation, Westover, Md., died in the Salisbury Hospital of a heart con- dition on Dec. 22. Obituary later. Change of address: Bro. J. M. Nissley from Grantsville, Md., to Sarasota, Fla., R. D. 3, Box 440 D. A Prophecy conference was held at the Lindale Church in Virginia Dec. 29, 30. Christmas in Other Lands was discussed at North Goshen, Ind., on Dec. 2 by Nobuyuki Nakajima of Japan, Willy Peterschmidt of France, and Enrique Buck of Mexico. Bro. Paul Mininger was the visiting speak- er at the recent special meeting of the Ohio and Eastern A.M. Conference. A midweek class in Child Study at North Goshen, Ind., gave Bro. John C. Wenger a copy of Strong’s Concordance as a token of appreciation for his teaching. The “A” materials of Mennonite Encyclo- pedia are now in the hands of the printer, and the “B” materials are almost ready. A ministers’ workshop was held at Hanni- bal, Mo., Jan. 1-4 with Roy D. Roth, Hesston, Kans., and Paul M. Miller, Goshen, Ind., as instructors. Bro. J. J. Hostetler, Secretary of Sunday Schools on the Commission for Christian Ed- ucation and Young People’s Work, reports that there are 88,153 pupils in Mennonite Sunday schools, an increase of 36,000 dur- ing the past 25 years. Attendance is encouraging in the Spanish language services being conducted at Los Angeles. On Dec. 16 nineteen were present: 12 children, 2 adults, and 5 staff workers. Bro. Eli A. Bontrager delivered the morn- ing message at Fairview, Mich., on Dec. 16, his ninetieth birthday. He has been in the ministry for over fifty years. Plans are being made by Mennonite churches in Missouri to lease the County Home near Versailles, Mo., and conduct a church-sponsored home for the aged. Neces- sary repairs will be made, with materials furnished by the county, by a Voluntary Serv- ice unit. Announcements Ordination of a minister at Nickel Mines Mission, Paradise, Pa., at 2:00 p.m., Jan. 20. Prayers are requested. Bro. John E. Lapp, Lansdale, Pa., on Nonconformity at Johns- town, Pa., Jan. 10; Scottdale, Jan. 11; Springs, Jan. 12; Pinto, Md., Martinsburg, Pa., and Belleville, Jan. 13. Richard E. Martin, Elida, Ohio, to hold Spiritual Life services at Can- ton, Ohio, Bible School Jan. 11-13. Rural Life Conference, Hesston College, Feb. 1-3, with C. R. McBride and Grant Stoltzfus as speakers. Evangelistic Meetings Paul Landis, Crockett, Ky., at Mattawana, Pa., Dec. 25-Jan. 1; C. F. Derstine at Kitchen- er, Ont., Jan. 13-20; I. Mark Ross, Hesston, Kans., at Midway, 111., pre-Christmas, 17 con- fessions; Ivan J. Miller, Grantsville, Md., at Harrisburg, Oreg., beginning Dec. 30; J. E. Gingrich, Elkhart, Ind., at Bancroft Church, Toledo, Ohio, Dec. 2-9; Andrew Jantzi, Marilla, N.Y., at Lewis County, N.Y., Dec. 16-25. Visiting Speakers Dec. 2: LeRoy Kennel, Shickley, Nebr., at East Union, Kalona, Iowa; Verle Hoffman, Goshen, Ind., at Prairie St. Church, Elkhart, Ind.; R. L. Stauffer, Wooster, Ohio, at Can- ton, Ohio. Dec. 9: Eugene and Luella Blosser, Go- shen, Ind., at North Goshen. Dec. 16: John S. Eby, Manheim, Pa., at Pottstown, Pa. Dec. 23: Ira E, Miller, Harrisonburg, Va., at Steelton, Pa.; Allen H. Erb, La Junta, Colo., at Albany, Oreg. Dec. 25: J. P. Ehierksen, Hesston, Kans., at West Liberty, Windom, Kans.; Paul Lede- rach, Lederach, Pa., at Perkasie, Pa.; Silas Brydge, Lyndhurst, Va., at Chicago Avenue, Harrisonburg, Va.; Richard Bender, Marilla, (Continued on page 44) Calendar Ministers' Normal, Stahl Church, Johnstown, Pa., Jan. 8-10 Maple Grove Winter Bible School, Atglen, Pa., Jan. 14-25 Kishacoquillas Bible School, Pennsylvania, Jan. 14 to Feb. 1 Special Bible Term, Lancaster Mennonite School, Lancaster, Pa., Jan. 14 to Feb. 22 Conference on Summer Camps, Sponsored by Com- mission for Christian Education and Young Peo- ple's Work. Salem Church, Elida, Ohio, Jan. 25, 26 Winter Bible School, Goshen College, fan. 28 to March 7 Special Bible Term, Eastern Mennonite College, Har- risonburg, Va., Jan. 29 to March 10 Mennonite Publication Board, Annual Meeting, Way- land, Iowa, Feb. 20, 21 Conference on Christian Community Relations, Tis- kilwa. 111.. March 27-29 Lay Evangelism Conference, Goshen College. Gosh- en, Ind., April 5-7 Mennonite Youth Fellowship Workshop, Iowa Men- nonite School, Kalona, Iowa, June 9-12 Mennonite Youth Fellowship Annual Meeting, Lower Deer Creek Church, Kalona, Iowa, June 13, 14 Mennonite Board of Missions and Charities, Annual Meeting, Lower Deer Creek Church, Kalona, Iowa. June 14-17 Laurelville Mennonite Camp, Mt. Pleasant, Pa. Boys' Camp (ages 9-12) — June 28 — July 4 Girls' Camp (ages 9-12)— July 5-11 Junior High Camp (boys and girls — ages 13-15) July 12-18 Missionary Bible Conference — July 19-25 First Family Week — July 26 — August 1 First Young People's Institute — August 2-8 Second Young People's Institute — August 9-15 Second Family Week — August 16-22 Victorious Life Conference — August 23-24 Music Week — August 25-29 Southwestern Pennsylvania Conference, Springs, Pa., July 20-23 Illinois Mennonite Conference, Flanagan, 111., Aug. 19-21 Mennonite General Conference, Place Undecided. Aug. 26-30. 1953 January 8, 1952 GOSPEL HERALD 37 Go, Preach • MISSIONS • Give, Pray The General Board Headquarters for Missions, Relief and Service: 1711 Prairie Street, Elkhart, Indiana. Telephone, Elkhart 2-2786. Mission News A cablegram received at Board Headquar- ters on Dec. 26, brought the good news of a baby daughter, Carol Joy, born on Christmas Day to Bro. and Sister Arnold Dietzel, Shantipur, India. Visa permits have been issued to Bro. and Sister Alvin Hostetler, under appointment to the India mission field. Bro. and Sister Delbert Erb, Scottdale, Pa., sailed on Dec. 29 on the SS Brazil for their field of labor in Argentina. Their ship is due to arrive in Buenos Aires on Jan. 15. Their address in Argentina will be Macaya 175, Bragado, F.C.N.D.F.S. Buenos Aires, Argen- tina. A Missionary-Bible Conference is planned again in co-operation with the Laurelville Mennonite Camp Ground Association. The dates this year are July 19 to 25. Bro. E. C. Bender, Martinsburg, Pa., has been appointed director. It is not too early to begin to plan to attend this inspiring conference. Bro. J. D. Graber, secretary of the General Mission Board, left Elkhart on Dec. 27 en route to Argentina. He is planning to spend a month in Argentina, a week in Brazil in- vestigating mission opportunities in that country, and a week with the missionaries and service workers in Puerto Rico. Bro. and Sister Don Reber, Goshen, Ind., met with the Missions and Executive Com- mittees of the Board on Dec. 13. The Com- mittees passed a minute recommending them for appointment to Japan. Sister Miriam Beachy has recently reported from Bihar, India, that the building program at Bethet, the new station north of Chandwa, Bihar, is making good progress. A good sup- ply of water has been found in the well and brick making is well advanced. The wood work is under construction. Bro. and Sister Vern Miller, Mantua, Ohio, were appointed in charge of the work among the Negroes of Cleveland, Ohio, in a meet- ing of the Missions and Executive Commit- tees of the General Mission Board on Dec. 13. Their address in Cleveland is 5008 Wellesby Ave. Bro. and Sister Paul Lauver, missionaries on furlough from Puerto Rico, stopped at Board Headquarters office on Dec. 20. They are making their home with Sister Lauver’s parents near Howe, Ind., while Bro. Lauver takes courses at the Goshen College Biblical Seminary. A letter dated Dec. 15 from Sister Marta Quiroga from Bragado, Argentina, states: “We arrived at Buenos Aires last Tuesday noon, Dec. 4. It was a very pleasant trip. Now since last Saturday I am at home at Bragado. It was nice to see everybody again.” Sister Quiroga writes further that on Dec. 9 she spoke to the Bragado congregation and on Dec. 23 she was scheduled to speak to the Pehuajo congregation. May God continue to bless Sister Quiroga as she labors in His vineyard in Argentina. Authorization was given at a recent meet- ing of the Board Executive Committee to publish “We Enter Bihar.” The manuscript was prepared by Bro. S. J. Hostetler, former missionary to Bihar, and gives the back- ground history and development of the work in the Bihar Province at the present time. Dedication Services are planned for Sun- day, Jan. 6, for the remodeled and redecorat- ed church building at Canton, Ohio. Bro. J. J. Hostetler, superintendent of the Canton Mission, reports that special speakers for the day include Brethren John L. Horst, Scott- dale, Pa., and Paul Mininger, Goshen, Ind. Sister Linda Reimer, Steinbach, Man., mis- sionary on furlough from Puerto Rico, is planning to take courses at the Grace Bible Institute, Omaha, Nebr., during the second semester. During December the M. C. Vogt and Henry Becker families were living in tents while on evangelistic tour in the villages of the Bihar mission area. Bro. John H. Mosemann, president of the General Mission Board, preached for the Prairie Street, Elkhart, Ind., congregation on Sunday morning, Dec. 23. Bro. Alvin Hostetler, under appointment to India, stopped at Board Headquarters on Dec. 14 to discuss details of preparation. He and his wife and child, are looking forward to a sailing date about mid-February. Sister Ruth Bean, 770 King Street, East, Kitchener, Ontario, on furlough from China, MENNONITE RELIEF COMMITTEE (M.R.C.) Brother and Sister Ray Troyer, Goshen, Ind., Sister Norma Blough, West Liberty, Ohio, and Sister Norma Kempf, Wellman, Iowa, joined the Kansas City Hospital Service unit on January 1. Sister Mary King, Well- man, Iowa, who has served ably as house- keeper in the unit for the last four months left on that date. More young men can be used in the unit. Brother Don Snapp returned to Elkhart on Dec. 26 after two months of service at the Mennonite Publishing House, Scottdale, Pa. He will begin immediately to make plans for the summer service program. Young people desiring to serve should write at once for applications. Brother Paul Bowers, Iowa City, Iowa, completed his voluntary service term in the builders unit at the Chicago Mexican Mission on December 14. Another orientation program for outgoing service workers will be held at the Elkhart headquarters from January 7-11. Those par- ticipating in this program include Brother and Sister Alvin Hostetler, Topeka, Ind., Sister Bertha Alderfer, Telford, Pa., and Sis- ter Emma Landis, Harleysville, Pa. is planning to enroll at Goshen College dur- ing the second semester. “I have been living in darkness as one blind, but now I have come to the light,” was the testimony of an elderly lady as she accepted Christ in the La Plata Church Sun- day evening, Dec. 9. It is in her home that (Continued on page 44) CITY MISSIONS ROUNDTABLE Theme — Building His Church in the City Moderator — H. Ernest Bennett Place — Mennonite Home Mission, Chicago, 111. Time — February 26 and 27, 1952 Tuesday morning, February 26 10:00 a.m. The Inner Life of the Man of God .. .... ... Milton Brackbill 10:30 a.m. Theological Poise in Our Time — Facing Fundamentalism Harold S. Bender Discussion Period Tuesday afternoon, February 26 1:30 p.m. The Inner Life of the Man of God Milton Brackbill 2:00 p.m. Theological Poise in Our Time — Facing Interdenominationalism Harold S. Bender Discussion Period 3:00 p.m. The Bishop's Responsibility J. d. Graber Discussion Period Tuesday evening, February 26 6:30 p.m. The Inner Life of the Man of God Milton Brackbill 7:00 p.m. Theological Poise in Our Time— Mennonite Culture in the City Harold S. Bender Discussion Period 8:00 p.m. How Can the Voluntary Service Program Help in City Missions Levi C. Hartzler Discussion Period Wednesday morning, February 27 9:00 a.m. The Inner Life of the Man of God Milton Brackbill 9:30 a.m. Theological Poise in Our Time — Pentecostalism, Healing, Emotionalism Howard J. Zehr Discussion Period 10:30 a.m. Recruiting and Internship of the Missionary Paul Mininger Discussion Period Wednesday afternoon, February 27 1:00 p.m. The Inner Life of the Man of God Milton Brackbill 1:30 p.m. Theological Poise in our Time — Biblicism and Discipleship To be supplied Discussion Period 2:30 p.m. Unfinished Business 3:00 p.m. Dismissal S8 GOSPEL HERALD January 8, 1952 American Bible Society Spanish children in New Mexico are hearing the Gospel for the first time as a missionary reads to them. Why Don’t They Read the Bible? WE mean church people. Thousands of them frankly admit that the only Bi- ble reading they get is when they hear the Good Book read at church services and at funerals. There are two principal reasons why peo- ple do not read the Bible. The chief one is lack of interest. Hosts of Americans, unfortunately, are indisposed to taking life seriously, are unwilling to face life’s real issues except under pressure, or are preoccupied with other reading or other activities which crowd the Bible out. Some of these people are in our churches. There is little hope for their spiritual growth apart from a new conversion to Christ. But this cannot be said of the great ma- jority of our church members. It is not lack of interest in the Bible, but discouragement, that leaves so many Bibles catching dust in our church homes. Thousands of loyal church people who feel the need of regular Bible reading, and who have from time to time tried to install it in their daily lives, have given up in despair because they find that they cannot understand what they are read- ing, or because the Good Book seems so un- like other books; or it seems to have so lit- tle contact with the rest of their lives. What shall be done fbr these people? Ob- viously, they should be taught how to read the Bible. Most churches have no plan for teaching their members how to read the Bi- MISSIONS SECTION ble. They have Sunday schools, of course. But most Sunday-school curricula do not in- clude a course in how to read the Bible. Vast numbers of young Christians who grew up in Sunday school have never developed a love for Bible reading that carries over into life after Sunday-school days have passed. Every church ought to develop, either through its Sunday school or somewhere else, a plan for helping its people to become reg- ular Bible readers. Such a plan should in- clude the following as basic elements: First of all, the church member should be helped to equip himself with a good, read- able, helpful edition of the Bible. There are many Bibles that are oftentimes kept for sentimental reasons, that are not suitable for a thoroughgoing program of daily reading. In many of these books the print is too fine and there are no helps. Some person or group in the church should be responsible for mak- ing a study of the available editions of the Bible and of recommending to the members such editions as will be of most help to each one. Such a Bible should first of all present an attractive page of good, clear type. It should have helps, such as a concordance, a brief Bible history, and maps. Although there is quite properly a great affection for the King James Version, there are hundreds of people whose interest in Bi- ble reading has been awakened by using one of the modern translations, maybe not inde- pendently but along with the King James text. There are available two books with the same title, “The Parallel New Testament,” in which the King James text is found on one column of each page, with the other column presenting, in one case, the Moffatt translation, and in the other, the Goodspeed. With such a book the reader may follow the beloved King James till he comes to some word or phrase that is not clear; then all he needs to do is glance across the column to the newer translation, with the likelihood that he will find the matter made clear in the modern rendering. This is only one suggestion. Basically, what is needed in every church is a source of information about all available English Bi- bles— Bibles with pictures; Bibles with the chapters broken up into divisions, with sub- titles, as is true in the Montgomery New Tes- tament; Bibles suitable for children; Bibles in the pocket or purse for reading on the train, streetcar or bus, or when waiting some place — somebody in every church should know this whole field and serve the mem- bership in its Bible needs. The second thing that should be cultivated in every church is the necessity for setting aside a regular time for Bible reading on the part of every member. It will help, to do this in a concerted way. Announcement from the pulpit and Sunday-school platform; or better, where it is possible, by including it among the reminders in the church’s Sunday bulle- tin, will help. Physical health requires regu- larity in eating, sleeping, bathing, and taking exercise. Likewise, spiritual health requires regular, unfailing periods for personal and close communion with God. The time set apart for daily Bible reading need not be long, neither should it be forced or hurried. Ten minutes is long enough to read a chapter or two slowly enough to medi- tate as one reads. Longer periods should be set for Sundays and holidays. Many people have found great stimulus in reading whole books of the Bible at a time. Seventeen of the twenty-seven books of the New Testa- ment can be read in a half hour or less; six of these in five to ten minutes apiece. Like- wise, in the Old Testament there are sixteen books that can be read in very brief periods. The reading and rereading of these shorter books has proved a most rewarding experi- ence to many people. For those who can find longer reading periods, the biographical sketches in the Bible are excellent for stimulating interest. Read the last fourteen chapters of Genesis, which cover the life of Joseph, or the first fourteen of the very next book, Exodus, which tell the story of Moses’ early life. All the foregoing are merely suggestions that should be incorporated into a definite a program of Bible reading. This program should be made a matter of study by the pastor and a group of his leaders and offered to the people with continuous and unflagging stimulus, to keep as many as possible of the members in line until the habit of regular Bible reading has been formed. But there is one essential that must never be forgotten. Thousands of church people have bogged down in their zest for Bible reading because they have approached the; Bible as they would any other book. The [ Bible is not to be read primarily, as other January 8, ip$2 GOSPEL HERALD 39 books are, merely for information, entertain- ment, or cultural advancement. What makes the Bible the world’s incomparable Book is that from it God may speak to the human heart. Reading the Bible is a religious rather than an intellectual pursuit. Bible reading should always be accompanied by prayer. Prayer induces the mood which lets God speak to the reader from His Book. The most rewarding Bible reading is done slowly. The reader should stop to put himself in the place of the characters about whom he may be reading. When he reads a verse or passage that strikes a responsive note in his own soul, that is a good passage to meditate upon or to memorize. Every moment given to Bible reading should be invested with the hope that some part of the Bible may become forever his own — a living, spiritual force at work thereafter always in his life. Well, this is a very sketchy outline. It is offered in the hope that not a few churches will realize that a part of their responsibility is to encourage their members to adopt a practice of daily Bible reading, which has in so many instances been abandoned in dis- couragement because no one has undertaken to give guidance in what is admittedly a problem fraught with real difficulties. But the rewards obtained are far beyond the ef- Our relief work began something like the mission work in India in 1899. Today we have missions there. It all began with mate- rial aid. In 1920 the M.C.C. was called into being. It was motivated by the love of Christ; nevertheless, it was material help. People in India were starving and we had plenty. Why not give? We have given often before but now we are beginning to ask more and more about the value of material aid. What is the good of it all? We want to know whether we are really doing kingdom work or are we just distributing bread? Is there a relation between a loaf of bread and the Bread of Life? Are we just feeding people who will soon be hungry again? The clothing is worn out; the shoes are worn out. Who knows — I don’t and I hope it isn’t that way, but who knows whether the whole setup in Germany will be alasted again, and there will be plenty of :rouble. But that does not keep us from go- ing ahead, because we do believe that there is a definite relation in supplying the physi- :al needs of a person and the spiritual needs. We have learned from experience in the past thirty years that “It is one of the most beauti- ful compensations of life that no man can sin- :erely try to help another without helping himself.” Or the poet who said: forts expended. — From the “Bible Society Record.” American Bible Society- Hosts of Americans are indisposed to taking life seriously. “There is a destiny that makes thy broth- er; None goes his way alone, All that we send into the lives of others Comes back into our own.” We are waking up to this fact. Somehow we have come to the place where we are no longer puzzled with Jesus’ words, “Unless you lose your life you will not gain it.” The punishment for trying to hold onto one’s own life is that we lose it. Thank God that we have people who smile with rejoicing at the depth of that wisdom and meaning. We have understood that mystery. This growth that has come in our brother- hood through service and giving, and believe me, it is a growing program — didn’t come overnight. It has all resulted in a common understanding of Jesus’ words, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” But you see in all this we are still thinking in terms of tangible things when we give. Things we can lay our hands on, things we can put a price on. The question is: How is that re- lated to the spiritual? There are some who would claim that that is our dilemma. But we are not in a dilemma. We are on a little bit uncertain ground. In one respect we are not as sure as we once were. In another re- spect we are much more sure. Some time ago Orie Miller said several years ago, as far as the M.C.C. was concerned, we saw the road ahead of us. It seemed to be a straight road and we knew where we were going. We could tell the brotherhood what we wanted. But now we say there is a curve, there is a bend somewhere ahead, and we don’t know what comes after we have made the bend. We only know that there is a bend in the road, and we know that we have to go care- fully. I think one of the reasons for this bend, this curve, is that we have deliberately at- tempted to bring this “dilemma” upon our- selves. The “dilemma” of trying to combine the spiritual and the physical. I have heard it said, the M.C.C. just isn’t missionary- minded, the M.C.C. does not evangelize. We would like to be a mission outpost wherever we go. There is the other side which says, Now what is the big idea? Haven’t we got in every church, hasn’t the General Confer- ence, haven’t the Mennonite Brethren in Christ, all the others — haven’t they all got their missionary societies? And what is the purpose of that mission society if it is not to find mission places and to support the mis- sionaries and to win converts? Let us be businesslike in the work of the church. Sure- ly the Lord wants us to be business-minded. So we will divide the work. We will have our missionary societies. We will have our organization and our channels which go out for spiritual witness. And now let us help the M.C.C. with relief and not mix the two so much. You just go out and feed them and shelter them and move the refugees, and if necessary, give them a loan, but let’s keep the two separate. Here we are pointing to the two extremes that we have in our brother- hood. They may not exist in one conference, and I doubt if they exist in any one local church, but they do exist when you look at the entire brotherhood. The women who were responsible for the wording of this subject deserve a medal. They deserve credit for thinking through to this point. How does this aspect of our women’s work fit into kingdom work ? They have gone that far. I wish we were all right along with them. Not just to stand along and give a dollar not caring what happens to it. What does happen to the sewing circles — to the women who gather and sew garments, blankets, and send them out? Let me present it both, at this end the giver, or shall we sav the participant, and the other end where it is received, and try to interpret the fact that the garment is given and that it is received. Outwardly and historically the story ends there. But look, first of all the person here at home heard about it, or read about it. That is step number one — someone heard about it. Step nurqber two— he begins to think about it. Shall I send one dollar or five? Well, I will think about it. Maybe I’ll wait and see how many others respond, or maybe there will be another appeal and then I’ll know whether it’s a strong one or not, if they call out once it’s not so important. So he thinks about it, he turns it over in his mind. He MISSIONS SECTION A Spiritual Interpretation of the Work of the Sewing Circles [A condensed report of the talk addressed to the delegates of the Associated Sewing Circles of the South Central district at their session on Thursday afternoon, Aue. 16, 1951 at Hesston, Kansas.] 6 By Peter Dyck 40 GOSPEL HERALD January 8, 1952 may talk about it to his family — what about this appeal? Shall we do something about it? You see he heard, now it’s beginning to work in him. But he is still thinking in terms — shall I part with ten dollars or shall I keep it? Shall I give this garment, or shall I not give it? It is still, as far as he is con- cerned, a matter of tangible things, material aid. Finally, he comes to a decision. No one can tell anything by looking at him. He has made the decision. I am going to. There is a real parallelism there to what happens in every life that commits himself to Christ. First he hears, then he thinks and wonders and talks about it maybe to his relatives, but finally there must come a clear decision. I am going to. Yes, I am going to. I am go- ing to give ten dollars. I am going to the sewing circle. I am going to make a quilt. (Distributing quilts is my specialty. They always fit. Every time I think of quilts I think of the thousands of lovely quilts you women have made, and that I have had the privilege of distributing. Even aprons I couldn’t always make fit, but a quilt, it al- ways fits. And the people are always happy.) Step number three, the person decides, I am going to. That is a very important step. When that person decides, he must also fol- low it up with step number four: do some- thing about it. Now he has decided. We hope he has prayed about it as he made his decision, and now he goes out to do some- thing about it. There comes the real value in the deepening of each individual’s spirit- ual life — when everything has resulted in action. She goes to the quilting. He gives his dollars to the child. The child brings the bundle. The family must think about it literally in the privilege that is ours. I may give a Christmas bundle and share it with some child in Europe or South America, and the joy is great. When one begins to give to the Lord, these material gifts become a spirit- ual matter. The Old Testament says we owe a tenth to the Lord. That is not giving — that is just paying our debts. What goes beyond that, that is sacrifice. It doesn’t begin to be a sacrifice, a love offering, until we begin to give with a full heart. The widow that gave two mites gave more than the rich man be- cause she gave proportionately more. There is the man who says, “Oh, I give liberally; isn’t that better than giving a tenth?” “I give liberally!” How much do you give, brother? “Well, I don’t keep track of it. I don’t be- lieve in letting the left hand know what the right hand does.” That isn’t what the Bible says at all. It isn’t muddled, and it doesn’t want us Christians to be muddled about our stewardship. It doesn’t mean that I myself shouldn’t know what I give out to the Lord’s work. It means that I shouldn’t let my neigh- bor know what I have given. I shouldn’t tell anyone else that I have given so much, so that I will receive credit, or perhaps have it re- turned to me again. The brother who thinks that he is liberal will probably learn to his dismay, if he keeps an account, that he is not even giving a tenth. That is very much like MISSIONS SECTION the man who owes twenty-five dollars at the garage. He goes to the garageman and says, “My friend, I’ll tell you what. I got your statement, and I’ll give you ten dollars as a gift.” What would the garageman say? He would say, “No, thanks, you pay your bill first, and then we’ll talk about gifts.” We can’t fool the Lord. The Lord will not be mocked. We owe Him a certain portion of our income. Let’s be sure that we are at least paying the Old Testament debt, and not think that we are liberal until we know how much we are giving. In the New Testament spirit we ought to go far beyond that. All this comes as we participate in sewing circles, as we begin to feel the joy of sharing and giving and going far beyond the tenth. When the cargo goes out, someone on the other end receives it. You will find in Europe a large There Are Lands By Robert C. Landes There are lands that lie across the blue Pacific, That are calling men to come across the sea, Men that listen to our God and then obey Him, Men that say sincerely, “Here am I; send me.” Why do some refuse to listen to the Greatest ? If He calls there’s nought to do but to obey. So go to it with a heart that longs for fullness. Yo.u will find life’s greatest meaning on the way. Cast aside your worldly pleasures— they are worthless. Help to take the Message into every land. And when service on this lowly earth is ended, You’ll be walking by our Master, hand in hand. Bluffton, Ohio. proportion of people who are bitter and sorry for themselves; what are you going to do about that? One thing is almost certain. To send a man over there to stand in the market square and call the German people to re- pentance when they are the ones that de- stroyed their cities (in eighteen minutes the American armies dropped bombs on one city and killed 22,000 people); now you call the people to repentance, and the moment it comes to light that you are an American they have all the associations of that horrible night when the bombs were dropped. They say, “Our women and children and old people and our institutions were destroyed and now you come and talk repentance to us !” We cannot go and say, “Now listen, folks, do be patient; I did not drop the bombs. I am an American, but I am not guilty.” They have heard that before. They reply, “No, you didn’t do it. The fellow who did it we shot down, but your country did it!” It is very difficult, my friends, to go out there and preach. How did we get a foothold in Ger- many to preach at all? How did we get so far that we now have men even taking their summer, or a month, to witness? How is it that it is even worth while to send these brethren over for just one month? And they come empty-handed. They don’t bring Christmas bundles. How did we get that far? This is what the sewing circles ought to hear — it is because we went first with parcels. Now you can go there with a Bible. I know that some do not like that long ap- proach. We want to go there direct. We want to go and make converts — and get thrown out. Jesus was never so impatient. If there ever was a man that took the long view, it certainly was Jesus. How patiently He ministered. With all power in His hands He could have been much more spectacular in the eyes of the world than He was. He wanted to redeem men. The ultimate pur- pose of our whole program is to redeem men and women. We do wrong if we are impatient about it and do not go the way of the Lord. If the door is open so that the people -who are cynical, bit- ter, or who have the attitude that the world owes them a living; if these people are the least ready to receive a tin of pork and beans from us, even though they do not appreciate it, then we are under solemn obligation to give them pork and beans. We give them in the name of Christ, and in a spirit which will make them hungry and thirsty for spiritual help. That is exactly what has happened in Germany and in other parts of the world. After we have gone in, after the clothing which you women have made in your sew- ing circles, after we have been out there and distributed them, the people have come back and wanted to know why. You are not the first ones who have asked for a spiritual in- terpretation. You are not the first ones to say why. Is it worth it? What is the motive behind it? On the other end they are also asking why. Why did you come? Now the doors are open. In Puerto Rico, churches are established. In Belgium the mission work is going ahead; in London there is a spiritual ministry; in Italy, in Germany, in places where food and clothing are no longer dis- tributed. How did we ever get so far in such a short time? If we had gone to all of these places in any other way we could not have | done it. The Lord has blessed. We could not go into a new territory and simply preach. We have to prepare the ground before we can preach and be accepted. People have to become confident. They need a certain amount of trust that when we give we do it in the name of Christ, and not for political reasons. Here is an illustration of what happens when you are a little too much in a hurry. I believe we can see it in the one hundred and fourteen refugees whom we had the questionable privilege of transporting to Para- guay. The Hutterites located in Paraguay, in their concern to help other children, built a whole row of houses and schools and dor- i mitories. Then they offered to take and care for German children. But they said, “No! 'ill January 8, 1952 GOSPEL HERALD 41 You have destroyed our country; you have wiped out the prime of our young men, and now you are going to come and take our children.” They tried to assure them that that wasn’t the motive. It was to help them, but Germany said, No, and they put their foot down. Orphans are not going to be taken out. And the Paraguayan Hutterite brethren were very depressed. They already had two men out on the field working, and so they switched to refugees, and ordered their men to bring refugees. They showed pictures of the way they would live in Para- guay. They said, “Are you interested in liv- ing as the Hutterites do? Sharing all things? You can have your own tooth brush, but be- yond that not too much. We have all things in common. The children will go to a com- mon school, the women will work, and we will all work at common projects all day, all year, all our life. And before we go to bed we all gather and if a brother or sister has said anything about anybody, that they know might do a little harm, then they are obliged to go to the person and say so openly. At no time do they go to bed unless everything is out in the open, and no one withholds any- thing from anyone else. Are you prepared for that sort of life?” “Yes, yes, with all of our hearts!” One hundred and fourteen and more came flocking. There was a Turk, a Jewish rabbi, a priest, a glamour woman painted like an Indian. We asked, “Are these your converts?” This group persuaded the two delegates that they were in all sincerity. Those one hundred and fourteen were in a desperate situation. They were in need. They were down and out. And they made every promise. We took them on the ship. Things began to disappear. This had never happened before on four transports. When we landed there was quite a group of them ready to hop out. We told them Paraguay was a long way yet. You don’t get off here. And we had to post guards to keep them in at night. We finally got them on the train to go to Paraguay. As slowly as the trains move it was not difficult for them to jump off. The project was a failure. Do you see the psy- chology of man? When a man is hungry you cannot preach Christ to him. The relief worker must precede the missionary. I think it is the most wonderful spirit that our wom- en are showing when they are making it pos- sible for a good Samaritan to distribute in the name of Christ. They are as much a part of the ongoing program of the church as the evangelist who comes later on bringing only the Gospel message which they will then re- ceive. We can’t all go out and preach. We can’t all be evangelists. But the door is closed many times to the preacher and the evan- gelist unless someone has done what she could do beforehand, and that is to prepare garments. The women’s sewing circles are a definite part in our total church program, and of our relief program. I cannot imagine our church reaching out and witnessing with- out our women’s sewing circles. Moundridge, Kansas. There are three answers to prayer: Yes, No, and Wait. Baptisms in Bihar By Paul and Esther Kniss We have been having some wonderful ex- periences since we are down from Landour. The Lord has wonderfully led and blessed. After the workers’ conference we had a week of night meetings at Damadohar (the Oraon village back of Latehar). A number of the people expressed a desire to become Chris- tians, but no one wants to venture out first, lest the others back out and they be persecut- ed. Following these meetings, I camped from Monday to Saturday with Topono and our new evangelist, Rawel, at Kone, seven miles south of Latehar. We discovered a small near-by village of six Munda families. We had our night meetings there with Topono as the speaker. He feels very much at home with them and their language, being a Mun- da himself. The response was so good that we felt we should make a concentrated effort there; so the next week Topono and his wife, Salome, and their two smaller children, and Esther and I came out, with our cook who, incidentally, loves to give his testimony, and a man to carry water and watch the camp. We were given a good welcome and found a continued interest in the message. About the eighth day of our second tour here a few of the men said they wanted to become Chris- tians. There were a number of doubts in their minds that caused them to hold back, but in answer to prayers, the Lord removed them one by one. Last Sunday was a day we shall never for- get. Milton Vogts, John Beachys, Allen Shirks, and Henry Beckers, and some Indian workers came here to Narasgarh to witness the bap- tism of eight precious souls — five men and three women. Bro. Vogt officiated. Two more wanted baptism, but one took ill with malaria a few hours before the service, and the other could not be present either. To- day, a week later, those two were baptized and we also had a service in which all the converted parents dedicated their children to the Lord. We have felt ever so definitely, during all our work here, that God was working among us in answer to prayer. We thank Him for our prayer supporters. These people are a joy and inspiration to know. They are a happy, friendly people, and best of all, they Topono and his family, the village evangelist of Bihar who went on tour with the Knisses. have a real hunger for the Word. They all come out to every meeting. They are now diligently trying to learn the Lord’s Prayer. They seem eager to learn the answers to the questions in C. K. Lehman’s “Junior Cate- chism” from which we are teaching them. But they are very poor, simple people. They know so little about the Word, and about Christianity. They need your prayers. There are two Christian families a mile and a half away, and five families three and a half miles away who have no shepherd, and so want to worship with the people here. This will make a congregation of eleven families. It is imperative that we get some- one to shepherd these people. Topono is go- ing to stay with them at least a couple months or until we can get someone else. He will not only be their preacher, but also their teacher. There is only one man in the village who can read and write. The others all want to learn. So there will be an hour or two a day of school for children, and a night school for adults. Besides enabling them to read God’s Word, this school will present an ex- cellent opportunity for Christian teaching. They have already had a couple days of school — out on the threshing floor. At night the men sit around a fire with their slates, and in the daytime their children use the same slates. They are all beginning from the bottom; so there is just one grade. These folks tell of another small Munda village about ten miles away, and asked us to go and work with them. It is “back in the sticks,” inaccessible by bicycle or oxcart; so Topono and I are going by foot tomorrow, with one of these men as a guide, to see what the possibilities are of work among them. These babes in Christ need your prayers. Narasgarh, via Latehar, India. Sacred or Secular “What kind of wood is your pulpit made of?” asked my farmer brother as I went to my first church. “Oak,” I said. He replied, “My plow handles are of oak also. We han- dle the same kind of wood.” My brother was right. Plowing is as sac- red a business as the writing and delivery of sermons. The merchant has just as sacred a calling as the minister or priest. Does that shock you? It ought not when you think it over. A minister is merely a layman who has been set apart for a special work. In the truest sense, the person who follows his na- tural bent in his lifework and who does it with the passion to help his fellow men is doing a sacred work. Some things we are inclined to call sacred and some secular, but should there be a dif- ference? Are we not told to do all things to the glory of God? I believe it was the late Elbert Hubbard who said: “Remember the week days to keep them holy!” — Dr. Hol- land, in the “Prairie Farmer.” MISSIONS SECTION 42 GOSPEL HERALD January 8, 1952 Women’s Day of Prayer There has been a growing interest in the observance of a Day of Prayer. The following program has been planned by the women’s missionary organization in answer to this need. The second week in February is designated as a desir- able week during which this service could be held. Time: Some groups may find it possible to set an entire meet- ing for a specific Day of Prayer service. Other groups may find it advisable to use the devotional period of a regular sewing day, lengthening the period, thus giving more time for inter- cession. Or it may be some would want to meet in smaller groups or meet for a common period of meditation and then divide into smaller units for prayer. Or yet another idea might be to have the local sewing committee suggest to women’s and girls’ Sunday-school class groups who have class meetings to use some of their time in intercession. Once someone has become responsible for calling and planning the opportunity for united prayer, it may be left as spontaneous an experience as possible. The leadership is most often the miss- ing factor. I’m sure we all as groups, more or less, feel impelled to pray. Scripture Reading: Phil. 1:3-11. Song: ’Tis the Blessed Hour of Prayer. Meditations: Suggested subjects for meditation to be assigned previously to members for discussion at the prayer service. (Expressions chosen from Paul’s Philippian prayer) 1. That love may abound 2. That they may grow in knowledge 3. That they may have practical Christian discernment 4. That they may be sincere and filled with the fruits of righteousness Prayer of Thanksgiving: Since we appreciate and love To be in the family of God; To experience His daily presence; To realize our sins forgiven; To walk in newness of life; To possess His written Word; To fellowship with His people; To witness to His saving grace; To enjoy the blessings of home, family, love, health, food, and clothing Let us pour out our hearts in thanksgiving. Song: My Faith Looks Up to Thee. Prayer for one another in the group: More holiness of life; More clearness of purpose and consecration to His will; More of the Holy Spirit to live humble, obedient lives; Burdens of a personal nature the group may want to share Let there be prayers of confession and aspiration. Prayer for the local fellowship of believers: Weaker members; Strengthening of spiritual life of the whole congregation; Work of the pastor, teachers, committees For sick, invalids, and old Let prayer be made for the fellowship of common be- lievers. Song: I Love Thy Church, O God. Prayer for the Mennonite Church in the world. Pray for all those whom your church has sent out. Pray for all those who have gone out from your congregation. Pray for those whom you personally know. Pray for all the interests of the church: the educational, publication, and institutional, our hospitals, children’s homes, and homes for aged. Pray for all those in relief and Voluntary Service work. Let prayer be made for an effective witness. These are general suggestions and need to be made personal and challenging. The Prayer Guide will be helpful in giving the leader a comprehensive view of the church’s activities. Song: The Whole Wide World for Jesus. Prayer for a lost world. For the leaders of our government. For the leaders of other lands. For those who suffer because of persecution and the multi- tude of unshepherded Christians. For peace among the nations. For those who suffer because of war and famine and those who have not been touched with the Gospel. For the growing younger churches throughout the world. For the host of faithful missionaries at work throughout the world. And there shall be one fold and one shepherd. “When they know, they CARE, When they care, they PRAY— When they pray— they GIVE!” Offering: Any offering that might be taken during this service will be considered a special offering and may be sent through the local circle designated as “Prayer Day Offering for Bibles.” Song: Blest Be the Tie That Binds. Benediction. Missions Editorial A Laymen’s Conference on Evangelism April 5, 6, and 7, 1952, are the dates select- ed by the committee for a church-wide con- ference on Lay Evangelism to be held on the campus of Goshen College. The committee appointed conjointly by the Executive Com- mittee of the Mennonite Board of Missions and Charities and by the Goshen College Biblical Seminary is composed of three min- isters and five unordained brethren active in the work of the church. In the preliminary discussions the Biblical basis of laymen’s activity in the church was considered. It was noted that already in the time of Moses “laymen” in the camp prophesied. Some objected because of the irregularity of the procedure, but Moses ap- proved. (See Num. 11:26-31.) Jethro advised Moses to enlist help in carrying on the work instead of trying to do it all alone. In the New Testament there are numerous instances of witnessing activity by the so-called ordi- nary member with no special or official sanc- tion. In Acts 8:1 we find the most forthright statement of all when we read that “they were all scattered abroad . . . except the apostles,” and then we read that “they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.” People were personal workers and, then as now, the life and char- acter of the individual was the best argument for the Christian faith. Paul, the ordained apostle, enlisted the help of many people. We read of “Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, who risked their necks for my life” (Rom. 16:3, 4a, R.S.V.) and “Epaphroditus my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier, and your messenger and minister to my need. . . . He nearly died for the work of Christ, risking his life to complete your service to me” (Phil. 2:25, 30, R.S.V.). Paul mentions the labor of Tychicus, the faithful minister, and Onesimus, a faithful and beloved broth- er. He worked with Barnabas and Mark; he was accompanied by Luke, the physician; Philemon, a fellow laborer, and Zenus, the lawyer. We considered the story of lay activity in the church during the centuries since the time of the apostles. In the first several cen- turies the Gospel spread from person to per- son. It was a spontaneous expansion and the work of the church was done by the whole membership. January 8, 1952 4.3 When the church became officially accept- ed by the state; when the church became “imperialized and the empire was ecdesi- ized”; when church government developed more and more into a centralization of power in Rome, with increasing authority for the clergy and less and less for the laity to do, the concept of members going everywhere witnessing and preaching went completely out of fashion. A great gulf thus became fixed between clergy and laity. This meant the almost total eclipse of the church on the New Testament pattern. Only the Reformation again brought back lay-witnessing and soul-winning into its rightful place. Certainly our Anabaptist and Swiss Brethren forefathers did not depend on officially appointed or ordained men to carry the load. Everyone who was a disciple was busy winning others to discipleship. Only when this is accepted as the norm and the ideal for a church can she come into her own as the body of Christ on earth. It is sincerely hoped that the conference planned for next April will point the way and give some help in discovering more of the lay-witnessing potential in all our con- gregations.—J. D. Graber. BALODGAHAN, VIA DHAMTARI, M.P., INDIA Dear Friends in the Homeland: Greetings to you from India in the name of Him who loves us and all who will come to Him. Praise God for the many from this land that have heard His call and accepted His love. We greatly enjoyed a visit from Bro. and Sister Vogt, Elva Mae, and Myra Jean the latter part of October. On Oct. 28, Bro. Vogt preached for the congregation here. We also enjoyed a brief visit from the Beckers and their two little daughters. The congregation here observed Thanks- giving Day on Nov. 14. We had a good service and an offering of two hundred and thirty rupees. Truly we all have much for which to be grateful. Just now the people here are thankful for the best harvest they have had for a number of years. This assures them of food. After the famine of 1919-20 the small brick church in the village was too small for this growing congregation; so a new stone church was built and dedicated on Nov. 14, 1926. On Nov. 18, 1951, the congregation cele- brated the Silver Jubilee of the dedication. The church was beautifully decorated in good Indian taste. The program began with a procession of about two hundred who marched through the village singing. There were special songs, a history of the church, and a sermon. A letter from Bro. A. C. Brunk, who was pastor of the congregation at the time of dedication, was read. Bro. J. N. Kaufman, who preached the dedicatory sermon, also sent a letter which was read at the service. Bro. D. A. Sonwani, who grew up here in Balodgahan, also sent greetings. GOSPEL HERALD These three letters were very much appre- ciated. Approximately thirty who attended the dedication were also present for the Jubilee. A number of Indian brethren and sisters as well as a few missionaries who were present in 1926 have now gone home to heaven. Quite a few who were children when the church was dedicated attended this service as fathers and mothers and leaders in the church. In the evening there was a common meal of rice and curry for all members and guests. A spirit of harmony prevailed and we all en- joyed the fellowship very much. As the four hundred and thirty-three of us sat there and ate together, we were grateful for the food, but more grateful that we were one in Christ Jesus. Remember this congregation as you pray. Bro. Sukhlal is pastor of this church and the responsibilities are many. We are getting ready to leave on furlough. Bro. and Sister Royal Bauer are here and we have been relieved of our station duties. The Lord willing, we hope to sail from Bombay January 8, 1952, which is just seven and one- half years after we left New York for this term. This term has been different from our other terms, but God has graciously giv- en us grace for every trial. There will be new adjustments for us when we get home, but we trust the Lord for the future. We are looking forward to seeing many of you next year sometime, if Jesus tarries. It is very cold these nights but the wom- en of the Women’s Home can go to bed and sleep warm because of your gracious gift for their blanket fund. The money came and most of it has been spent and the blankets given out. In a little thanks- giving prayer, one of the Indian sisters prayed affectionately for the donors of this generous gift for them. She prayed that they (the widows) may also be will- ing to give of their small earnings as the sisters in America have given to them. They asked me to tell my friends in Amer- ica “thank you” for the gift. I, too, say “thank you” and God bless you for your generosity. May the Lord bless and keep you, and will you remember us in your prayers as we journey home. Nov. 4, 1951. Ida Beare, The Coptic Orthodox Church is an in- digenous African church with headquarters in Alexandria. It is the state religion of Ethiopia. At the present time in Uganda several communities have petitioned to be admitted into the Coptic Orthodox Church. These communities of pagan tribesmen were converted through the effort of foreign mis- sionaries. The Christian Century says, “It is to be hoped that the missionaries will not oppose the transfer of these Ugandans from one Christian communion to another. It is a natural step and one for which missionaries should prepare elsewhere in Africa.” It fur- ther comments that this shift from Protes- tantism to the Coptic faith is not only an out- cropping of nationalism but also proof that Africans are fast developing away from prim- itive tribalism into a new sense of commu- nity. CHURCH CORRESPONDENCE BLOOMFIELD, MONTANA (Red Top Congregation) Dear Herald Readers: Our annual Bible conference, with Elmer Hershberger, from Minnesota, and Martin Weaver, from Penn- sylvania, as speakers, was greatly appreciated. Lloyd Hostetler and Dave Nissley took six steers in a truck to the Northern Light Mis- sion in Minnesota for their winter’s meat supply. We had an inspiring North Central district Missionary Day program at Red Top Nov. 17, 18. We enjoyed the fellowship with the many ministers and others from various com- munities. May God bless you all. Mrs. John Chupp. DETROIT LAKES, MINNESOTA (Lake Region Congregation) Dear Readers of the Gospel Herald: We can truly say that the Lord has been good to us. This past summer we had a very suc- cessful Bible school. Bro. Earnest Kauffman from Beemer, Nebr., was the instructor. In September we reorganized our Sunday school with the following elected: Supt., Chris Grieser; Asst. Supt., Wilford Erb; Secy., Dwayne Grieser; Asst. Secy., Don Grieser; Chor., Amos Oswald; Asst. Chor., Mary Ann Hershberger. Our revival meetings were held Oct. 11-21 with Bro. Ernest Garber in charge. There were several reconsecrations and all of us were strengthened in faith by the stirring messages. We had our Bible conference the forepart of November with Bro. Jacob Rittenhouse, Lansdale, Pa., as instructor. Several members were able to attend the District Mission meeting which was held at Bloomfield, Mont., Nov. 18. Bro. Harve Hauder has been ill for some time. We hope he will soon be able to attend church services again. Our congregation has taken over the work of the Sunday school at Horn School for the present. We ask an interest in your prayers. Lois Erb. READING, PENNSYLVANIA (347 S. Seventh Street) Christian greetings to the Herald Readers. We are happy to write about the work at this place — the Lord has been blessing us in many 44 January 8, 1952 ways. In June the Bible school was held with good attendance. Later on in the summer 20 of the boys and girls were sent out into coun- try homes. They all enjoyed that and came back with many interesting reports. Oct. 28 Bro. and Sister Mahlon Hess were with us. Bro. Hess preached and Sister Hess gave a short talk to the children. We ap- preciated their visit so much. Oct. 7 our evangelistic meetings began in charge of Luke L. Horst. Good interest was shown and visitation work was done in the community. During these meetings a man 74 years of age accepted the Lord. He had a heart condition and was very weak at times, but the Lord gave him strength to attend our services on a Sunday morning where he open- ly confessed his Lord. Later he was taken to the hospital again, and it was there that Bro. Graybill baptized him. He only lived about two months longer before he was called home. Dec. 13 funeral services were held for him. Our ministering brethren had charge, Bro. Luke A. Hurst preached the funeral sermon and a group of teachers from our Sunday school did the singing. Earl Wise, the blind young man that has been attending our services so regularly, was baptized and received into the church Nov. 18. He is very happy and ready to give a testimony any time. This gives us courage to press onward in the work, and we want to be “stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.” (I Cor. 15:58) We expect to give out Christmas packages among the needy during this Christmas sea- son. We do appreciate the Christmas donation sent by the Millwood congregation. Thank you. Come to visit us. Dec. 22, 1951. Mrs. Elmer Horst. ALLENSVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA Dear Christian friends: The Lord contin- ues to shower His blessings upon us. Bro. Paul Roth of Masontown, Pa., delivered the morning message on Dec. 23, and Bro. Erie Renno of the Locust Grove Church brought us a Sunday evening message. Our Bishop, Bro. Raymond Peachey, was engaged in counsel meeting and communion services in the various churches under his care through the months of October and Novem- ber. These included Rockville, Mattawana, and Otelia. Sunday evening, Dec. 23, the time was giv- en to the singing of Christmas songs by the young people. The following evening the same group sang at the county jail and en- deavored to bring cheer to folks in their homes by singing Christmas carols through a loud speaking system as they drove through town in a bus. Dec. 27 we witnessed a lovely wedding ceremony when Sister Sara Anna Peachey of this congregation and Donald Graybill of Juniata County were united in marriage. Bro. Donald Lauver and Bro. Raymond Peachey spoke briefly; Bro. Peachey performed the ceremony. GOSPEL HERALD FIELD NOTES (Continued) N.Y., at Casselman River Conservative Church, Grantsville, Md. Dec. 26: Phebe Yoder, on furlough from Tanganyika, at West Liberty Church, Win- dom, Kans. Dec. 27: Howard Hammer, Wooster, Ohio, to inter county M.Y.F. at Smithville. Dec. 30: E. B. Peachey, Belleville, Pa., at Conservative church, Grantsville, Md.; E. J. Stalter, Flanagan, 111., at Peoria, 111.; Gideon G. Yoder, Goshen, Ind., at West Union Church, Parnell, Iowa; LeRoy Lapp, V.S. worker, Topeka, Kans., at Perkasie, Pa.; Eugene and Luella Blosser, Goshen, Ind., at Perkasie, Pa.; Chester Osborne, Howard- Miami Church, Kokomo, Ind. Dec. 31: Ralph Malin, Malvern, Pa., at Perkasie, Pa.; Isaac M. Baer, Steel ton, Pa., at Manchester Church, Mt. Wolf, Pa.; Eugene and Luella Blosser, Plain Church, Lansdale, MENNONITE AID, INC. 1413 South Eighth Street Goshen, Indiana A plan whereby members of the Mennonite Church can share one another's burdens of Hospital, Surgical and Burial Aid expenses. Join now and help others so that in your distress you will receive help. This plan authorized by Mennonite General Conference. Write for information. Pa.; Linford Hackman, Carstairs, Alta., at Blooming Glen, Pa. Jan. 6: R. R. Smucker, Elkhart, Ind., at Fisher, 111. Jan. 10: Nevin Miller, Harrisonburg, Va., closes series on “How to Study the Bible” at Chicago Avenue, Harrisonburg. Jan. 12 and 13 are the dates for our Chris- tian Life Conference. This will be followed by three weeks of Bible school at the Locust Grove Church. Serving as instructors are Bro. Ross Metzler, Bro. Harold Brenneman, Bro. Nevin Bender and Bro. Paul Yoder. You are invited to join us in this season of study and fellowship. Dec. 28, 1951. Ida Kanagy. SHELDON, WISCONSIN Dear Herald Readers: Greetings in the blessed name of our Redeemer. Our revival services were held Oct. 21-28, during which one soul confessed the Lord as his Saviour, and a few others saw their need of a closer walk with Him. Bro. Martin Weaver from Annville, Pa., was the evangelist. We have now started our new church build- ing; the brethren have the foundation in. They are expecting to continue work on it in the spring. May the guidance of the Lord be sought and carried out, and may His bless- ing rest upon this work. Dec. 5, Bro. Hershberger, Detroit Lakes, Minn., was with us to conduct the prepara- tory and baptismal services. Then on Dec. 9, we again were privileged to commemorate the death and suffering of our Lord and Sa- viour. Dec. 11, our local ministers took charge of our annual reorganization of Sunday-school and church workers. Will you pray for the work in this part of the Lord’s vineyard? Mrs. Ralph Diller. TANGENT, OREGON Dear Herald Readers: Greetings in Jesus’ Name. The Lord has surely been good to us wherein we are glad. The result of our election this fall was that Merle Stutzman is our Sunday-school super- intendent; Wilmer Steckly, assistant superin- tendent; Sterling Roth, secretary and treas- urer; Urie Kenagy, Mission Board member. The Lord has blessed us with a number of visiting ministers this past year. Some of the most recent were Orrie Yoder from the Jew- ish Mission of Portland and Sanford Shetler of the Western Mennonite School. Bro. Henry Wolfer, our Bishop, has been faithful in meeting with us twice a month and attending our business meetings. The third Sunday of each month is an in- spiration to all of us. We divide into groups and have services in a number of homes in the community where the people are not able to get out to regular services. And there are three Convalescent Homes where we hold services, too. It gives us all a chance to wit- ness. We have had some response and a number of interesting contacts in our tract work; also from a near-by mission Sunday school. Al- though it is not directly under our church, we do have some members who are very muchi interested in this work. Two of our members are attending West- ern Mennonite School this year, and they re- port a very good school year. A number from our church attended the ; Mission Board and Minister’s meeting that: was held at Sheridan, Oreg., Dec. 4-7. The meetings were well attended and were in- spirational and edifying. Harold Reeder. MISSION NEWS (Continued) services are now being held at the new out- station, Pedro Garcia. The last few weeks she had been a surgical patient at the La Plata 1 Hospital. Her testimony was repeated at the hospital door as the pastor and his wife ac- companied her back to her room. A Bible Conference on the Holy Spirit will be held at the Columbia, Pa., Mission Jan. 26, 27, with Kenneth G. Good, Elida, Ohio, and Andrew Hartzler, Newport News, Va., as instructors. Bro. and Sister Eugene Blosser, on furlough : from China, filled a number of appointments I in Virginia during the holidays. Sister Barbara Eberly has terminated a serv- !| ice of a number of years at the Johnstown, j Pa., Mission. She is now attending Johns- 1 town Bible School. A qualified and conse- 1 crated sister is needed to take her place. Bro. Arthur Good, Reading, Pa., will preach at the Sunnyside Mission, Lancaster, Pa., at 7:30 p.m. on Jan. 13. GOSPEL HERALD 45 January 8, 195 2 BIRTHS "Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord" (Ps. 127:3a). Altlerfer. — To John and Betty Alderfer, Sel- lersville, Pa., a daughter, Rose Marie, Dec. 6, 1951. Allison. — To R. C. and Loretta (Yoder) Alli- son, Johnstown, Pa., a daughter, Caryn Marie, Dec. 12. 1951. Alwine. — To Merle and Mabel (Mast) Alwine, Atglen, Pa., a son, Donald Dean, Nov. 8, 1951. Augsburger. — To Fred and Carolyn (King) Augsburger, Sheldon, Wis., a daughter, Joyce Eileen, Dec. 15, 1951. Baker. — To Francis A. and Edna (Witmer) Baker, New Holland, Pa., a daughter, Barbara Ann, Dec. 4, 1951. Brubaker. — To Luke A. and Rachel (Kray- bill) Brubaker, Lancaster, Pa., a son, Jay Rich- ird, Dec. 12, 1951. Buckwalter. — To J. Harold and Helen (Stauf- fer) Buekwalter, Mt. Joy, Pa., a son, Allan Harold, Dec. 12. 1951. Buschert. — To Roy and Grace (Stauffer) Buschert, Carstairs, Alta., a son, David Duane, Jctober 24, 1951. Chupp. — To Menno and Delila (Troyer) 3hupp, Deder, Ethiopia, East Africa, a son, Randall Ray, Nov. 24, 1951. Chupp. — To Merl Dean and Carylin (Shaum) jhupp, Niles, Mich., a son, Craig Dean, Nov. 26, 1951. Derstine. — To Elwood and Irene (Souder) Derstine, Souderton, Pa., a son, Ray, Dec. 1, 1951. Eby. — To Clyde and Ruth (Good) Eb.v, Col- egeville, Pa., a son, James Arlin, Nov. 25, 1951. Eichorn. — To Floyd and Marnetta (Hooley) Hichorn, Sturgis, Mich., a daughter, Judy Ann, Vo v. 23, 1951. Erb. — To Walter and Stella (Gingrich) Erb, Frazee, Minn., a daughter, Verla Louise, Dec. 17. 1951. Hartman. — To Richard and Esther (Diller) Hartman, a son, Paul Edwin, Oct. 27, 1951. Heatwole. — To Lewis and Dora (Brunk) Heatwole, Elida, Ohio, a son, Carl Dean, Oct. 11. 1951. Hostetter. — To John .T., Jr., and Mildred (Hea- *ock) Hostetter, Harrisonburg, Va., a daughter, Cheryl Yvonne, Nov. 20, 1951. Kauffman. — To Daniel and Edith (Yoder) Kauffman, Hesston, Kans., a daughter, Salome Elaine, Dec. 17, 1951. King. — To Sanford E. and Zella (Yost) King, Hutchinson. Kans., a daughter, Julia Marie, Dec. 22. 1951. Leaman. — To Daniel W. and Ethel (Metzler) Leaman, Leacock, Pa., a son, Gerald Lee, Dec. 3, 1951. Linder. — To Ervin and Delphia (Nussbaum) Linder, Louisville, Ohio, a son, Richard Louis, Nov. 14, 1951. Linder. — To Leonard and Elsie (Rohrer) Lin- der, Louisville, Ohio, a daughter, Brenda Kay, Aug. 30, 1951. Martin. — To Harold E. and Cora (Martin) Martin, Hagerstown, Md., a son, Clifford Eu- gene. Dec. 15, 1951. Martin. — To John P. and M. Arlene (Sauder) Martin. Manheim, Pa., a daughter, Dawn Lyn- ette, Nov. 8, 1951. Martin. — To Joseph and Ruth (Clemmer) Martin, Lansdale, Pa., a daughter, Gail Yvonne, Nov. 25, 1951. Miller. — -To Manford D. and Beulah (Swartz) Miller, Albuquerque, N. Mex., a daughter, Judy Eileen, Nov. 20, 1951. Miller. — To Max L. and Mary (Hunsberger) Miller. Gulfport, Miss., a daughter, Carol Joyce, Dec. 13. 1951. Mininger. — To Norman and Kathryn (Leath- erman) Mininger, Quakertown, Pa., a daughter, Lois Ann, Nov. 20, 1951. Nissley. — To Lowell and Miriam (Brackbill) Nissley, Crystal Springs, Kans., a son. Dale Richard, Nov. 3, 1951. Reeder. — To Henry and Marjorie (Kropf) Reeder, Halsey, Oreg.. a son, Keith Edwin, Nov. 26, 1951. Schlegel. — To Lee and Dorothy (Troyer) Schlegel, Shickley, Nebr., a son, Daniel Lee, Dec. 8, 1951. Short. — To Cornelius and Bessie (Miller) Short, Archbold, Ohio, a daughter, Julie Ann, Dec. 12, 1951. Siebert. — To Clayton and Mabel (Weber) Sie- bert, Kitchener, Ont., a daughter, Sharon Eliza- beth, Dec. 9, 1951. Summers.- — To Allen and Sara (Smoker) Sum- mers, Oxford, Pa., a son, Richard Allen, Dec. 9, 1951. Swartzentruber. — To Melvin and Wilma (Swartz) Swartzentruber. Frederickstown, Ohio, a daughter, Nadene Kay, Dec. 15, 1951. Troyer. — To Ray and Joann (Kuhns) Troyer, Milford, Nebr., a son, Randy Ray, Oct. 27, 1951. Wess.— To Harold and Miriam (Maurer) Wess, Canton, Ohio, a daughter, Lee Ann Faye, Dec. 5, 1951. Wingard.— To Carl and Elsie (Smoker) Win- gard, Blue Ball, Pa., a son, Donald Carl. Dec. 16, 1951. Yoder. — To Carl V. and Martha (Diller) Yo- der, Elida, Ohio, a son, Keith Emerson, Dec. 9, 1951. Yoder. — To Everett B. and Iua (Yoder) Yo- der, West Liberty, Ohio, a son, Mark Allen, Aug. 1, 1951. Yoder. — To Melvin and Emma Jane (Yoder) Yoder, Belleville, Pa., a daughter, Melva Jane, Nov. 7, 1951. Yoder. — To Percy and Lois (Hershey) Yoder, Belleville, Pa., a son, Paul Hershey, Dec. 10, 1951. Yoder. — To Stanley P. and Helen (Hostetler) Yoder, Urbana, Ohio, a daughter, Dianne Kay, Aug. 24, 1951. Yoder. — To Wilmer and Marjorie (Arnett) Yoder, Garden City, Mo., a son, Roger Franklin, Nov. 25, 1951. MARRIAGES May the blessings of God be upon the homes established by the marriages here listed. A year's subscription to the Gospel Herald is given to those whose address is supplied by the officiating minister. Byers — Roth. — -Dean Ray Byers, Sheridan congregation, Sheridan, Oreg., and Carol Ann Roth, Fairview congregation, Albany, Oreg., by N. M. Birky at the Fairview Church Oct. 28, 1951. Coblentz — Byler.— -Orin Coblentz and Vera I. Byler, both of the Walnut Grove congregation, Hartville, Ohio, by Seth H. Byler, father of the bride, assisted by Henry Sommers and Clarence Longacher Nov. 22, 1951. Forry — High. — Richard R. Forry, Lancaster, Pa., Mellingers congregation, and Norma M. High, Lancaster, Pa., Sunny Side congregation, by Jacob T. Harnish at the home of the bride Dec. 22, 1951. Gerig — Sherfy.- — Clarence Ralph Gerig and Doris Lavelle Sherfy, both of the Fairview con- gregation, Albany, Oreg., by N. M. Birky at the Fairview Church Nov. 13, 1951. Habig — Hawkins. — Bernard Ha-big, Central congregation, Elida, Ohio, and Martha Hawkins, First Mennonite congregation, Meadville, Pa., by Raymond L. Kramer at the First Mennonite Church Nov. 25, 1951. Kauffman — Kauffman. — Donald D. Kauffman, Alto, Mich., and Ila B. Kauffman, Kalona, Iowa, by Edward Diener at the East Union Church Aug. 19, 1951. Klassen — Horst. — William Klassen, Bergtha- ler Mennonite Church. Homewood, Man., and Marilyn Horst, Bethel congregation, Wayland, Iowa, by D. D. Klassen, father of the groom, assisted by E. S. Mullet at the Wayland Men- nonite Church Dec. 21, 1951. Martin — Hege. — Leroy L. Martin and Edna E. Hege, both of the Reiff congregation, Hagers- town, Md.. by Moses K. Horst at the home of the bride Dec. 6, 1951. Martin — Martin. — Grant B. Martin, Reiff con- gregation, and Retha E. Martin, Stouffer congre- gation, Washington Co., Md., by Moses K. Horst at the home of the bride Dec. 12. 1951. Otto — Mast. — Darrel Denton Otto, Springs, Pa., and Ruth Anna Mast, Oley, Pa., by Walter C. Otto at the Oley Mennonite Church Oct. 13, 1951. Rice — Leathennan. — Noah Rice, Jr., and Al- verda Leatherman, both of the Deep Run con- gregation, Deep Run, Pa., at the home of the officiating minister, Wilson Overholt. Rohrer — Huber. — C. Kendig Rohrer, Quarry- ville, Pa., Mechanics Grove congregation, and Kathryn A. Huber, East Petersburg, Pa.. East Petersburg congregation, by Jacob T. Harnish at the home of the bride Dec. 8, 1951. Rudolph — Petre. — David W. Rudolph, Stouf- fer congregation, and Naomi H. Petre, Reiff congregation, Washington Co., Md., by Moses K. Horst at the home of the bride Dec. 19, 1951. Swartly — White. — Lester Swartly and Carol White, both of the Menahga, Minn., congrega- tion, by Clyde Allebach at the home of the bride Oct. 13, 1951. Troyer — Hamsher. — Alvin Troyer, Farmers- town congregation, and Oletha Rene Hamsher, Walnut Creek congregation by Paul R. Miller at the home of the -bride Dec. 1, 1951. Tyson — Birky. — Erwin W. Tyson and Ruth Alice Birky, both of the Hopewell congregation, Kouts. Ind., by Chester Osborn at the Hopewell Mennonite Church, Nov. 3, 1951. OBITUARIES May the sustaining grace and comfort of our Lord bless those who are bereaved. Ash. — John, son of Benjamin and Mary (Hos- tettler) Ash, was born Aug. 17, 1872; died Oct. 13, 1951, aged 79 y. 1 m. 26 d. He was sick only a short time but had been suffering from sugar diabetes for quite a while. On July 4, 1912, he was married to Sara Burkholder, who passed away 9 years ago. To this union were born 8 sons (Perry, Wilmington, Del. ; Norman, Bridgeville, Del. ; Orval and Adam, Greenwood, Del. ; Menno and Frank, New Castle, Del. ; Roy, Milford, Del. ; Daniel and David, Ridgeway, S.C.), and one daughter (Myra, Bridgeville, Del.), all of whom survive. Also surviving him are 10 grandchildren and one brother (Jonas Ash. Springs, Pa.). The family moved to Green- wood from western Maryland in 1927. John was a member of the Tressler Mennonite Church and was present at communion two weeks prior to his death. He was of a quiet disposition and had made his home with his daughter Myra since the death of his wife. Funeral services were held Oct. 16, at the St. Johnstown Methodist Church near Greenwood in charge of R. E. Layton and Bro. Walter Campbell. Bell. — Samuel W. was born Nov. 26, 1859. near Pottstown, Pa. ; died Nov. 22, 1951 ; aged 91 y. 11 m. 26 d. He was a faithful member of the Pottstown Mission for 17 years. His devo- tion to his Lord and the church was outstanding. Since his eightieth birthday he had perfect at- tendance at Sunday school and church services for 11 years, except the last Sunday of 1950. He is survived by 3 daughters. Funeral serv- ices were held Nov. 26, 1951, Elmer G. Kolb and Maurice E. Hoover officiating. Interment was made in Mt. Zion Cemetery. Brooks. — Richard Alfred was born in Peoria, 111., Mar. 10, 1930. He started to attend Sunday school as a small boy at the Pleasant Hill Church, attending there 5 years. Later he with his parents moved to Mildred, Minnesota ; there he attended the Mildred Mission Church. At this place he accepted Christ as his Saviour under the guidance of the pastor, John H. Wiens. After 2 years time the family moved to Glendale, Ariz. ; here Richard was baptized by C. I. Tucker, pastor of the First Baptist Church, and received into the fellowship of his church. When the Sunnyslope Mennonite Church was started in Arizona, he was a very willing work- er. assisting in building the church building and the pastor's home. Several years later the fam- ily moved back to La Rose. 111., where Richard, with other members of the family, transferred their church membership to the Metamora Men- nonite Church. His. life came to a close in Korea on Sept. 12, 1951. Those surviving are his parests, 2 brothers (Ronald and Allen), and his sister Carolyn. The Christian teaching re- ceived in his home and in the Sunday schools he attended seemed to have made an indelible impression upon his life and character. 46 GOSPEL HERALD January 8, 1952 Detwieler. — Mattie Ann was born to Jonathan and Salome (Zook) King April 22, 1870; com- pleted her life on earth Dec. 1, 1051 ; aged 81 y. 7 m. 9 d. She joined the Mennonite church at an early age and was a faithful member until her death. Dec. 15, 1892, she was married to Jacob L. Detwieler and for 50 years and 11 months this union continued under the approv- ing smile of God. Her oldest son Lewis and her husband predeceased her. Surviving her are 2 sons (Roy, Logan, Ohio, and Arthur, West Lib- erty, Ohio), 4 daughters (Nellie — Mrs. Freeman Fisher, DeGraff ; Pearl — Mrs. Chauncey Smuck- er, Hesston, Kan. ; Martha — Mrs. Oliver Byler, West Liberty, Ohio ; and Dorothy who has bravely taken the responsibility of caring for her mother), 16 grandchildren, 11 great-grandchil- dren, and 7 step-grandchildren. Services were held at the home on Dec. 4, in charge of Stanley Shenk and at the South Union Church in charge of Stanley Shenk and Perry Daniels. Interment was made in the South Union Cemetery. Eberly. — Dorothy Irene, oldest daughter of Abraham and Mary (Riehl) Martin, was born near Columbiana, Ohio, Sept. 22, 1920 ; departed from this life Oct. 26, 1951, after a brief illness ; aged 31 y. 1 m. 4 d. She was united in marriage to Lloyd Eberly Oct. 8, 1944. She leaves her beloved husband, 2 sons (Clifford M., 5, and Abraham Eugene, 2%), her parents, 3 sisters (Edna — Mrs. Maynard Ressler, Wadsworth, Ohio ; Elva— Mrs. Harvey Nighswander, Stouff- ville, Ont. ; and Martha). 2 brothers (Lester and Leroy), one cousin, Ray Riehl of Columbi- ana, who was raised in her home, 2 grand- mothers (Mrs. Laura Compton, Columbiana, Ohio, and Mrs. Maryann Martin Fry, St. Jacobs, Ont.). and many other relatives and friends. One daughter, Mary Ann, preceded her in death. On Oct. 23. 1937, she accepted Christ as her Saviour and united with the Pleasant View Mennonite Church where she remained faithful unto death. She will be greatly missed in the home, the church, and the community. In 1945 she worked 9 months at Catonsville, Md.. mental hospital with her husband. A short time before she died, while talking to a friend, she remarked that she wants to live every day as if it was her last day. Brief funeral services were held Oct. 29 at the home of her parents by I. B. Snyder and an uncle Amos Martin of Ontario, followed at Pleasant View Mennonite Church by a service in charge of David Weaver assisted by Abram Good, and at the cemetery by an uncle, Simon Martin of Ontario. Burial was made at the ad- joining cemetery. Hochstetler. — William C., son of the late Crist and Sarah Hochstetler, was born April 5, 1874, and departed this life on Dec. 1, 1951, at the age of 77 y. 7 m. 19 d. In his youth he accepted Christ as his Saviour and became a member of the Walnut Creek Mennonite Church to which he remained faithful until death. On October 20, 1901, he was united in marriage to Emma Hill and lived a little more than 50 years in this wedlock. Two sons and one daughter were born to this union. He was the last one of the paternal family to succumb to the call of the death messenger. Five brothers and 3 sisters preceded him in death. He is survived by his bereft companion Emma, 2 sons (Wilmer of Walnut Creek and Firman of Coshocton, Ohio), one daughter (Mrs. Floyd Kaser, Berlin, Ohio), 9 grandchildren, 4 great-grandchildren and many relatives and friends. Funeral services were held at the church Dec. 3, 1951, with Bro. Paul R. Miller in charge. Interment in church ceme- tery. King. — Fannie M., daughter of Adam and Salome Detweiler, was born Feb. 22, 1869, in Lawrence County, Pa. ; died at the home of her son, Archie King, in West Liberty, Ohio, Dec. 20, 1951 ; aged 82 y. 9 m. 28 d. At the age of about two, she moved with her parents to Wayne County, Ohio. On Feb. 26, 1896, she was united in marriage with Jacob Amandus King, who preceded her in death on Dec. 9, 1929. To this union were born 6 sons and 3 daughters (Chauncey D., Fremont, Ohio; Archie L., West Liberty, Ohio; Raymond W., Springfield, Ohio; Bertha — Mrs. Thomas Zhouk, Chicago, 111. ; Leroy A., West Liberty, Ohio ; Saloma Arbo- gast, Sidney, Ohio; Robert L., West Liberty, Ohio ; Mary — Mrs. Arthur Miller, Springfield, Ohio; and Glen F., Scottdale, Pa.). She is sur- vived by her 9 children, 24 grandchildren, 2 step- grandchildren, and 5 great-grandchildren. She joined the Mennonite church in her youth, and was a faithful rhember until the time of her death. For many years she was a member of the South Union Me.nnonite Church at West Liberty, Ohio. Near the end of her life she moved to Scottdale, Pa., with her son Glen and became a member of the Scottdale Mennonite Church. She will always be remembered by her children as a godly mother, and as one who radiated a Christian influence. The funeral services were held at West Liberty, Ohio, on Dee. 22. They were in charge of Bro. John L. Horst of Scottdale, Pa., with Bro. Stanley Shenk assisting. Interment was made in the South Union cemetery. Knouse. — Amanda, daughter of William and Annie (Eglar) iSellars, was born Jan. 29, 1860, at Evendale, Juniata Co., Pa. ; passed away at the home of her son Nov. 30, 1951 ; aged 91 y. 10 m. The last few months of her life she ex- pressed a desire to go home. She spent her entire life in the community in which she died. In 1890 she was united in marriage to Samuel A. Knouse who preceded her in death April 5, 1925. To this union 4 children were born, 3 of whom preceded her in death (William in 1935, Annie in 1936 and Margaret — Mrs. John Ging- rich— in 1947). Mrs. Knouse was the last of 11 children. Surviving are her son John, Cocola- mus, Pa., 8 grandchildren and 3 great-grand- children. In 1892 she and her husband united with the Lauvers Mennonite Church. She was the oldest member at the time of her death. Funeral services were held at the Lauvers Men- nonite Church on Dec. 2 in charge of W. W. Graybill and Jacob G. Brubaker. Burial was made in adjoining cemetery. Miller. — Carolyn May and Marilyn Kay, in- fant daughters of Lloyd and Lois (Hochstetler) Miller, were born on Oct. 23, 1951 ; passed away when less than a day old at the Goshen Hospital. Bereaved by this early passing are the parents, grandparents (Mr. and Mrs. Levi Hochstetler of Goshen, and Mr. and Mrs. Abe Miller of Millers- burg, Ind.), and other relatives. Funeral serv- ices were held Oct. 24, the day of their death. A prayer service in the hospital room was fol- lowed by services at the Culp Funeral Home in charge of Galen Johns. Burial was made in the Benton Cemetery. Mottice. — 'Sara Caroline, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Olive Farber, was born on Jan. 2, 1867, at Magnolia, Ohio. She departed this life on De- cember 18, 1951, in her home located at 1958 Fourth Street SE, Canton, Ohio ; aged 84 y. 11 m. 15 d. On March 8, 1885, she was united in marriage to William H. Mottice who preceded her in death five years. To this union were born 3 children, a daughter Grace (who also pre- ceded her in death) and two sons, Oliver and Harry, both of Canton. Other survivors include two sisters (Mrs. Cora Van Voorhis and Mrs. G. W. Penrose, both of Canton), 9 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren. She had been a member of the First Mennonite Church of Can- ton for 32 years, faithful and loyal in her sup- port. As a life-long resident in the community she was greatly respected by all. Funeral serv- ices were conducted Dec. 20 in the Welch Fu- neral Home in charge of O. N. Johns Burial was made in the Forest Hill Cemetery. iRenno. — David H., son of David Y. and Nancy Byler Renno, was born at Belleville, Pa., Oct. 24, 1892 ; died Nov. 15, 1951 ; aged 59 y. 22 d. He joined the Old Order Church in his youth and was a faithful member until death. On Dec. 7, 1915, he was married to Mina L. Peachey, who, with 2 sons (David Rudy and Trevis, Kalona, Iowa), 3 daughters (Sylvia, Sadie and Miriam) survives him. One son and 2 granddaughters preceded him in death. Short services were held at the home Nov. 19, by John D. Yoder after which services were held at the home of Susan Peachey by Jesse Specher and Daniel King. Burial was made in the Amish Cemetery near the Locust Grove Church. Shank. — Susanna M., wife of Abram Shank, daughter of the late Samuel E. and Elizabeth Martin Horst; died at Mennonite Home, Mau- gansville, Md., Dec. 14, 1951 ; aged 74 y. 8 m. 23 d. She was a faithful member of the Reiffs Mennonite Church for over 55 years. Surviving are her husband, Abram Shank ; one daughter, Mrs. Samuel E. Horst; 3 brothers (Aaron M., Moses K, Amos M. Horst) ; a sister Elizabeth Eby ; 2 stepsons (Amos H. and Samuel L. Shank) ; 15 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchil- dren. Funeral was conducted at the Reiffs Men- nonite Church by Bros. Stanley and Reuben Martin ; burial in the adjoining cemetery. Snader. — Amanda N., widow of Aaron R. Snader, was born Nov. 2. 1869; passed away at her home near Terre Hill, Pa., Oct. 8, 1951 ; aged 81 y. 11 m. 6 d. She was the daughter of the late Jacob and Annie Nolt Zimmerman, and was a member of the Weaverland Mennonite Church. On July 16, 1896, she was united in marriage to Aaron R. Snader who predeceased her on Dec. 25, 1947. Of this union there sur- vive 3 daughters (Amanda, iSarah, Mabel — Mrs. Walter Weaver, Martinsdale, Pa.), 3 sons (Aaron Z., East Earl; Moses Z., New Holland; Jacob Z ., Denver, Pa.). Also surviving are 3 stepchildren (Mary — Mrs. Oscar Diem, Bare- ville ; Daniel, Narvon ; Anna — Mrs. Mahlon Witmer, New Holland), 47 grandchildren, 64 great-grandchildren, and 4 brothers and sisters (Abraham Zimmerman, Ephrata ; Mrs. Sarah Hertzler, Barbara Zimmerman and Georve Zim- merman, all of Cumberland County). Funeral services were held at the home Oct. 11, 1951, by Aaron Weaver; at the Weaverland Mennonite Church by John W. Burkholder and David N. Weaver. Interment was made in the adjoining cemetery. Stanton. — Lottie Louisa Reed was born in 1 Council Bluffs, Iowa, Aug. 8, 1877, and passed I away in the Didsbury Hospital Oct. 26, 1951 ; aged 74 y. 2 m. 18 d. She was 2 years old when 1 she moved with her parents to Oregon where she I grew to womanhood. She was married to Benja- min Stanton Aug. 31, 1894, to which union was born one son and 2 daughters (Mervin Ray, Dids- bury, Alta. ; Echo Lorline — Mrs. Gordon Good of Aldersyde, Alta., and Lois Bernice — Mrs. Cornelius Siemens of Eagle Hill, Alta.). Her husband preceded her in death in April, 1939. She is survived by her family, 2 sisters (Mrs. James Brooks, Hubbard, Oreg. ; and Mrs. Albert Kent, Woodburn, Oreg.), 21 grandchildren, 8 great-grandchildren, and many relatives and friends. She accepted Christ as her Saviour early in life and about 1911 she and her hus- band united with the Mennonite Church near Hubbard, Oreg. In 1918 they moved to Duchess, Alta., where they lived for 20 years. She was a charter member of the Mt. Calvary Mennonite Church near Westward Ho, Alta., where she remained a faithful member until death. Fu- neral services were held at the West Zion Church, Carstairs, Alta., in charge of Linford Hackman and C. J. Ramer. Interment was made in the church cemetery. Taylor. — Oliver Winters, oldest son of Aaron W. and Mary (Showalter) Taylor, was born in Earl Twp., Lancaster Co., Pa., Dec. 12, 1874 ; passed away Oct. 17, 1951, at the Ephrata, Pa., Community Hospital ; aged 76 y. 10 m. 5 d. On Dec. 5, 1897, he was united in marriage to Catherine W. Geigley, who passed away Jan. 11, 1922. Later he married Leah H. Sensenig, widow of Martin Sensenig, who passed away June 11, 1944. He was a member of the Weaver- land Mennonite Church, East Earl, Pa. He served at various times as superintendent and assistant superintendent of the Sunday school at Weaverland and Martindale. He also served as teacher and trustee at Weaverland for a num- ber of years. He had a blacksmith shop and carriage works at Weaverland ; later he moved to Ephrata, where he went into the auto trim- ming business. Surviving are 2 brothers (Wil- liam, Reading, Pa.; Edgar, Malvern, Pa.), one stepdaughter (Esther Sensenig, at home), and 2 foster children (Warren Martin, Fairfield, Pa., and Marie Heiselman — Mrs. Milton Nauman, of Manheim, Pa.). Fhineral services were held at the Weaverland Church Oct. 20, in charge of Harry Licbty and Alvin Martin. Burial was made in the adjoining cemetery. Yoder. — Menno B., son of Gideon and Ger- trude Yoder, was born at Barrville, Pa., June 10, 1879, and died at Orrville, Ohio, Dec. 8, 1951, following an illness of 10 months. He was aged 72 y. 5 m. 29 d. In his youth he was received into the Mennonite church. On Nov. 20, 1906, he was united in marriage to Alice M. Wenger, who died Dec. 27, 1936. To this union were born 3 daughters (Irene-^Mrs. Vernon Lehman, Orrville ; Mabel — Mrs. David Eberly, Orrville ; Mary — Mrs. Manford Kilmer, Wadsworth). He was united in marriage to Mrs. Nannie McLarty Dec. 10, 1946. Surviving are his wife, 3 daugh- ters, 7 grandchildren, 3 brothers (Andy Yoder, Orrville ; Edo, West Liberty ; and Noah, Hunt- ington Beach, Cal.), and one sister (Mrs. Celina Icenogle, Bellefontaine, Ohio). Services were held at the home and the Orrville Mennonite Church, burial in the Oak Grove Cemetery. I. W. Royer and Levi Hartzler were the offi- ciating ministers. From all the guilt and former sin. May mercy set us free; And let the year we now begin, Begin and end with Thee. January 8, 1952 47 THE BOOK SHELF Books reviewed in these columns may be ordered from the Mennonite Publishing House, Scottdale, Pa. AntLChrist and the Jew, by Hyman J. Appelman; Zondervan Publishing House; 1950; 25 pp.; 25^. “Anti-Christ and the Jew,” by Hyman J. Appelman, himself a converted Jew, appears to be an attempt at a brief analysis of the spiritual state of the Jews and their need for Christ. There are two chapters, “Antichrist and the Jew,” and “The Valley of Dry Bones.” Very little is said about the Anti- christ; rather there is concerned mentioning of the evident return of the Jews to Palestine and what significance that migration has for us today. The latter chapter is about the lack of spiritual knowledge among the Jews, even those reared in orthodoxy. This little booklet is twenty minutes of interesting reading, but it is not enlightening as far as his interpretation of the Antichrist is concerned. It is therefore somewhat simi- lar to Appelman’s similar booklet, “The Jew in History and Destiny,” which simply rides the surface, failing to reach the basic truths which might impress. This work is more like a straight evangelistic message which he might have given at some evangelistic campaign and which would logically touch only a few interesting points as a medium of contact. For the most part it appears evident that Appelman is just as mystified as to what is going to happen in Palestine as is the aver- age Christian who does not attempt a defini- tion of the Jews’ place in destiny. In this he discloses the importance of not discussing a subject which cannot be proved. “Whether the Roman Empire is going to be re-estab- lished or not, I do not know” (p. 8). A glaring weakness of the booklet is that the title page lists the second chapter as the latter half of the title of the booklet. If this were done on the front cover, then the title might be representative of the actual con- tents. Some of the editorial work is not of the best, unless it was purposely planned to permit Appelman’s repetitions for emphasis’ sake. The style is simple, easily understood, and the words take the reader along, inviting him to read the next pages. — Ford Berg. The Christian and Carnal Warfare, Bales- Stonestreet; Bales; 1947; 222 pp.; $1.25. It is refreshing to find in the “Christian Church” also one who believes in nonresist- ance. James D. Bales, an anti-evolutionist and an orthodox Biblical teacher, hears a rampant advocate of militarism, also of the “Christian Church,” and then proposes the Scriptural viewpoint. Two propositions are presented: (1) The Scriptures teach that a Christian is to obey the civil government under which he lives in performing its divinely ordained mission, including combatant military service, con- science approving. (2) the Scriptures teach GOSPEL HERALD that the Christian’s conduct toward enemies prohibits his taking the sword even at the command of the powers that be. On the first proposition P. W. Stonestreet takes four affirmatives and is each time followed by Bales with four negatives. On the second Bales has four affirmative rebuttals and Stone- street the four negatives. To show the clarity and uniqueness of Bales’ arguments note the following: When Romans 13 was written, Rome was ruled by wicked Nero, when Rome through divorce and immorality was socially cancerous and possessed 60,000,000 slaves. If Romans 13 taught sword bearing now, it did then. If then, the Christian must use the sword for Rome and against Israel. Coarse, brutal Roman soldiers, inextri- cably intertwined by heathen rites, continu- ously engaged in aggressive warfare, plun- dered strange cities, murdered innocents, and at times persecuted Christians. If Christians should kill those who per- secute and kill Christians, such as the Jews, Nero, Domitian, etc., where would this slaughter end? Would a government punish itself? We should pray that righteousness may prevail, but we do not use the sword to in- sure it. We are commanded to submit, but are not commanded to force others to sub- mit also. Here is an old Scriptural truth put in a new way. You will appreciate it. — Ira D. Landis. The Thing Appointed, by Harold Lind- sell; Van Kampen; 1949; 143 pp.; $1.75. For many years there had been a dearth in the field of religious fiction. During the past few years there has been almost a flood in this same field and much of the product resembles the debris washed up by flood waters as the good, bad, and indifferent products were cast on a market by authors whose chief object often was to profit fi- nancially. It is with a sense of appreciation that one reads a book like “The Thing Appointed,” and sees how ably the author gives good sound old-fashioned Christian advice and teaching for the guidance of young people in their social and vocational life. This is not done in a preachy way, but the characters come to their own conclusions often by be- ing reminded of Christian standards by those who make no profession. The book is not idealistic or sensational in that the villain was miraculously saved and became a great missionary or something of that kind. Harold Lindsell at present is Professor of Missions and Church History as well as registrar at Fuller Theological Seminary and one might suspect that he has known the joy of divine leading in such things as he deals with in the story. I recommend this book as giving sound Biblical teaching through the medium of re- ligious fiction. A good book for the church library and most home libraries. It is de- signed especially for young people, but will afford several hours of pleasant relaxation for older people. — W. R. Nafziger. ITEMS and COMMENTS George Russell of Ireland wrote in 1912 something that has relevance for our day: “When a man becomes an imbecile, his friends place him in an asylum. When a people grow decadent or imbecilic, they place themselves in the hands of the State.” * * * The struggle of the great powers for oil is understandable in the light of facts concern- ing consumption of gasoline in the big bom- bers of today. The B-29 that bombed Japan six years ago consumed 440 gallons of gaso- line an hour. Today’s biggest bomber, the B-36, consumes 980 gallons an hour, more than twice as much. The P-51 fighter plane of World War II burns 63 gallons an hour. The SO-48’s that are fighting today against Communist planes in Korea burn 355 gallons an hour. * # # A statement for World Peace submitted by 40 national leaders to the State Department recently says: “War is one of the most stupid activities of an enlightened humanity. It puts us on the level of the snake, the hyena, and the tiger.” The statement urges “agreement and concessions for peace, not alliances for atomic war.” * * * A new dissenter law liberalizing some of the reactionary regulations imposed on Swe- den by the alliance between church and state was adopted by the Swedish State Lu- theran Church at its 1951 convention. Under this dissenter law citizens will be permitted to leave the established church without neces- sarily joining another recognized sect. A non-Lutheran religious body may found con- vents and monasteries, but the establishment remains. * * * The life expectancy for two thirds of the world’s population is thirty years. In Asia, one out of five dies in the first year. The life expectancy in the United States is 68 years. Family Almanac Many homes wouldn’t be without the Family Almanac. In it is the regu- lar listing of information about the sun, moon, stars, eclipses, holidays, and constellations— all brought up to date for 1952. Also included are articles on home- making, on family life, and on general Christian endeavor. A ministerial di- rectory further increases the value of this publication. 30^ ea.; $3.25 doz.; $25.00 a hun- dred. Mennonite Publishing House Scottdale, Pa. 48 Certainly we have a responsibility to help the rest of the world to live longer, but we still have a greater responsibility to give that life a Christian quality. * # * The American Jewish Committee charges that thousands of the estimated two million Jews still alive in the Soviet Union are pris- oners in Soviet Slave labor and Internment Camps. The report asserts that anti-Semitism is increasing in the Soviet Union. There are numerous outbreaks, to which Soviet officials are indifferent. * * # U.S. Army officials have expressed the opinion that many Korean civilians will die before the winter is over. The Koreans see no immediate help for their desperate situa- tion, even if the war should terminate. Mo- rale is so low that many of them will not have the stamina to withstand the rigors of winter, coupled with inadequate food and fuel and clothing. The Pocket Testament League is doing its best to see at least that they will not die without having had a chance to read concerning the Lord Jesus. The League is opening a campaign of Scrip- ture distribution and evangelization in war- torn Korea, patterned after the nation-wide campaigns in Japan and Formosa. * * * Only 650,000,000 of the world’s approxi- mately 2,500,000,000 people are Christians. Of these only 200,000,000 are Protestants, ac- cording to the moderator of the Presbyterian Church in the United States. He pointed out that there must now be four or five times as many unsaved people in the world as when Jesus gave His command for witness- ing. In 1950 gambling cost the people of the United States 300 times as much as their contributions to missions, crime more than 500 times as much, and war 5,000 times as much as the spread of the Gospel of peace. * * * Nearly 400,000 people attended revival meetings conducted at Greensboro, North Carolina, by evangelist Billy Graham. The campaign was held in a specially built taber- nacle seating 11,000 people. Nearly 6,800 persons made decisions for Christ. One week end Dr. Graham flew to North Carolina State College, where the largest single reli- gious gathering ever held under one roof in the South was conducted. Some 5,000 people were turned away from the meeting. Fifteen thousand five hundred persons heard him speak. * * * Bishop Gerald Kennedy of the Methodist Church, after a month spent in surveying religious work in Japan, expresses the opinion that there will be something of a reaction against Christianity with the reappearance of Nationalism. He says there is a great movement toward the rehabilitation of Shin- toism, with a more regular observance of the Shinto holidays, and a greater number of activities sponsored by the shrines. He said that Christianity became “a very popular thing” in Japan after the war, but some feel that with the bowing out of the occupation GOSPEL HERALD January 8, iyy. / Middle-East Sojourn by SAMUEL A. YODER More than a travelog. More than relief work in a Jugo-Slav refugee camp on the Suez sands. A telling comment on a portion of modern history; the power of Christian testimony; the first steps toward relief and mission work in Ethiopia. Coloring the account is the author’s familiarity with literature and Bible history. Ezra Hershberger’s carica- tures tell a vivid story. And don’t miss Peter J. Dyck’s pungent introduction. 310 pages. $2.75. The Mennonite Church in the Second World War by GUY F. HERSHBERGER A crisis reveals strengths. It uncovers weaknesses. It calls for readjusted thinking and planning. The Mennonite Church in the Second World War seeks to trace the effects of the war upon the inner life of the church. Chapters cover missions, education, CPS, relief, voluntary service, peace literature and the relation of the Mennonite church to other peace groups. This is a useful reference book for Sunday School and home libraries. 308 pages. $3.50. MENNONITE PUBLISHING HOUSE, SCOTTDALE, PA. this popularity may also bow out somewhat. He reported, however, that large numbers of youth are attending Christian churches. About half the congregations in the places he visited were made up of young people. * * * ^ Kent Cooper, executive director of the Associated Press, is reported in Between the Lines as having said, “Europe is afraid to death of our defense program — afraid that it might turn into an aggressive policy.” * * * “One of the biggest hoaxes of our day is the political propaganda Taft can save us X AHVN I or Truman preserve us. It is a moral and spiritual problem resting entirely upon the kind of people we are and are becoming.” Between the Lines. * * * Australia faces a difficult problem over the failure of youth to register for conscription. Under a compulsory national service scheme, youth who failed to register were subject to a fine of fifty pounds. Out of 36,500 eligi- ble for registration, almost 7,000 failed to comply with the law. This makes a tough issue for the government, especially in view of the fact that historically conscription has always been unpopular. — Gospel Banner. m hi cmo i ho •JAY NttVIQOC ft U9* NUN 3>UVM V % ivone I e 31 I N0NN3W GOSPEL HERALD “On the defence and confirmation of the gospel "How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace volume XLV TUESDAY, JANUARY 15, 1952 That Church Letter BY DEWEY YODER Why don’t we improve the present practice of transferring church letters? Today, in the American Mennonite Church, there are many hundreds— too many— American Mennonite displaced persons. These “D.P.’s” are church mem- bers; that is, they still have church let- ters “back home,” or in their pockets. For one reason or another these folks moved or were moved from the “home” congregations. Today they worship where they please, without the spiritual benefits of responsibility to “home” churches. The attitude of the “home” churches toward these displaced persons has too often been characterized by a shameful neglect. The churches where these folks worship, if they please, are perhaps careless or otherwise reluctant to make advances. The persons them- selves—well, perhaps they enjoy feeding in pastures without fences. A church home does not spell spiritual growth. It is not an end. But if the so- lemnity of our baptismal service is more than a mere form, we certainly believe that church membership is a “must” in the life of every born-again child of God. We speak today almost with a sneer of “belonging” to the church, as though a well-rounded spiritual life were pos- sible without a vital unbroken connec- tion with the visible church. Every book today about the home and child psychol- ogy stresses the need of children “be- longing” to a home. Normal children in good homes are not merely fed, clothed, and loved— they belong. Worshiping God at the beach or on the golf course, as do the children of this world, is but one short step removed from our present practice of permitting our members to help themselves to the program of the worship world. There is the case of a young man and his wife who were moved by C.P.S. from a Mennonite congregation where both were members. They with their children did not return to the former home com- munity after C.P.S. , and have only re- cently moved their church letter to their present location. During those six and one half years this family received from their home church no communication of counsel or inquiry. In view of this, the duly granted church letter was somewhat of a farce. How could the bishop certify to the spiritual qualifications of those with whom he had had no official contact in six and one half years? Without question, there are pastors and bishops in the Mennonite Church who inquire diligently after members who are away from home. Happy was the draftee of World War II who was privileged to remain on his pastor’s mail- ing list. Praise God for those shepherds who watch the count of their members more closely than the count of their bushels of grain or cases of eggs. The general looseness of Mennonite member relationships cannot be denied or put off lightly. The general neglect, as pointed out above, is threefold. First, the home church neglects a member who moves away or leaves temporarily. Second, the churches into which the member goes to worship neglect him. Third, the mem- ber himself, both in leaving one church and entering others, neglects to assure himself a continuous and strong attach- ment to the church. These three neglects result in loss to all concerned— loss, we in- sist, even though there be no outward causes to block later transfer of a church letter. The present practice of transferring church letters is geared to earlier days when moving from one community to another was rare, and treated as a major undertaking. Today multitudes in the church are on the move, especially the young people. No longer is home only Kidron, Ohio; Hubbard, Oregon; or Yoder, Kansas. Home is also Peace River, Goshen, Alabama, Chicago, Ar- gentina, Scottdale, Culp, Akron, Ethi- opia, La Junta. Home is where God puts us today, or tomorrow, or a year from now. Could it not be at least strongly recommended on a church-wide basis that our church letters follow us as quickly as local circumstances would permit? Just what is the purpose of a church letter? It is of no value whatever as a sentimental attachment to a home com- munity. It is hardly, as we sometimes speak of it, an instrument of punish- ment to be wielded or withheld at will by church officials. It is, rather, a certif- icate of membership and letter of intro- duction to provide a definite and un- number 3 broken fellowship with the visible church. According to reports and plans of our Mission Board, we as a church have only begun to move about— to scatter abroad for a more effective witness. At the same time we need to become more closely knit as a church body. Reno- vated and active church letters can be important tools in a movement that scatters yet unifies. But how? Perhaps the answer is more simple than we think. For instance, in most of our states today ownership of an auto- mobile is secured by a “title” that is held by the state. A certificate of title is issued to the legal owner, which is a negotiable copy of the real title. The certificate of title need not be renewed each year, but is in force until legal transfer has been made to another owner or another state. In case of transfer to another state the transfer is between governments and not between indi- viduals. Most states also issue owner’s cards or receipts of registration annually as evidence of ownership. In addition to The Living Church By Edna M. Mertz God’s church on earth is mighty, A living organism, A unit strong in which must be No strife or fleshly schism ; Composed of many members With talents great and small, Where low and unity abound And Christ is all in all! God’s church on earth must witness. Each member spread the Word To those who need the Gospel, To those who’ve never heard ! God’s church on earth is holy; Its doors are open wide, Inviting sinners far and near To join His holy bride. God’s church on earth, triumphant When sun and stars shall fail. When earthly thrones shall totter, His Word and church prei>ail! Ft. Wayne, Ind. 50 its value as a source of revenue, the an- nual re-registration gives the state a con- tinuing contact with the automobiles to which it holds title. Within the legal bounds, title and registration can be transferred as often as necessary to meet the needs of the legal owner. The states adopted the title and registration pro- cedure to meet the needs of changing times and to more fully utilize public transportation facilities. Could not our church memberships be considered as a church utility, to be transferred only between congregations or pastors? and every change in residence of a member as a cause for immediate action regarding church membership? Perhaps each pastor could issue annually to each member on his roll a standard form identification card giving name and location of congregation of present at- tendance, and address and signature of the pastor. Besides being identification for members on the move, a card reissued annually would require each pastor to contact each of his members at least once each year. Perhaps you say such a card could not give proof of spiritual mem- bership. Indeed it could not, neither does your owner’s card give proof of car ownership, neither does the usual “those of like faith with us” at communion time give proof of spiritual qualification to take communion, and after all most Mennonites are honest, aren’t they? A change in our present practice of transferring church membership is im- perative, not because it is an old prac- tice, but because it is no longer adequate. A thorough study of American Mennon- ites on the move and out of contact with any church would possibly bring indict- ments of neglect on many of us, both of the ministry and laity. Let us bring ourselves up to date to maintain a strong and unbroken fellowship for every church member. Scottdale, Pa. ONE SOUL A GREAT AUDIENCE A very large portion of Christ’s in- spired biography is occupied by His per- sonal interviews— with a guilty woman by a well, with a publican by the wayside, with a young ruler, with a blind beggar, or with a ruler of the Sanhedrin in a private room. To the Son of God, as to every faithful Gospel minister, one soul was a great a.udience. The single extend- ed discourse which Christ delivered was aimed at every auditor before Him.— T. L. Cuyler. GOSPEL HERALD Mischief or Meanness By Laura Show alter A certain writer comments that al- though mischief and meanness are alike in some ways the final decision as to which it was in a given case can not be reached until we find out whether it was our children or the neighbors’ who did it. Brother A was an interesting speaker and we listened closely lest we miss some- thing on account of his foreign accent. He told how cruelly his people, the Jews, were treated and when they were arrested their charge was nothing more than that they were Jews. It does not take much brains to know that that is not fair. But may we be so inquisitive as to ask some of the reasons why the German people despised the Jews as they did? Might there be truth in the story that after World War I when many Germans had a very hard time getting started there were Jews who loaned them money and later foreclosed the mort- gages even when it meant cruelty to widows and orphans? Did not the Jews take unfair advantage in helping each other to the best positions, leaving the Germans to get along as best they could? Brother A, being a Christian, did not overlook this point; he asked us what we thought we deserve (and we all knew very well that if God dealt with us in justice without mercy we would have no escape from hell). His emphasis, though, left most of us with a feeling that the Jews were innocent sufferers. In other instances, however, he let us understand that he believes in the law of retribution. The countries that re- covered most rapidly from the effects of the war were those that gave most con- sideration to the Jew. (May I be bold enough here to point out a weakness in one of those examples? While Ameri- cans had to have a priority rating and other things besides money to buy a car, American cars were being sold to all buyers in Copenhagen. For my part I am glad our government sold cars to doctors and other people who needed them even before the rich neighbors could buy one for their pampered son.) But of course it is easy to see why Brother A sees things as he does. His people were working to get the best posi- tions whenever they could, as you would expect. And why did the Germans re- sent letting them have the advantages? Was it not that the Germans wanted the advantages for themselves? January 15, 19 52; Are Americans any different? Read the story of the Boston Tea Party in an American book. Can you find a book * which condemns the wasteful scamps who dumped the tea into the waters of the harbor? Had not honest people worked hard to produce and cure and deliver that tea? Why should thieves go scot free— yea, rather, be praised by peo- ple who say they practice and preach honesty? You see, they were our children. While it is perfectly natural for us to i j excuse the faults of those we love most, i , the question might be raised whether it is right for us to be natural. “The na- ‘ tural man receiveth not the things of the 1 1 Spirit of God.” “He that is spiritual judgeth [discerneth, margin] all things.” “For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?” “But we have the mind of Christ.” As we grow in likeness to Christ we learn to see that faults are no more excusable in our own lives and those of our loved ones than in the lives of others. Scottdale, Pa. So Much Wastepaper? By Raymond L. Kramer For some time this question has been burning itself into my consciousness. It started when a friend of mine who no longer appreciates the church as he once did said in disgust as we spoke of the Gospel Herald, “Aw, it’s just so much wastepaper.” It cut me deeply. Of course, he admit- ted after questioning that he had hardly read it for the last several years and that when he had it was with a critical atti- tude. To him it was so much wastepa- per. It set me thinking! How much of the Gospel Herald is wastepaper to me? Obviously, if I fail to use the intelligence that God gave me in perusing its pages and assimilating its messages it is to me also, in the degree that I neglect it, just so much wastepaper. If we could feel the deep spiritual con- cern of our editors, the sense of devotion of all the workers; if we could under- stand the mountains of labor that go in- to making the Gospel Herald and the hours of concern and prayer, I’m confi- dent we wouldn’t have the heart to let any portion of the Gospel Herald, or any other church paper for that matter, become “just so much wastepaper.” Meadville, Pa. GOSPEL HERALD ESTABLISHED 1908 AS SUCCESSOR TO GOSPEL WITNESS (1905) AND HERALD OF TRUTH (1864) PAUL ERB. EDITOR CATHERINE HERNLEY, EDITORIAL ASSISTANT J. D. GRABER, MISSIONS EDITOR JOHN L. HORST, MILLARD C. LIND, associate EDITORS THE GOSPEL HERALD IS A RELIGIOUS WEEKLY PUBLISHED IN THE INTERESTS OF THE MENNONITE CHURCH BY THE MENNON1TE PUBLICATION BOARD, SCOTTDALE, PA. ENTERED AS SECOND-CLASS MATTER IN 1908 AT THE POST OFFICE AT SCOTTDALE, PA., UNDER ACT OF MARCH 3, 1S79. SUBSCRIPTION PRICE: *3.00 PER YEAR, THREE YEARS IN ADVANCE, *6.00, FIVE YEARS IN ADVANCE, *12.00. SAMPLE COPIES SENT FREE ON REQUEST. SEND ALL MATERIAL FOR PUBLICATION TO GOSPEL HERALD, SCOTTDALE, PA. PRINTED IN US. A. January 15, 1952 GOSPEL HERALD 51 EDITORIAL The Harmonia Sacra Singing Meetings have a way of turning into institutions. That is what apparently has happened to the Weavers Old Folk’s Singing in Virginia. It had its beginning fifty years ago as the result of a sugges- tion made by the wife of L. J. Heatwole. That story, and the story of what has developed through the years, we need not recount here. For it is told very well in an illustrated article which will ap- pear in the March Mennonite Commu- nity. It is also told by the same writer, Historian H. A. Brunk, in the introduc- tion to the twenty-first edition of Har- monia Sacra, which was brought out for the fiftieth anniversary Singing held at the Weavers Church near Harrisonburg on Jan. 1, 1952. That was more than just another hymn-sing. The older people who made up a good part of the audience grew up back in the singing-school era, when they learned to read music from one of the later of the seventeen editions of Funk’s Harmonia Sacra which were published between 1832 and 1878. The religious songs of that book became a treasured part of the lives of those people, as one could see from the joy with which they sang them again. The twelve hundred persons there came from all up and down the Shenandoah Valley, and from more distant parts of Virginia. There were people there from Pennsylvania, Ohio, and more distant states who had returned to Weavers on New Year’s Day on a veritable pilgrimage. Mennonites were in predominance, but many of other denominations were there, for the Harmonia Sacra belongs to no one sect. There was an excellent illustration here of the ecumenicity of sacred song. The meeting was in charge of the sons and grandsons of the originators of the Old Folk’s Singing, but the accent was still on age. At least one came in on a wheel chair. There were eleven people there who had attended the first Singing fifty years ago. One had not missed a single annual meeting. A letter was read from one who missed this year for the first time. A large number of the song leaders were old men, and whatever some of them might have lacked in strength of voice and vigor of direction was made up for by the evident relish with which they did their job. They were living again in their happy yester- days. One had a feeling that some were disappointed because the day was not long enough to give them their turn at selection and leading; others certainly were disappointed that their favorite number was not sung. As something of a "foreigner” much in- terested in the development of Mennon- ite hymnody, we were struck with two things. One was the large number of hymns much valued by us at present which came into our hymnals via the Harmonia Sacra. The Virginia Commit- tee which helped to compile the Church and Sunday School Hymnal saw to it that some of their favorites got into this new book for church-wide use. These were carried over into the Church Hymnal, and some more from the same source were added. Today we would not do without “Hark Ten Thousand Harps and Voices,” “On the Mountain’s Top Appearing,” “People of the Living God,” and “From Every Stormy Wind That Blows.” Some additional numbers unclaimed by former committees will be included in the new book which is to ap- pear soon. Much of the music of this old book seems a bit quaint and outmoded today; but the best of it is great music, and deserves to live. The same can be said of the poetry. We no longer sing of “wading” to heaven; but we will never outgrow the simple beauty of “ How sweet the name of Jesus sounds In a believer's ear! It soothes his sorrows, heals his wounds, And drives away his fear.” The second thing with which we were impressed is that it was the Harmonia Sacra singing schools and others like it which taught our people to read music and to move into four-part harmony from the melody singing of our grand- fathers. The strength of our church music today is the soul-stirring unaccom- panied harmony. This would be impos- sible to a people who had not learned to translate musical symbols into tone. Virginia no doubt led this movement. and our congregations still want, as a rule, the shaped notes which were pop- ularized there. One of the older brethren who led at Weavers this year had trouble in getting the tune started. But he was not defeated, for he had something more than the memory of a tune to depend upon. “Let’s sing the music,” he said, and the whole congregation went through the music once with the sol-fa syllables. It was a splendid illustration of the importance of a musically literate people if we would maintain our type of church music, with the whole congre- gation joining in harmonic singing with- out the aid of instruments. We would not pass over the strong tone of piety evident in the Singing. These people were singing genuine praises to a God they love. They were singing doctrines which they thoroughly believe. It was music, not for its own sake, but put to the service of religion. These people sang as worshipers, not as artists. The program was not a concert, but a divine service. The secretary, Bro. H. A. Brunk, an- nounced that an attempt will be made to change the name of the current move- ment from Old Folk’s Singing to Har- monia Sacra Singing. This is in keeping with the feeling that this annual song- fest is more than a nostalgic recall of a happy past. It is rather a recognition of the important contribution of this fea- ture of our past to the church life of the present. Old people will of course con- tinue to enjoy the strains of their yester- days. But young people will also come to these annual meetings to get an in- sight into an important source of our musical life. Historians and churchmen will come, as to a historical monument, to pay their tribute. With the twenty- first edition of the Harmonia Sacra, the Harmonia Sacra movement has come of age as a Mennonite institution. Frequently we fail to appreciate the positive qualities of groups who are not of Swiss, German, or Dutch background. Our heritage may have given- us the virtues of honesty, industry, and the abil- ity to have well-painted and well-man- aged farms and homes, but it may also have given us a cold austerity of con- viction, a lack of social grace, and a hard individualism. Too seldom do we at- tract others from outside our circles and when we do, we rarely extend to them the full social privileges accorded an individual in our own group.— Irvin Horst. 52 GOSPEL HERALD Leaven in Scriptural Teaching BY J. R. SHANK A fermenting element which works in unfermented elements to make them of the same corrupted nature is called leaven. The same is known as yeast. It is recognized as beneficial in preparing bread for baking, because it enables the baker to make lighter bread if it is baked while the leaven has wrought its work to the full. Since it takes time to leaven a mass of dough that has leaven hidden in it, bakers have sometimes baked without it in a time of haste, as did Sarah when the angel visitors came (Gen. 18:6), and as did Lot, when the angels visited Sodom (Gen. 19:3). The Israelites were to eat the lamb with un- leavened bread, because it was to be a hasty meal (Ex. 12:8, 11), in which they were to be ready any moment to start on their journey. The Lord used this in- cident in Israel to teach them lessons both for memorial as well as for typical purposes. It was also taken up by the teachings of Jesus and the New Testa- ment writers to make application of the lessons for our own age. The Passover was always to be ob- served by Israel with what is known as the Feast of Unleavened Bread. Ex. 12: 24-28; 12:18-20. All leaven was to be thoroughly removed from their houses as well as from their bread. No sacrifice was to be burned upon the altar with leaven or honey. Lev. 2:11; 6:14-18. Leaven or honey were symbols of cor- ruption; but salt was a symbol of in- corruption and was to accompany every sacrifice. Lev. 2:13. A covenant of salt indicated that it was a sure covenant. II Chron. 13:5. But the leaven repre- sented the opposite of preservation and faithfulness because it worked an in- ward corruption and change, inappro- priate as a type of Him who is the “same yesterday, and to day, and for ever” (Heb. 13:8). Since leaven was commanded to be used in a new Meat Offering, it is well that we search carefully to understand how God could accept it in a typical sense. It may be noted that this offering was not burned upon the altar, but was to be waved as a wave offering accom- panied by sacrifices of animals which ex- pressed both atonement and a sweet savor unto the Lord. Lev. 23:15-21. This was offered on the fiftieth day after the offering of the first sheaf of their harvest (Ex. 23:10-14), and corresponds to the “Day of Pentecost” when the Holy Spirit was poured out upon the believers. “No leaven is found conjoined with the Meat Offering (see Lev. 2:13-16). For in Him, who is its antitype, no corruption, no evil had any place. But in the ‘new Meat Offering,’ a type of His people, it was otherwise. The two wave-loaves were ‘baken with leaven / a symbol of indwell- ing sin and corruption” (F. H. White). “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us” (I John 1:8). “To be in Christ is to be fully accepted. Thus the loaves were waved before Jehovah in token of such an ac- ceptance, but they were not burned upon the Altar, for they contained leaven. The ground of their acceptance was doubtless found in the other offerings which were offered at the same time” (White). (Cf. Lev. 23:18.) The fact that the Old Testament taught the typical lesson concerning cor- ruption by evil in the use of leaven, made an approach for Jesus in His teach- ing to Jewish hearers in a similar ap- plication. He first taught by a parable in which He said, “The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened” (Matt. 13:33; Cf. Luke 13:20, 21). At first sight, this seems to put leaven in a better light than we were accustomed to think in the Old Testament. It may be wise, however, not to be carried away with the thought of the kingdom of God, which is compared to leaven, and there- fore making leaven good work by the power of God. Since Jesus used other figures in His parables to reveal ad- verse developments in the kingdom, it should not surprise us if He used the leaven to reveal a very remarkable evil work against the kingdom. Compare the Parable of the Sower, which Jesus calls a mystery of the kingdom of heaven (13:11), also the Tares and the Wheat, in which both the good and the bad are seen. Likewise consider the net which was cast to catch fish, and caught both good and bad. We leave this for the present and consider other teachings con- cerning leaven. When the Pharisees and Sadducees sought to overthrow the influence of Jesus, He said to the disciples, “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees” (Matt. 16:6). He revealed to them that the doctrine of these sects was what He had in mind (Matt. 16:12), and that this doctrine was dangerous to follow. We need but study His warn- ings and rebukes to these men to under- stand the nature of their destructive influence in shutting up the kingdom of heaven against men. Matt. 23. He also included the Herodians as having dan- gerous leaven against the kingdom of God. Mark 8:15. These three classes have well been compared to the Legal- istic Formalists, the Modernists, and the Political Advocates. They can readily be compared to similar leaven in the church of today. The secret and penetrating power of leaven is also set forth in the teachings January 13, 1952 of Paul to the Corinthians and the Ga- latians (I Cor. 5:6; Gal. 5:9)— “A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.” He teaches against the tolerance of fornica- tion in the membership of the church at Corinth as being an evil influence that will contaminate the whole body unless it is put away out of the fellowship. He also teaches the Galatians against the legalistic doctrine of seeking salvation by the works of the law, as this doctrine would lead them back to the ordinances of the Old Testament. The only safety against these things is to “Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened” (I Cor. 5:7). How needful that fellowship be free from the “old leaven” and the “leaven of malice and wickedness,” that we may keep the feast with the “un- leavened bread of sincerity and truth” (I Cor. 5:8). Workings Like Leaven 1. Hypocrisy. Luke 12:1. Jesus called the hypocrisy of doings and teachings, leaven. We have already mentioned His teaching as recorded in Matt. 23. The de- ceptive working of wickedness, under pretense of good, is definitely revealed in It Happened — TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO (From Gospel Herald, Dec. 30, 1926 ) Bro. and Sister Beare were taken to Balodgahan [India] . . . where they are studying the language. Since Bro. and Sister [A. J.] Metzler moved here [Masontown, Pa.] a little over a week ago, we again have a resident minister. ( From Gospel Herald, Jan. 6, 1923) Bro. Daniel Kauffman . . . left Dec. 31 for Hesston, Kans., where he is listed as instructor for the special six weeks’ Bible term. . . . (From Gospel Herald, Jan. 13, 1923) Bro. Milo Kauffman of Hesston, Kans., closed a series of meetings at Limon, Colo., on . . . Jan. 2. Fourteen people made the good confession. Bro. S. M. Kanagy of . . . Chicago is serving as special instructor during this term of six weeks [Goshen College]. The two weeks’ series of meetings at New Holland, Pa., conducted by John F. Grove of Greencastle, Pa., closed on Dec. 19 with 45 confessions and two since. The Johnstown Bible School . . . [had] ... an attendance of forty-four regular students during the first week. ■January i% 1932 the writings of the New Testament Scrip- ture. It is called the “mystery of in- iquity” that was already at work in Paul’s day and was to be iully developed in a day when the Antichrist would be re- vealed, “after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, and with all deceivableness of unright- eousness in them that perish; because they receive not the love of the truth, that they might be saved” (II Thess. 2:9, 10). There is but one safeguard against being deceived by this deceptive leaven. It is an “unction from the Roly One” (I John 2:20), who will enlighten the un- derstanding of those who honestly have received the truth. God has so con- stituted the human consciousness, that when it refuses what is known truth, it enters upon a diseased condition of “strong delusion, that they should be- lieve a lie” (II Thess. 2: 1 1). This makes them without excuse, and brings a con- demnation upon them by their own choice to love “darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil” (John 5:19). It exposes the individual to the blinding work of the' “god of this world” (II Cor. 4:4), who seeks to keep them from the light of the glorious Gos- pel of Christ, who is the image of God. Indulgence in sin is a step toward hard- ening and leads into a place where de- ception does her deathly work in separat- ing us from Christ and the hope of glory. Heb. 3:12-15. .... . . ' . : 2 . Lust. “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, .that jshall he also reap. For he that sow eth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap' life ever- lasting” (Gal. 6:7, 8). “How can ye be- lieve, which receive honour one of an- other, and seek not the honour that com^ eth from God only” (John 5:44)? “But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness. And their word will eat as doth a canker” (II Tim. 2:16, 17). “But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, de- ceiving, and being deceived” (II Tim. 3: 13). 3. Apostasy. Degeneracy sets in and continues to do its corrupting work until the time comes “when they will not en- dure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teach- ers, having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables” (II Tim. 4: 3, 4). Such a picture of apostasy was seen in the time when church and state were united and the great mass of men and women were in the deception and corruption of Catholicism (so-called), and when the true church was under a cloud. The same permeating errors are filling the ranks of modern Christendom, so-called, in which all forms of adultery and social corruption, war and worldly strife in all its forms of selfishness, vanity and pride of human attainment, are promoted by those who call themselves GOSPEL HERALD Christian. Where shall the end be? The day of wrath is coming upon the apostate deceivers of men, who “have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her [Babylon’s] fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her deli- cacies” (Rev. 18:3). There Is a New Lump Unleavened But there are those who have purged out the old leaven. I Cor. 5:7. It is the people of God who have heard the voice of God and have “come out from among them” (II Cor. 6:17; Rev. 18:4). It may be a small group compared to the ones who have been corrupted by the leaven of wickedness. Matt. 7:13, 14. But it will be a group who have been sanctified and cleansed through Christ and His Word (Eph. 5:25-27); and who will be presented to Him as His glorious church, as a bride who shall enjoy the marriage Nature By Edna Ghristophel I’ve read that blue jays are lovelier Than any other thing. But have you seen a cardinal Upon a snowy limb. And caught your breath " In sheer delight, " / And known that life Is still all right, . / If God can send a cardinal To sway a snowy limb? Lansdale, Pa. with her Redeemer and Lamb; who, tri- umphing over all the enemies of God, shall be with Him in eternal glory. Rev. 19:7-9; 21:9-27; 22:1-5. Truly, the kingdom of heaven, in its earthly battleground, is dealing with the likeness of “leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened” (Matt. 13: 33). “But thou, O man of God, flee these things, and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profes- sion before many witnesses” (I Tim. 6:11, 12). Versailles, Mo. One of the many fine things that caused me to join the Mennonite Church was their anxiety,, their very deep desire to treat our people as brothers, to teach us through their example what real Christian love is; to have sympathy and a ready, helping hand for. the one far- thest down, regardless of color, thus bringing us closer to: our Maker.— A Negro convert from the South. 53. Dead Statistics as Index to Evangelism By John A. Hostetler A recent report of the evangelistic efforts of one large denomination, the Congregational Christian Church, may be typical of the larger religious bodies of the country. While this group of Christians in a number of ways is very different from the Anabaptist wing of the Christian Church, some of the find- ings are of considerable interest. The study was conducted by Gerald J. Jud (1950 Ph.D. thesis) at' Yale "University entitled: Procedures Used by Congrega- tional Christian Churches in Prepara- tion, Reception, and Assimilation of Church Members. The Congregational Church dates back to the Pilgrim Fathers and the early colonists of New England in 1620. The Christian churches who later united with them were offshoots of the Wesleyan and revival movements of the late eighteenth century. There are 4,678 places of wor- ship in the United States in most of the states, but most- of these congregations are concentrated in Connecticut, Masr sachusetts/ and New York. The findings of this report are based on questionnaires sent to 3,176 pastors, of which only -30 per cent were returned. The questions were constructed in- such a way as To determine whether there was any association between the pastor’s par- ticular practice in -the receiving of new members into his church- and (1) the year of his ordination, (2) his denomh national training in childhood, (3) the region of the country where the pastor serves, (4) the size of the church, and (5) whether the church was urban or rural. Only , some of the findings will be of interest to us. Of the 1,040 pastors who returned questionnaires, only 369 re- ceived their early religious training in the denomination; roughly one third of the recruits for the ministry come from their own denomination. By the use of an “evangelistic index” (ratio of members received on Confes- sion of Faith per one hundred members) comparisons of membership gains and losses were made. Over a period of 88 years (1860-1948) “the number of per- sons removed from the church roll be- cause of death, letter of transfer, or for other reasons has in most years been greater than the number received into the churches on Confession of Faith.” The rate of increase of church member- ship was rarely more than one per cent greater than the losses. For the Same period the loss of mem- bers coincides with financial panics and wars in cycles of about eighteen and one- half years. In Connecticut, where Con- gregational churches are consecrated, the evangelistic index has been under 3 per cent since 1930, and more than one half of the new members received 54 GOSPEL HERALD January iy, 1951 A Prayer for This Week Lord, I’m like a broken hoe that can no longer cut a garden. Rust has eaten through in spots. Hard earth and sharp stones have made me dull. But, Lord, I bring my hoe to Thee. Thou art the Master Blacksmith. Take me and put me into the fire and shape me again so that I will be a useful tool once more. —A native of Kenya. Recorded by Ernest Gordon, in The Sunday School Times. were from churches other than Congre- gational churches. Roughly 40 per cent of all Congregational cnurches reported no new members from 1940 to 1948. The pastors were asked to state the requirements for membership in their church. Jud’s summary of these findings reads: “Practically no requirements be- yond intellectual assent and sincerity of purpose are made,’’ and “little mention is made of doctrinal matters, and only a comparatively few make any mention of requirements beyond ‘faith’ and ‘de- sire to join.’ ” “Since the churches minister primarily to the middle class, it is altogether pos- sible for the average respectable member of the middle-class society to become a church member without feeling it in- cumbent upon him to change his ways or to fulfill any very demanding require- ments. The transition from nonmember to member is very easy and painless.” Most of the pastors felt that they were responsible to teach youth in prepara- tion for membership. It was found that the younger ordained men were more likely to hold both adult and youth classes for new members than were the older ministers. Jud feels that several things are re- sponsible for the inadequate prepara- tion of adults and youth for membership. Among them he mentions (1) lack of vision or laziness on the part of the pastor, (2) lack of emphasis upon the teachings of the church, (3) a false as- sumption on the part of the pastor and church that those desiring to join are already prepared for membership, and (4) a failure to appreciate the import- ance of values of the church to the group. He adds: “The Congregational churches and ministers may well ponder their lax- ity and its results.” Congregational pastors who were reared in a Congregational background held more youth instruction classes than did ministers who were reared in other denominational backgrounds. Youth instruction classes were held more frequently in the “East” than in “the rest of the country.” Attendance at these meetings was more compulsory in the “East.” Urban churches had a significantly higher number of instruction classes to prepare youth for membership than did rural churches. So much for the findings of this study. There is one aspect of church statistics which tends to give a false impression- judging the strength of the church by the number of its members. Protestant membership in general has steadily in- creased since 1900, but this increase probably reflects a higher birth rate and larger incomes than it does a general re- ligious fervor. There is likewise great discrepancy between membership and at- tendance, and the churches seldom are full except on religious holidays. The findings of this study are of real interest to us as a Mennonite group, not in any spirit of self-exaltation, but for gaining a better insight into church methods and the perpetuation and pres- ervation of Christian ideals in our own church group. A study of Mennonite methods and practices would doubtless be of great value to the church. State College, Pa. No Provision for the Flesh By Stanley C. Shenk When, in his thirty-third year, Aug- ustine (later to become famous as the great bishop of the city of Hippo) came to grips with God, he fought his battle right here on this issue of whether or not to make “provision for the flesh.” He was tired of living in the swamps of sen- suality, he longed for the bright sunlight and the clean air of the hills of God, but yet he resisted the call of God. Why? Because of the insistent demands of his flesh, his lower nature. Years later he described in the following words the ter- rible struggle of that last hour preceding his conversion: “The very toys of toys, and vanities of vanities, my ancient mistresses, still held me; they plucked my fleshly garment, and whispered soft- ly, ‘Dost thou cast us off? and from that moment shall we no more be with thee forever? and from that moment shall not this or that be lawful for thee for- ever?’ ” In his extremity, the wretched man picked up a New Testament and opened it at random. His eyes fell on the last three phrases of Rom. 13:13 and on the verse which follows. The words of Scripture struck home to his heart, and in an instant he had made his peace with God. “No further would I read; nor needed I: for instantly at the end of this sentence, by a light as it were of serenity infused into my heart, all the darkness of doubt vanished away.” Herald Youth Bible Studies. The more you think of yourself, the less you think of Christ. Prayer Requests — Pray for the safe journeying of mission- aries on the way to and from their fields. Pray that Bro. J. D. Graber may be a real blessing to our churches in Argentina, and that he may be guided in planning for future extension. Pray that the curse of permanent mili- tarism may not come upon us through Universal Military Training. Pray that the way may be opened for effective witness in alternative service by our 1-0 men. Pray for the Mission and the Church in India as they prepare to operate unit- edly under a new constitution, begin- ning July 1. Pray for our young men of draft age, and their parents, that they may stand for Christian convictions on nonresist- ance, and be willing to make personal sacrifice in the interests of Christian witness. Pray for the Brunk revival campaign in Florida. Pray that a mother of eight children and stepmother of four may have grace for her important task. (Requests for this column must be signed.) CHURCH OFFICIALS AND MEMBERS STEAL TIME Thou shalt not steal. The number of church members who steal property is very small. The number of church mem- bers who steal time belonging to other people is legion. Time stealing can be stopped by setting meetings so that most people may reasonably be expected to be there and then by starting the meeting on time. Time stealers are church officials who set the time of a meeting from 15 to 30 minutes before it can possibly start, offi- cials who never start on time even when possible, and members of organizations who never arrive at the time set and seemingly consider time to be in limit- less quantity for all.— American Luther- an. There is a Negro proverb which says that the devil helps the thief every day but that one day God helps the police- man. January 15, 1952 GOSPEL HERALD 55 OUR SCHOOLS HESSTON COLLEGE NEWS A special program is again being planned for regional Christian workers during the annual Ministers’ Week at Hesston Jan. 29 to Feb. 1. Although planned primarily for ministers, these meetings of special emphasis should be of vital interest to all church lead- ers. All areas of the work of the church will be discussed and should be mutually bene- ficial to the ordained and the laity. Clayton Beyler, head of the Bible depart- ment, will direct daily studies in the Book of Hebrews. A class in evangelism, with emphasis on the local church, will be taught by Milo Kauffman. Afternoon discussions will center on the “Rural Church” and “God’s Workmen.” Under the latter assign- ment a different office in the church will be dealt with each day. On Tuesday Harry Diener, guest instructor for winter Bible term, will handle the discussion on the work of the bishop. Duties of the minister will be discussed on Wednesday. Harold Sommer- feld, local deacon, will outline the tasks of that office Thursday. Friday the layman’s responsibility will be treated by Allen White, Peabody, Kans. Concluding the afternoon program each day will be a music period in charge of J. P. Duerksen. Scheduled for the evening period is an expository preaching workshop, directed by Ivan R. Lind. # * * Highlighting winter Bible term events is the dedication of the J. D. Charles Hall of Science and Arts Feb. 1. During open house from one to four in the afternoon, representa- tive classes will be meeting in all of the lab- oratories and choruses will be practicing each hour. This will enable visitors to receive a partial glimpse of the importance of the new science hall in relation to its actual contribu- tion to Hesston College’s educational pro- gram. From four to five a basketball game be- tween the varsity and alumni will take the spotlight. Free lunch will be served cafeteria style to all guests at 5:15. The evening dedicatory service will be held in Hess Hall. President-elect Roy D. Roth will chair the meeting; M. A. Yoder will have charge of devotions. Departmental instruc- tors Vincent Krabill, Lester Culp, and John Duerksen will relate what this building means to the science department, the agricul- ture department, and the music department. Dean Oswald will explain what the Science Hall means to the total educational program of Hesston College and Bible School. Tribute will be paid J. D. Charles and Glenn Hersh- berger by D. D. Driver. Daniel Kauffman, business manager, will also speak. Bro. Milo Kauffman, past president of Hesston College, will deliver the dedicatory address. Nelson E. Kauffman, president of the Mennonite Board of Education, will have charge of the official act of dedication and lead in the dedicatory prayer. Directing the dedicatory offering will be Harry Diener, vice-president of the Board of Education. Dr. Fred Brenneman, college physician, will pronounce the benediction. * * * Guest speakers for the Rural Life Confer- ence Feb. 1-3 will be C. R. McBride, as- sociate professor of rural leadership training, Central Baptist Theological Seminary, Kan- sas City, Kans., and Grant M. Stoltzfus, edi- tor of the “Mennonite Community,” Scott- dale, Pa. This conference is being planned to climax Ministers’ Week. Thursday after- noon Grant Stoltzfus will discuss “The Min- ister’s Responsibility in Teaching Steward- ship of the Land” while “The Rural Pastor” will be the subject handled by C. R. McBride on Friday afternoon. The latter will address the student body in the Friday morning chap- el on “The Challenge of Rural Life.” Saturday morning discussion groups will be led by the visiting speakers. Lester Culp, instructor in agriculture, will serve as chair- man of the meeting Saturday evening. In addition to the subjects, “The Sacredness of the Soil” and “Secularization in Rural Life” by the guest speakers, the film, “The River,” will be shown. “Preserving Rural Life Values” will be dis- cussed by Bro. Stoltzfus, and will be followed by McBride’s lecture, “An Expanding Rural Church.” This Sunday evening program will conclude the conference. * * * On Saturday, Dec. 15, Business Manager Dan Kauffman traveled to Greensburg, Kans., for the monthly meeting of the Board of Directors of the Greensburg-Kiowa Coun- ty Hospital. The board of directors of the hospital con- sists of four former Hesston students: San- ford Miller ’39 is chairman; Abner Zook ’12 is secretary; Dan Kauffman ’40 is treasurer; and Harold Dyck is the fifth member. # # # The annual yearbook judging contest spon- sored by Myers & Co., Inc., of Topeka, Kans., has awarded the 1951 Hesston College Lark a certificate of merit. This is the first time such an award has been granted to our school’s yearbook. The editors of the 1951 Lark were Leabell Troyer and Margaret Glick. Leabell received her A.A. degree from Hesston College in 1951. She is now engaged in nurse’s train- ing at La Junta, Colo. Margaret Glick is at present teaching school near Hutchinson, Kans. We express our thanks and congratulations to these editors by whose efforts the honorable mention was given to the 1951 Hesston Col- lege Lark. # * * Dean Walter E. Oswald will attend the meeting of the American Association of Col- leges in Washington, D.C., Jan. 7-10. He will attend the division for administrators of church-affiliated colleges. One of the aims of the group is to work out a program for a foreign students’ conference to be held in April. Oswald will also sit in on the discus- sion of another group, Christian Colleges of Kansas, who will work on the program of student solicitation and financial program. * * * Registration for the six-week Bible term began at 8:00 Jan. 2 and was completed by noon. Forty-seven have enrolled, according to a report sent from the office of the regis- trar. The average age of the Bible term stu- dents is approximately twenty years. Three church groups are represented: Old Mennon- ite, General Conference Mennonite, and Amish Mennonite. They come from thirteen different states, Kansas, Illinois, and Nebras- ka having the largest representation. Visiting instructors are Harry Diener, Hutchinson, Kans., full time; Owen Hershberger, Hess- ton, and I. Mark Ross, Hesston. Members of the regular faculty are also assisting in in- struction. Laurence Horst is director of the term. « * * The Hesston College choruses broadcasted by transcription over station KWBW in Hutchinson during the Christmas holidays Dec. 24-27. * * * The midwinter revival meetings will begin Sunday, Jan. 6. J. S. Neuhouser, Ft. Wayne, Ind., will be the evangelist. Melva Kauffman. LA JUNTA MENNONITE SCHOOL OF NURSING AND HOSPITAL NEWS Edna Amstutz, Florence Grieser, and Beulah Nice attended an all-day Institute- Evaluation at the Medical Center of the Colorado University in Denver Nov. 16. On Nov. 26 Edna Amstutz, director of nursing education, attended a meeting of the executive officers of the administrative sec- tion of the Colorado State Nurses’ Associa- tion together with the members of the policies and program committee. A two-day Institute on Hospital Nursing Service Administration was planned, to be held April 24, 25, 1952. Maude Swartzendruber spent Dec. 11, 12 at Hesston, Kans., in the interests of prac- tical nursing. From there she journeyed to Chicago, where she attended a meeting of the Executive Committee of the Mennonite Board of Education Dec. 13. On Dec. 10 Florence Grieser and Edna Amstutz attended a meeting in Las Animas in regard to nursing aspects in atomic war- fare. Miss Grieser spoke on “Nursing Care in Atomic Warfare.” Myrtle Schweitzer and Virginia Nafziger accompanied Dr. Sherwin Johnston, director of Otero County Public Health Department, to Swink on Dec. 10 to attend a county meet- ing of the Tuberculosis Association. Arlene Sitler, field representative, spent the forepart of December in Virginia, where she acquainted the church constituency with the La Junta Mennonite School of Nursing pro- gram and contacted prospective students. From Virginia, Sister Sitler visited several GOSPEL HERALD January iy, .1952 PEACE AND WAR The Status of Conscientious Objectors in Europe By Ford Berg 56 'churches in the Southwestern Pennsylvania Conference district. She spent the Christmas holidays with her home folks at Hespeler, Ont. Since the holiday season she is touring the Ontario Mennonite churches in the in- terests of the La Junta Mennonite School of Nursing. Marie Yoder, R.N., who is home on fur- lough from Puerto Rico, spent Dec. 1-4 in the La Junta community. She spoke in the morn- ing worship service on Sunday, Dec. 2, and gave an illustrated lecture in the evening concerning her work in Puerto Rico. On Tuesday morning she spoke in chapel, in the afternoon to the graduate nurses, and in the evening was the guest speaker at the Student Council Prayer Meeting. The Student Council planned special daily programs which were broadcast to the hos- pital wards and dining room during each noon hour of Thanksgiving week. All hospital and school personnel enjoyed a free turkey dinner on Thanksgiving Day. The turkeys were donated by Paul J. Hersh- ey, president of the local hospital board. On Dec. 2 the freshman quartet, composed of Norma Jean Weldy, Viola Diener, Leabell Troyer, and Mary Schlegel, assisted the Bap- tist Tabernacle minister in his Sunday eve- ning radio program by rendering several numbers of music. Various student music groups have been singing for the different P.T.A. programs in La Junta during Novem- ber and December. The Nurses’ Chorus, di- rected by Betty Rice, R.N., sang on the hos- pital wards several times during the Christ- mas season. The patients deeply appreciate the singing by the nurses and wish they could hear them more often. The Nurses’ Chorus presented their Christmas program at the church on Friday evening, Dec. 21. The Church Chorus, under the direction of Irene Cook, also gave several numbers at this time. On Sunday afternoon, Dec. 16, the La Junta Junior College and Community Chorus, under the direction of Dr. Robert Barron, presented excerpts from Handel’s “Messiah.” A number of hospital and school personnel participated in this rendition of the “Mes- siah.” The freshman class entertained a group of fourteen children ranging in age from three to six years on Friday afternoon, Dec. 14, in the social room of Miller Hall. Fifteen freshman nurses were formally ac- cepted into the La Junta Mennonite School of Nursing on Sunday evening, Dec. 16, at the acceptance service held at the Mennonite Church. Menno Troyer and son, Curtis, from Conway, Kans., were the only out-of- state guests present. They came to see their -daughter and sister, Leabell Troyer, who is one of the fifteen freshman nurses. Marjorie Yoder, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. M. A. Yoder, of Hesston, Kans., was award- ed a fifty-dollar scholarship by the Women’s Auxiliary to the Colorado State Medical Society. Rosalina Ortiz, freshman nursing student, told about Christmas in her homeland, at the Women’s Fellowship which met in the social room of Miller Hall on Dec. 14. The project was to bring food and clothing for a needy family of ten children. The following has been taken from the thirty-six-page report by Bro. Guy F. Hershberger for the Peace Section of the Mennonite Central Committee on his commission in Europe. He was assigned to study pacifism in Europe, nonresis- tance among the Mennonites, and the general position of conscientious objec- tors. The copy of his report was ob- tained from the M.C.C., Akron, Pa. A ustria Austria, which is 90 per cent Catholic, at the present time has no army or con- scription and the constitution says noth- ing about C.O.’s. Although there is a paper list of about fifteen to twenty peace groups, so-called, the membership is small, and generally the leadership weak. Some are interested in world govern- ment, a few in human rights, a few in socialism, and some tend toward com- munism. None really represent the C.O. point of view. Belgium Belgium has compulsory military serv- ice and no constitutional provision for C.O.’s. Public opinion toward C.O.’s is less good now than before the war be- cause many of the prewar political C.O.’s turned traitors during the war, and the state church is opposed to pacifism. The number of C.O.’s is very small. In several cases in recent years C.O.’s have not been called. Some C.O.’s have been assigned to work in coal mines in lieu of military service. England C.O.’s in England during World War I numbered 16,000, and during World The Graduate Nurses’ Study Club met in Miller Hall on Dec. 17. Before beginning the meeting, the group went to Nora Miller’s home and sang carols for her. Following the business meeting, the evening was spent wrapping gifts for local children and singing carols. A number of the voluntary service unit journeyed to Kim, Colo., on Sunday evening, Dec. 23, to carol for various ones in the com- munity there. On Monday evening, Dec. 24, the M.Y.F. group caroled in La Junta and the Cheraw community. The Colorado M.Y.F. arranged for a Bible Normal to be held in La Junta over the holi- day season, Dec. 27-30. Classes were con- ducted in Miller Hall during the day and evening services were held in the church. We covet your prayers for our work here and pray God’s blessing upon each one of you throughout the coming year. Marie Kaufman. War II when 8,300,000 men registered, 67,000 were provisionally registered as C.O.’s. By December, 1948, British Tri- bunals (courts set up to judge the valid- ity of C.O. claims) had ordered 62,301 of the provisional registrants to be classi- fied as follows: Noncombatant Service 17,231 (27.7%) Denied C.O. Standing 18,495 (29.7%) Unconditional C.O.’s 2,937 ( 4.7%) C.O.’s to do Civilian Work 23,638 (37.9%) Thus 26,000 men were adjudged sin- cere C.O.’s and were excused from the military arm. (U.S. had about 10,000.) The 2,937 men given an unconditional rating were apparently exempted com- pletely, while the 23,638 were ordered to undertake civil work or training. The latter group was permitted to do foreign relief work such as under UNRRA and the Friends’ ambulance unit. The organized peace movement in England is extensive. There are active groups such as the Fellowship of Recon- ciliation (FOR), the War Resisters’ In- ternational (WRI), and the Peace Pledge Union (PPU). Today the FOR has 14,000 members and the PPU has 13,000. The Quakers in England are very strong in their objection to war. Sixty- nine per cent of the Quakers in England called up registered as C.O.’s. (In United States about 40 per cent of all Mennon- ites registered as C.O.’s) The Methodists, the Anglicans, and the Plymouth Breth- ren have also produced many C.O.’s. Peace literature in England is volu- minous, including an eight-page weekly paper actually sold over the newsstands. The general over-all British attitude was expressed by Churchill early in World War II when he said: “The rights which have been granted in this war and the last to conscientious objectors are well known, and are a definite part of British policy. Anything in the nature of prose- cutions, victimizations, or man-hunting is odious to the British people.” France One year of military service is re- quired by France, with no provision for C.O.’s. Those refusing to serve are to be sent to prison. There have been a very small number of C.O.’s, and some are given phyiscal discharges to avoid public issues. In 1948 the Synod of the French Protestant Church (France has 1,000,000 Protestants and 42,000,000 Catholics) adopted a resolution to officially support C.O.’s. Very little literature is produced. January 15, 1952 GOSPEL HERALD 5? French Mennonites Nonresistance has been nearly lost among the French and Alsatian Mennon- ites, although the doctrine is still be- lieved in “a vague and general way.” In- terestingly, many of the French Mennon- ites have retained their Swiss citizenship (most are of Swiss background) specifi- cally to avoid military service, which is done by paying a Swiss military tax. This, they feel, has kept them somewhat in line with the traditional Mennonite position. However, there has been no teaching on nonresistance for several o generations, and those not under Swiss citizenship have accepted army service without hesitation; in fact, a consider- able number of men lost their lives while soldiering. There has been a definite resurgence of teaching on nonresistance since the war. Pierre Widmer, a Mennonite min- ister whose story, From Military Service to Christian Nonresistance, has sold widely in America, has been a definite influence on the French Mennonites. A former officer, he has renounced his com- mission. He is editor of the official French Mennonite organ, Christ Seul, in which he openly proclaims nonresist- ance. Germany Hitler silenced peace groups, and C.O.’s either renounced their position or were liquidated. About 1,000 C.O.’s, mostly Jehovah’s Witnesses, were shot. Since the fall of Hitler, Germany has no army or navy, and so there is no con- scription. Organizations like the FOR and the WRI have made steps to provide legal measures for C.O.’s, supposing that conscription will eventually be used again. Three provinces, Bavaria, Wuerttem- berg-Baden, and Hesse, all in the Ameri- can Zone, have made constitutional pro- vision for C.O.’s. The British military government, in the British Zone, refused to permit recognition to C.O.’s, claiming that this is a matter for the German fed- eral government and not for the indi- vidual states to decide. Soon following, on May 8, 1949, the federal government guaranteed complete freedom of con- science and religion. Germany has peace organizations such as the FOR and the WRI, which are dW tributing some peace literature. There are numerous other peace organizations, with different types of pacifism. Even the Catholics have a significant peace movement. The German Mennonites From about 1850 on, nonresistance among the German Mennonites declined until by World War II it was practically gone. In 1937, with Hitler on the goose step with his brownshirts, the official church paper of the North German Mennonite conference even published an article declaring the loyalty of the German churches to the Hitler band- wagon. Since the end of World War II, there are indications of a renewed interest in nonresistance. In 1949 a peace confer- ence brought the doctrine into the open. Christian Schnebele, a Mennonite min- ister and a former officer in Hitler’s le- gions, openly confessed his sin in par- ticipating in the war. Few have been willing to admit that much. In 1950, the German churches went on record as of- ficially committed to nonresistance. Some of the Mennonite papers carry articles openly on nonresistance, some of which are written by Schnebele. The signs are hopeful, but time will disclose the interest. Holland Holland’s C.O.’s have been given spe- cial consideration since 1923. In 1947. a system, patterned very much after the U.S. system of C.P.S. during World War II, was established. The C.O.’s are as- signed to civilian work such as agricul- tural and soil conservation, mental hos- pital service, and work in government administrative offices. The barracks and working and living conditions are simi- lar to our C.P.S. program, except that the camps are operated by the govern- ment, and the men are paid for their work. During the period of 1946-49, about 1,000 men claimed the C.O. posi- tion. Of these, 49.5 per cent were given C.O. status, 33 per cent were adjudged insincere, and 17.5 per cent were excused as medically unfit. There are important pacifist organiza- tions, and considerable peace literature is being distributed. Dutch Mennonites By 1900, nonresistance had nearly van- ished among the Dutch Mennonites. During World War I there was one C.O. who took his stand. During the 1920’s and 1930’s a body of Dutch Mennonites presented vigorous opposition to mili- tary service. Following World War II, the emphasis of this group changed, bas- ing their objection more on nonresist- ance than against militarism. By 1950, the Biblical position in the Mennonite peace movement became predominant. The Dutch Mennonite peace group at present has been co-operating with the M.C.C. in a modest program of relief, is publishing a monthly periodical, main- tains a peace bureau which provides spir- itual and technical assistance to C.O.’s, and maintains a peace center at Heere- wegen, the M.C.C. center in Holland. Scandinavian Countries All-Scandinavian, countries have con- scription and all give legal recognition to C.O.’s. Denmark has an alternative service program, with the C.O.’s engaged in for- estry service exclusivelv. The term of service is eighteen months and life in camps is similar to our C.P.S. camps. In 1948, 117 men were recognized as C.O.’s, most of them being Jehovah’s Witnesses. The War Resisters’ International is ac- tive and membership is about equivalent to acceptance as a C.O. Finland, since 1931, permits C.O.’s to perform civilian service during peace- time, but in time of war the C.O. posi- tion is a crime, punished by the military code. There were about 200 C.O.’s in prison during World War II. Norway provides alternative civilian service, with the period of service 50 per cent longer than the required military service. Length of terms can be reduced by diligent work by doing assigned jobs in less time than the maximum allotted. Relief service on the continent counts as alternative service. Sweden grants alternative civilian ser vice for C.O.’s by having them work as nurses in military hospitals or cottage hospitals, as clerks or professional work: ers on military staffs and units, as work- ers in civil defense as in the fire depart- ment, and on general civilian duties. Italy All men in Italy except Roman Cath- olic priests, are eligible for military serv- ice. C.O.’s are not recognized. There is no strong pacifist organization in Italy, although there is a small WRI group and a small FOR unit. The Waldensian Church, although not nonresistant, has many pastors committed to this view. Hope lies within this group. Switzerland Conscription in Switzerland is re- quired of all men, except exempted clergymen, who must pay a military tax. In the last several years there have been about 100 C.O.’s tried by Swiss military courts. Very short prison sentences are given. Efforts have been made to legalize the C.O. position, without success. There are active peace organizations. The Swiss Mennonites . ' ' : :..rj Of the sixty-seven C.O.’s brought up for trial in Switzerland from 1930 to 1945, forty-one were Jehovah’s Witness- es, seventeen were members of the Apostolic Christian (or New Amish) Church, and not one was a Mennonite. Mennonites have served in the army since 1875. About fifty per cent of those serving in the army now serve in the medical corps, which is an unarmed non- combantant corps. However, since World War II, it is said that all but one noncombatant corps is armed. There is", a revival of interest in. the true position of nonresistance in Switzer- land, although most still feel that service in the medical corps is satisfactory. :v Scottdale, Pa. V The more we examine our contempo- rary economic structure the more we are convinced that much more work remains to be done before we understand the social implications of our nonresistant faith as fully as we ought.— Guy F. Hersh- berger. 58 GOSPEL HERALD January 15, 1952 TO BE NEAR TO GOD THEME FOR WEEK: YOUTH Sunday, January 20 "But his mother kept all these sayings in her heart. And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man" (Luke 2:51b, 52). Some people view Mary as semidivine, and some, seeking to avoid “Mariolatry,” pass Mary by with too little recognition. In any assay of the problem of growing youth her attitudes must be considered. She it was who pondered and weighed the sayings of her Son. His youth did not bloom into the beauty of Godlike manhood overnight. He had to learn the sacred Scriptures; He had to learn obedience; He had to learu how to make a yoke; He who never was in rebellion never- theless was subject to His parents. I appreci- ate the fact that our Lord could be reared by a parent who pondered. Would to God that all youth could be so reared. Monday, January 21 "And as Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a damsel came to hearken, named Rhoda. And when she knew Peter's voice, she opened not the gate for gladness, but ran in, and told how Peter stood be- fore the gate" (Acts 12:13, 14). Adolescent youth may absolutely be de- pended upon to be both undependable and unpredictable. “For gladness,” mind you, she did NOT open the gate; emotion was so far ahead of reason. She even takes time off for an argument, letting him knock the while. Depend upon physician Luke to record faith- fully the adolescent attitude (“they do the dumbest things”). But they are lovable, over- flowing their emotions, leaving the gate latched, shutting the dear old apostle out “for gladness.” This Monday morning is a good time to thank the Lord that you can help steer some youth through this time of impetu- ous emotion. Tuesday, January 22 "Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes: but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment" (Eccl. 11:9). So very often this verse is taken as a re- buke to sin, but it is just as truly an incentive to righteousness. I have seen youth walking in the ways of his heart, and the result was good indeed. Young folks led a sane and en- joyable social life, and as a result a good Christian partner was found from among the group, a Christian family was set up, and a God-inspired vocation found for the new household. We need to help youth to see that godliness yields the highest dividends. Let youth govern his emotions, then let him walk in the ways of his heart, that is, his emotions. Today we need to thank God that we can so assist youth. Wednesday, January 23 "Arise, anoint him: for this is he" (I Sam. 16:12). We older folks have our opinions. We are not to be blamed for that. We look to our own generation to have the sense and judg- ment that it takes to run the world today. BUT, we little know how much of the world’s woe is due to the very effective chok- ing of the viewpoint of youth. I do not here advocate the turning over of the helm to the youngest sailor just because he is the young- est. I do advocate the open-mindedness of a Samuel which listens to God’s voice when it says, “I have chosen this for the future.” Our Davids may not be now called to present usefulness, but in myriad ways they are called now to future usefulness. Let us pray that we, like Samuel, may have an open ear to God’s selectivity. Thursday, January 24 "As for these four children, God gave them knowl- edge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams" (Dan. 1:17). Oh, to have wise children, children whose wisdom has been God-inspired. The recipe for such children seems to be implied in the context. If children with backbone are sent away from home, children who have learned to pray, then we may expect wise children, according to this passage. Here were children with spirit, because here were dedicated chil- dren. Perhaps it is not always true that chil- dren thus trained and taught are safe out in the world, but it usually is true. Happy those parents whose children have manifested the characteristics of wisdom, God-given wisdom. Friday, January 25 "When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also" (II Tim. 1:5). Faith dwelt in young Timothy. It was no accident, in this case. Here was no child rescued from the wild; here was a third gen- eration faith. Faith is not inherited; the son of a Christian is no better than another, but faith is certainly imparted. I observe in my children the slant of my own views in reli- gious matters, and that in matters in which I have not consciously instructed them. Yes, faith is imparted by faithful mothers. I heard recently of a man who said that he received his instruction at his mother’s knee, and over his father’s very determined knee. By moth- er’s believing faith and father’s acting faith was he reared. Both are unfeigned, without pretense. God give us strength today to im- part unfeigned faith to youth. We may be training a Timothy for future usefulness. Saturday, January 26 "And the Lord came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth" (I Sam. 3:10). Children do not come by their knowledge of the Lord by intuition. They must be in- structed. We do not allow them to come by their mathematics, history, and table manners by intuition; we train them. So must they be trained in religious matters. Very few of our children have the advantages which Sam- (Coniinued on next page) A FOLLOWER OF JESUS? Sunday School Lesson for January 27 (John 3:1-21; 7:45-52; 19:38-42) Consider the followers of Jesus studied to date. What concept of “follower” has been built up in these studies? We hardly know whether we can call the man of this study a follower or not. How we wish we could. What an influence he would have been! Nicodemus was a pre-eminent, highly edu- cated man, such as seldom follow Jesus to- day. Yet we know Jesus yearns to see them saved and we should too. This man was a Pharisee, a member of the anti-Christ party. Being a member of the Sanhedrin he must have been a scholar in Biblical law. He knew the Old Testament Scriptures. Per- haps he was really waiting to see this light and this glory of Israel. Why should this learned Pharisee have come to the despised Galilean prophet? He must have felt like those who heard the Ser- mon on the Mount. Jesus spake with authori- ty and not like the scribes. Here was truth — truth for living, truth that he should know too. When Nicodemus recognized Jesus as Teacher he seems to have given no evidence that He was more than a teacher to him, perhaps one like himself. This we read into the story from Jesus’ answer. What Jesus came to bring was salvation, a change of heart. This need Nicodemus did not rec- ognize. He did not recognize Jesus as a Life-giver. He did not think of himself as a sinner. The “musts” of Jesus’ answer ex- press the basis of following Jesus (our theme this quarter). It is not to be religious or cul- tured, but to be born anew from above, to be transformed by renewing of one’s mind, to become a new creature in Christ Jesus. His coming at night suggests that it was difficult for Nicodemus to approach Jesus, but we can be so glad that he came, even with much to hinder. And think what op- portunity this gave Jesus to teach for all times what true discipleship is. We can’t ex- plain how one gets a new heart, but we thank God He can give it. What immediately followed Nicodemus’ talk with Jesus we know not. We pity the formalist. Yet we are glad to see him stand up for Christ later in the Sanhedrin. And still more courageously at the cross he boldly asked for the body of Jesus and lovingly buried it with costly spices (“about an hun- dred pound weight”). Surely we can call him a friend if not a follower. Jesus spared not the needed truth in deal- ing with the self-righteous Pharisees. Per- haps few became followers. Is it not true: How hardly shall they that trust in their own righteousness enter into the kingdom? Be sure your pupils are not trusting in deeds of the law. Rom. 3:20. — Alta Mae Erb. Lesson based on "International Sunday School Les- sons: the International Bible Lessons ior Christian Teaching," copyrighted 1951 by the Division oi Chris- tian Education National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. January 15, 195 2 GOSPEL HERALD 59 FAMILY CIRCLE Dual Daughter By Lorie Conley Gooding I am Martha’s daughter. My days are full of care. There’s no time for resting and reading, And little for praise and prayer. But late in the quiet evening When the xuork is put away, I keep a time to study. To meditate and pray. Though Mary and Martha were differ- ent. In me they are reconciled. By day I am daughter to Martha; At night I am Mary’s child. Holmesville, Ohio. The Quiet Time By Eunice Shellenberger “You know, Mother, I liked it this evening,” said my little daughter as she gave me an extra hug on going to bed. “It seemed—” She searched for the right word to express her feeling of satis- faction. “It seemed sort of like Christ- mas.” “Like Christmas!” I am sure that I know just what she meant; a sense of mutual love, shared fun, and the cozy oneness of a family group. I thought back on the hour that had given her that treasured feeling. There had been noth- ing special about what we had done, just our usual evening story, songs, and con- versation, but it had satisfied the vague restlessness that is part of a child at the thought of closing his eyes to another day. Bedtime can come very abruptly to an active child— so abruptly thM his whole being rebels. It means the cessation of oftentimes boisterous play. It means the complete shutting himself off from all that seems so important to him. To some unhappy children comes the dread of the frightening dreams that they must expect. What a child listens to before going to bed can be the determining factor for or against pleasant sleep ex- periences. Happy is the child whose parents ar- range for at least a half hour of quiet be- fore bedtime. Whatever the activity may be, if planned wisely, it will serve to quiet tired nerves and relax active mus- cles. A child will often play actively un- til a late hour with no hint of drowsi- ness, when a few minutes of quiet re- laxation would have put him in a sleepy state hours earlier. There are many profitable ways in which to spend this precious thirty min- utes. If the children are old enough, this time may be spent in memorizing and studying Bible chapters. Youngsters and oldsters alike will profit by a few min- utes spent thus. Everyone loves to sing. What better time than close of day could there be to enjoy this inspiring activity? Even small children will learn and appreciate many of our time-honored hymns if they are given an opportunity to sing them with Daddy and Mother. There is that rich source of stories, the Bible. Our copy of Egermeier’s Bible Stories has been read through aloud at least three times with no thought of its being boring. What a great opportunity for parents to acquaint their children with Bible background! There is a vast supply of good literature waiting to be enjoyed in just this manner. Children love conversation with adults. They wonder about so many things, and all too often have no chance of having that wonder rewarded with understanding. Certainly we parents would do well to visit the child’s mental foundries and see his mind at work. We would do well to raise our minds to the level of awe and wonderment that is the child’s. Although bedtime activities may be slanted to the small child’s understand- ing, older boys and girls will almost in- variably lay aside their work or play and enjoy the quiet time as much as the little ones. There comes a time when Daddy’s knee and Mother’s arms can no longer fill a child’s need for love. This does not mean that the need has ceased to be. It is still there and needs to be responded to just as surely as the small child’s need. When that time comes parents can bolster the child’s confidence in himself and his world by admitting him into their conversational and thought life and giving him themselves as a sounding board for his dreams and ideas. He must be recognized as an individual by his family before he has the courage to ex- press himself to his environment. The quiet time then becomes the time for long thoughts, trusted confidences, and shared visions. It will be a time of spiritual growth and personal develop- ment. It will send the child to his rest with a relaxed body, a clear mind, and a nurtured soul. He will sleep sweetly and quietly. He will know that no harm can befall him because he has learned of the love of God in experiencing to the full the love of his father and mother as they interpret God to him. Goshen, Ind. EXPRESSIONS OF APPRECIATION We wish to thank our relatives, friends, the Sunshine Sewing Circle, and the Sunday school for remembering us with the prayers, gifts, and Christmas greetings that we received over the Christmas season. May the Lord richly bless each one of you is our prayer. — Harry L. and Alma M. Lehman, Chambersburg, Pa. * * * I want to express my sincere thanks to the many friends, relatives, Sunday-school classes, and sewing circles for remembering me with cards, flowers, prayers, gifts, and visits during my stay in the hospital and since my return home. May the Lord bless you all. — Mrs. Ben- jamin Z. Mellinger, New Holland, Pa. * * • With sincere appreciation I wish to thank our many relatives and friends who remem- bered me with prayers, cards, gifts, letters, and flowers during my stay at the Cleveland Clinic Hospital and since my return home. May the Lord richly bless each one of you is my prayer. — Dan H. Miller, Conneaut Lake, Pa. * * * We wish to express our thanks to our many relatives and friends for the kindness shown by prayer, visits, gifts, cards, flowers, and other tokens of love to our dear father and grand- father during his illness. We also wish to thank those who gave expressions of sympathy during our bereavement in his passing. May the Lord bless each one of you for your kindness. — Children and grandchildren of Daniel C. Dupler, Columbia, Pa. * * * We wish to express our sincere thanks and appreciation to all kind relatives, neighbors, and friends who remembered us with prayer, letters, and cards of sympathy during our' re- cent bereavement in the death of our dear mother. May the Lord bless each one of you. — Adam R. Stauffer and family, R. 1, Epbrata, Pa. * * • I want to express my sincere thanks to those who remembered me in my shut-in hours with cards and Christmas and birthday greetings. — Mrs. E. A. Mast, R. 4, Kokomo, Ind. * * * I wish to thank my relatives and many friends for remembering me with cards, flowers, and other gifts while at the Goshen Hospital and since returning home. Especially do we thank you for your prayers. We feel the Lord has answered them, and we ask Him to re- ward and bless each of you. — S. G. Winey, 1701 S. Main, Goshen, Ind. * * * I wish to say thank you to my many friends and relatives for the gifts, letters, and cards sent me for Christmas; and thank you to the carolers. May the Lord bless you all is my wish and prayer. — Mrs. Peter S. Martin. Happy he With such a mother! Faith in woman- kind Beats with his blood, and trust in all things high Comes easy to him, and tho’ he trip and fall. He shall not blind his soul with clay. —Tennyson. TO BE NEAR TO GOD (Continued) uel had, both of birth and surroundings. Still he did not KNOW the Lord, though he knew much ABOUT Him through the temple service. He certainly must have had a factual knowledge of the form of worship current in his day and he certainly knew the command- ments on which it was based. But to know the Lord as a person, to speak with Him and feel His nearness, in this sense he did not know the Lord. Today we may introduce our children to the God who speaks to their hearts. He will tell them His plans, if they learn to KNOW Him. He is good to know. — J. Paul Sauder. 60 GOSPEL HERALD January 15, 1952 FIELD Items to appear In this column for any issue „of the {allowing Tuesday must reach Scottdale by Wednesday morning. The chorus from the Midway Church, Columbiana, Ohio, gave a program at Kidron, Ohio, on Dec. 30. Bro. C. F Derstine reports splendid inter- est in the Bible Conference at the Shore Church, Shipshewana, Ind. The Youth Con- ference was canceled on account of a snow- storm. Bro. Derstine announces the follow- ing addresses: Feb. 6, Messiah Bible College, Grantham, Pa.; Feb. 8, Christian Business- men’s Bible Conference, Y.M.C.A., Lancas- ter, Pa.; Feb. 9, Youth for Christ, Pottstown, Pa.; Feb. 10, Monterey, Bird-in-Hand, Pa.; Feb. 11, Greenwood, Del., Amish Mennonite Church; Feb. 12, 13, Denbigh, Va. Bro. J. H. Hess is directing the singing in the evangelistic meetings at Kitchener, Ont. Bro. Derstine is conducting his forty-fifth evangelistic series in the home congregation. The Freeport, 111., congregation has issued an eight-page newsletter including communi- cations from workers of that congregation in the. Mennonite Children’s Home, West Lib- erty, Ohio, in M.C.C. relief work in Java, in nursing instruction at Goshen College, in the Boys’ Orphanage at Bragado, Argentina, in nursing supervision at La Junta, Colo., and on an evangelistic trip to Sicily. A cradle roll department has been added as a new evangelistic outreach of the Albany, Oreg., congregation. The inter-literary society organization in Qntario sponsored a watch-night service at Kitchener. Table of Contents 49 — That Church Letter The Living Church (Poem) 5(L— Mischief or Meanness So Much Wastepaper? 51 — The Harmonia Sacra Singing 52 — Leaven in ' Scriptural Teaching It Happened 53 — Nature (Poem) Dead Statistics as Index to Evangelism 54 — A Prayer for This Week No Provision for the Flesh Prayer Requests 55 — Hesston College News La Junta Mennonite School of Nursing and Hos- , , pital News 56 — The Status of Conscientious Objectors in Europe 58 — To Be Near to God Sunday School Lesson for January 27 59— Dual Daughter (Poem) The Quiet Time Expressions of Appreciation 60 — Field Notes 61 — Mission News 62 — The Vision That Brought Salvation 63 — "Ye Shall Be Witnesses unto Me" Annual Christian Workers' Normal, Madhya Pradesh 64 — Our Mission Program in Kansas City 65 — Dr. Kagawa's Congregation in Tokyo From Bihca, India 66 — What Is That in Thine Hand? Women's Activities M.C.C. Weekly Notes 67 — Church Correspondence 69 — Births 70 — Marriages Obituaries 71— The Book Shelf Items and Comments NOTES The mixed chorus from St. Jacobs, Ont., rendered a cantata at Hawkesville the eve- ning of Dec. 30 and at Kitchener on Jan. 6. The St. Jacobs congregation is inaugurating a Bible-reading program, under which the members of the congregation will read the Bible through in three years and the New Testament in one year. Bro. T. C. Yoder is conducting a singing school at Yoder, Kans. Bro. Earl Maust, Harrisonburg, Va., held a singing class at the Pigeon River Church, Pigeon, Mich., during the holidays. The Pigeon congregation joined with the Pigeon River congregation in the final service of song. Bro. T. E. Schrock, accompanied by a group from the Fairview Bible School, was scheduled to give a program at Pigeon, Mich., on Jan. 13. Bro. James Bucher may be addressed Jan. 13 to Feb. 15 in care of Edgar S. Denlinger, 203 Eby Street, East Brewton, Ala. Prayers are solicited for revival meetings at that place. The average attendance of pupils in Men- nonite Sunday schools is seventy-five per cent, according to Bro. J. J. Hostetler. That means that on the average Sunday over 20,- 000 pupils are absent. A Bible Conference was held at Manson, Iowa, Dec. 27-30, with Paul M. Miller and J. Lawrence Burkholder, Goshen, Ind., as instructors. The Pinto, Md., congregation conducts services at the Old People’s Home in Mary- land one Sunday each month. The Faith and Practice Commission of the state M.Y.F. in Colorado held a Bible Normal at La Junta Dec. 27-30. The Sugarcreek-Bethel M.Y.F., Wayland, Iowa, recently made contributions to the Palmer tract work, to the Hannibal Christ- for-Today broadcast, and for the Calvary Hour broadcast. The first service in the new Kingview Church, East Scottdale, was held by the Scott- dale Ladies’ Chorus on New Year’s Eve. The church wiU be ready for regular use in a few weeks. New workers at the Publishing House are Mary Ellen Hochstetler, Nappanee, Ind., and Stanley Yoder, West Liberty, Ohio. Stanley was a former worker. The secretary’s minute books of the Men- nonite Board of Education for the years 1939- 49 — the period of service as secretary of Bro. C- F. Yake — have been deposited with other records of the Board in the archives of the Mennonite Church at Goshen, Ind. From several sources has come a request that in the birth notice column we include how many children have been born into the family. We will publish such information when it is sent to us by the parents reporting. The registration during the first week at the Ontario Mennonite Bible School was 127. Seven states and two provinces are repre- sented. For the Thursday evening classes 150 have enrolled. With Bible Institute en- rollment the registration totals 316. Allow- ing for duplications, the basic enrollment stands at 261. The second semester of the Bible Institute begins Jan. 14. Reflections is the name of a mimeographed newssheet which periodically is circulated to the Mt. Joy, Pa., congregation. The latest issue announces the ordination of Bro. Rob- ert Garber for mission work in Ethiopia on Jan. 13; also that Bro. Russell Baer will teach a course on Christian Life on Friday eve- nings in January, February, and March. Bro. H. E. Hostetler, aged deacon of the Pleasant Valley congregation, Harper, Kans., passed to his reward on Jan. 2. Funeral serv- ices were held Jan. 5. Obituary later. Bro. Sanford E. King, pastor of the Hutch- inson, Kans., Mission, conducted a daily de- votional broadcast over a local station during Christmas week. He was assisted by singers from Hesston College. The Hartville, Ohio, congregation, which has been worshiping in a basement church for several years, is planning to complete its building. The Holy Spirit’s working was remarkably evident in the closing evening of revivals at the Zion Church, Hubbard, Oreg. In a serv- ice of testimony, reconsecration, and confes- sion, many experienced forgiveness and help from God. Linford Hackman served as evan- gelist. The third annual Ministers’ Workshop was conducted at the Hannibal Mission Church Jan. 1-4. Bro. Paul M. Miller, Goshen, Ind,, and Bro. Roy D. Roth, Hesston, Kans., served as instructors. Ministers were present from Culp, Ark,, Versailles, Mo., and the four churches in northeastern Missouri. The testi- mony of all present was that the workshop (Continued on page 68) . Calendar Conference on Summer Camps, Sponsored by Com- mission for Christian Education and Young Peo- ple's Work, Salem Church, Elida, Ohio, Jan. 25, 26 Winter Bible School, Goshen College, Jan. 28 to March 7 Special Bible Term, Eastern Mennonite College, Har- risonburg, Va., Jan. 29 to March 10 Annual Christian Day School Meeting, New Danville, Pa., Feb. 16 Mennonite Publication Board, Annual Meeting, Way- land, Iowa, Feb. 20, 21 Conference on Christian Community Relations, Tis- kilwa. 111., March 27-29 Lay Evangelism Conference, Goshen College, Go- shen, Ind., April 5-7 Mennonite Youth Fellowship Workshop, Iowa Men- nonite School, Kalona, Iowa, June 9-12 Mennonite Youth Fellowship Annual Meeting, Lower Deer Creek Church, Kalona, Iowa, June 13, 14 Mennonite Board of Missions and Charities, Annual Meeting, Lower Deer Creek Church, Kalona, Iowa, June 14-17 Laurelville Mennonite Camp, Mt. Pleasant, Pa. Boys' Camp (ages 9-12) — June 28 — July 4 Girts' Camp (ages 9-12) — July 5-11 Junior High Camp (boys and girls — ages 13-15) July 12-18 Missionary Bible Conference — July 19-25 First Family Week — July 26 — August 1 First Young People's Institute — August 2-8 Second Young People's Institute — August 9-15 Second Family Week — August 16-22 Victorious Life Conference — August 23-24 Music Week — -August 25-29 Southwestern Pennsylvania Conference, Springs, Pd.', July 20-23 Illinois Mennonite Conference, Flanagan, 111., Aug: 19-21 Mennonite General Conference, Place Undecided ■ Aug. 26-30, 1953 - .3 January 15, 1952 GOSPEL HERALD 61 Go, Preach . MISSIONS • Give, Pray The General Board Headquarters lor Missions, Relief and Service: 1711 Prairie Street, Elkhart, Indiana. Telephone, Elkhart 2-2786. I onP. . i ,r ....... , • Mission News The building work at Bathet, Bihar, India, is progressing rapidly. “God is answering prayer,” says Bro. John Beachy about the change for the better in the matter of build- ing bricks that don’t crack while drying. The well has some water, but digging continues through stone in an effort to find more water. A brick kiln of 60,000 bricks was to be fired before Christmas holidays. The foundation for the bungalow is being put down. The servants’ houses and garage are nearing com- pletion. Bro. Lee Kanagy, missionary in language school in Tokyo, Japan, writes the day fol- lowing Christmas: “We received many greet- ings from friends in the States, telling us that they were remembering us in prayer, for which we are ever grateful. This is Christian fellowship indeed.” A Christmas offering by the Mennonite churches in Puerto Rico was taken during the season for the building of the Coamo Arriba church. This offering amounted to $428.40. This is an encouraging step to an indigenous church on the island. On Thursday, Dec. 20, the annual Christ- mas dinner was held at the Chicago Home Mission. Around 175 boys, girls, and adults enjoyed the foods prepared by the various country churches of Indiana and Illinois, The annual meeting of the Mennonite churches in Puerto Rico will be held Feb. 15-17 at La Plata. Bro. J. D. Graber, secre- tary of the Mennonite Board of Missions and Charities, will be present for the occasion. A Gospel team from Goshen College gave a program at the Mennonite Mission in De- troit, Mich., on Jan. 2. Attendance at the Saginaw, Mich., Gospel Center is increasing, the highest attendance being 105. Bro. LeRoy Bechler, who is pas- tor of this Negro work, recently reported the first funeral conducted in their church. An eighteen-year-old girl who had become a Christian through the work of the summer Bible school and the personal witness of Sis- ter Bechler, died of pneumonia following an operation. Her testimony left a witness in the community. A baby girl, Carol Martha, was born to B. Frank and Anna Byler, missionaries at Bragado, Argentina, on Dec. 24. Bro. and Sister Weldon Martin, mission- aries at Mathis, Texas, and in language school at Saltillo, Mexico, at. the present time, write: “This week Catholic churches all oyer Mexi- co celebrated the legendary appearance of the ‘Everlasting Virgin. Mary, Mother of .God,’ to a poor Indian back in 1531. ... It was the most pagan celebration, we have ever seen, the beat of the drum resembling that of an African tom-tom. The Virgin of Gua- dalupe has merely been substituted by the church to take the place of Tonantin, the rain god of the Aztec Indians.” Bro. and Sister George Beares left Balod- gahan, India, on Dec. 26, sailing from Bom- bay on Jan. 8 for Africa, where they will visit our missions. They will sail for South- ampton on April 30. After visiting Bro. Beare’s relatives in Ireland, they will return to the States sometime before annual Board meeting, on furlough. Watch-night services and annual business meetings were held on New Year’s Eve in three churches in Puerto Rico — at Pulguillas, La Plata, and Palo Hincado. A voluntary service unit, under M.R.C., has begun work at our mission at Mathis, Texas. The areas of service will be education, health, recreation, crafts, and repair of mis- sion property. Helen Snyder, Ontario, spoke at the De- troit Mennonite Mission in Michigan on Sun- day evening, Dec. 30, on her experiences in voluntary service at Gulfport, Miss. Bro. and Sister S. Allen Shirk, Bihar, In- dia, are busily engaged in language study but also take time to do some positive wit- nessing. A letter written in late December says: “I’ve been appreciating the opportunity of witnessing. Each week the pundit and I go to the Friday bazaar and he speaks Your Treasurer Reports For some years the General Mission Board has been carrying on mission work among the Spanish people at Mathis, Texas. This work has continued to grow and a small church building has been erected. Recently, Brother and Sister Weldon Martin of Har- risonburg, Virginia, have been placed there in charge of the work. The Mennonite Relief Committee has now completed plans for a service unit to serve with Brother Martin in the mission program. This seems to be a needy area for mission work and a great deal of work can be done in the area of working with young people. With increased activity in this work, We are in need of contributions to carry on both the mission and voluntary service programs. The voluntary service workers appointed for this unit are Mr. and Mrs. William Swartzendruber, Ray Vallarta, and Bertha Alderfer. Contributions for this work should be designated for the Mexican Border Mission or Service Fund. H. Ernest Bennett, Treasurer Mennonite Board of Missions and Charities Elkhart, Indiana MENNONITE RELIEF COMMITTEE (M.R.C.) Sister Emma Landis, Harleysville, Pa., left for Puerto Rico on Jan. 15 for a two-year term in La Plata Mennonite Project. Sister Landis will serve in the hospital kitchen. Sister Bertha Alderfer, G.N., Telford, Pa., will begin service at Mathis, Texas, on Jan. 15 as a member of the new service unit be- ing organized there among the Spanish- speaking Americans. The service program is intended to extend the mission program by ministering to the physical and education- al needs of the children. A young woman will be needed as a vol- untary service replacement in the La Junta Mennonite Hospital, to work in the formula kitchen, by March 1. Write the Secretary for Service and Relief for further informa- tion. About ten nurse aides will be needed for June 1. It is not too early to put in your application. while I sell literature, Gospels, etc. There has been very good interest and some very good contacts have been made. We usually sell from forty-five to fifty Gospels each week, which is very good for this place with its low rate of literacy,” Bro. J. D. Graber, now . on an administra- tive visit to Argentina, arrived in Buenos Aires on Sunday evening, Dec. 30. The clinic at Pulguillas, Puerto Rico, was moved from the home of Bro. and Sister G. D. Troyer to the recently remodeled build- ing, which was the school, and earlier yet, the first tabernacle church building. The manuscript for a new booklet, “We Enter Puerto Rico,” a part of the Latin Amer- ica mission study kit, is now in process and will be sent to Scottdale for publication in another week or so. This will be the third “We Enter . . .’’ booklet to come off the press within the last six months. “We Enter Bi- har” is almost completed and will be ready for distribution soon. “We Enter the Chaco Indian Work” came off the press a few months ago. The Lord willing, Nelson and Ada Lit- willer will be coming to the States on fur- lough during the spring of this year. Since several furloughs are falling due at the same time, they will be taking theirs a bit earlier so as to return to the field sooner. Bro. Ralph Palmer, tract evangelist, has given out, hand to hand, over one million tracts, weighing about three tons, in more than one hundred cities in fifteen states since his retirement from the railroad four years (Continued on page 68) 62 GOSPEL HERALD Now we pray that that vision shall grow until there be many places where Satan knows de- feat and souls find glorious liberty in our Lord Jesus. The Vision That Brought Salvation By Elam and Grace Stauffer r" WAS in the year 1943 when some breth- ren from Bumangi tried to bring the Gos- pel to Bukwaya, a needy little part of Mu- soma District. They visited among the vil- lages and tried to build a church but it ended in failure. Three years later Stefano, Zakaria, and Elisha, in returning to Bumangi from a meeting at Mugango, passed through the land of Bukwaya again and stopped at a place called Ryamugabo. As they stood look- ing over the land with its people and dark- ness, they saw a need and among themselves they said, “Here there is need for a church.” It was one of the far corners of their own tribe and there was no Gospel witness in the land. That vision wrought action. On that very spot where they stood the church now stands. Jona, the little carpenter, was in Bible school. For a while he thought the Lord was calling him to Bukenye, but in weighing it he saw that his testimony to people of another tribe would not have the same weight as it would to his own people. He knew what the pitfalls and sins of his own Zanaki people were, and he could testify of God’s power to save from them. Therefore, he was led to consider Bukwaya again. In 1948 Jona began to respond to this vision and call. As he went to Bukwaya and preached in the villages, his vision enlarged and his burden for their salvation increased. Later Clyde Shenk went with him to look for a suitable place for a church. They were of- fered several less desirable places which they refused. The many gardens presented a problem, but there was one little plot, a no- man’s-land, over which Nyakatugu and an- other person were quarreling. They both claimed it and each prevented the other from MISSIONS SECTION digging on it. On this plot Jona was told jokingly he might build. None of the old men believed he would last and so they did not bother to give him a suitable portion of land, or turn a hand to help him. Jona be- gan alone to build his own house, for Lea, his wife, was still at Bukiroba. He cut the poles and started to build but when he tried to get help locally everyone just laughed. Children came to see but not to help. The task of setting up a house calls for helpers, but he had none. Satan magnified his diffi- culties by telling him he could not succeed, but God gave him the promise, Isa. 49:14-18, for he would yet see the place too small. After erecting the house, including the roof, he got his first help. Some children came and tied on long sticks for the grass. Then the old men became concerned and said, “Behold, this man plans to stay.” Satan also tried him by asking him where the sisal poles were coming from, which he needed for the roof. Jona figured over it and saw he needed six shillings for buying the needed sisal poles for the roof. He asked the Lord to supply and the next day brethren came from Bumangi with six shillings to help in the building. Jona then began the first teachings for the children. Lea also joined him and started to pull grass for the roof. All this time they were giving their testimony of how Jesus saved them. Marvel of God’s grace, Nyaka- tugu, one of the quarreling women, was among the first to respond to the Lord. She brought her charms and things of heathen- ism and had them burned. She confessed her sins which included much immorality and which involved the sub-chief of Ryamu- gabo. Such inroads into Satan’s kingdom stirred up his ire, and he determined to oust ' Jona and his school. The sub-chief became very angry and got the help of Nyakatugu’s January xy, 1952 husband, Ng’omberae, and together they tried to break up the school. Ng’omberae stoutly refused for his wife to go to school or to tread on the spot, but she witnessed to him thus, “When I was in sin and adultery with other men, did it please you? And now since I am saved from such sins, does it anger you?” But his anger was not appeased. Nyakatugu kept on following the Lord, played the part of a good wife, and kept coming to the services. Next the sub-chief began telling how that when he read at a mission years ago the teachers all lived in sin with the women and girls who read at the mission. So he tried to convince everyone that Jona was only teaching women so as to live in sin with them. Then a story was fabricated about Jona of actual sin, but here they went too far and when Nyakatugu’s husband investigated the story, God disclosed beyond doubt its impossibility and the rumor was killed. Satan is a hard master and a liar. Ng’om- berae served him with rigor and believed his lies. He was told by others that if his wif* becomes a Christian and he remains a pagan she will be taken from him and given to a Christian. This is not true. Missions do not do that to women who believe, but Ng’om- berae believed it nevertheless and continued to oppose her. On Sunday he would come to the meeting determined to beat his wife and break up the service to see what Jona would do. He would enter the service with a heavy stick and with many loud words and threats. The children would fear and want to run away, but Jona would remind them that it was Satan in the man and that God was with them and they should not fear. God gave Jona the words of Isa. 51:7, 8, 12, “Fear not a man who shall die,” and the Lord triumphed. Satan never succeeded in breaking up the meeting although out- side Ng’omberae would beat his wife. She would tell him, “You are beating God in this.” Many times Jona reminded his group of the words in Isa. 51, telling them that Ng’omberae, the sub-chief, and all the rest of them are simply men who will die. They can do nothing beyond God’s permission. Fear them not. Another attempt to hinder the work was when the sub-chief with five of his court elders came to Jona and forbade him to teach the women of the land the Gospel. He claimed authority over his subjects. Jona’s answer was that he had no authority to re- fuse anyone God’s Word. He had the right to give God’s Word to anyone even including the chief who is above the sub-chief. This enraged them much and they began to tell the children not to go to Jona’s school but they came the more. Their next plan was to try to get co-opera- tion from the chief. They took Ng’omberae to the chief to complain about his wife who was still a believer at Jona’s outschool. So he began to accuse his wife, and Jona, telling how bad they were and that he should move Jona and Lea out of the land. The chief had heard of Nyakatugu’s conversion and her changed life and the plottings of these evil men. After hearing their accusations, he told Ng’omberae he was a fortunate man to have January 15, 1952 GOSPEL HERALD 63 a wife like Nyakatugu, for she was worth more to him now than she was before. Other women might leave their husbands or be untrue to them, but not Nyakatugu now. He could rest assured that she would be a proper wife and that when he died she would give him a proper burial. Once again these slaves of sin were defeated and they left. They then decided to go to the District Commissioner, a European, with accusations. There was to be a court gathering in the land to consider how schools can be opened and how they can be improved. The D.C. attended and in his talk he mentioned the mission schools first and told the chiefs, sub- chiefs, and court elders to do all they can to get the children to go to these schools. He mentioned and recommended Jona’s school first of all. Again they were defeated. Now their aim was solely to get Nyakatu- gu out of school and divert her from follow- ing the Lord. Her husband beat her much, saying, “I’ll beat you much and see how God helps you.” Her reply was, “You can kill my body but you cannot kill my spirit.” This testimony touched his wicked heart and one day he came to Jona and confessed that he had not done right. He had been listening to others and had been tormenting his wife who had been true and kind and good to him. He then permitted her to attend school and she made rapid progress. When the first class for baptism was ready, Nyakatugu was one of the accepted candidates. On Nov. 24-26, 1950, we had a three-day meeting at Jona’s outschool. Many from Bu- mangi and Mugango attended. On the sec- ond day of the meeting some old pagan wom- en attended and they heard many testimonies of how Jesus saves from sin. They looked in surprise as the Zanaki women testified to Jesus’ power to save from sin, and His power to keep from the sins those old women knew so well. At last one of them could stand it no longer and she came forward and said, “I want this Jesus too.” A few Christians took her to the Prayer Room where she found and received Jesus. Her name is Robi and she too has a radiant testimony for her Lord. It was on the last day of the meetings when Nyakatugu and the others were to be bap- tized that Satan had to have another try. On the morning of the baptism Ng’omberae ap- peared and wanted to refuse his wife to be baptized. We prayed about it and the elders spoke and reasoned with him. Ng’omberae was accustomed at heathen rites that the fa- ther refuse until some gift should be given him, perhaps a chicken or some other gift. The elders said thus, “Where should your wife get a chicken and who would prepare it except Nyakatugu herself? And wasn’t that what she was doing every day?” He saw himself outreasoned and gave in. Satan was defeated and Nyakatugu was baptized with the rest of the class. She chose the name Debora and how fitting it is, for she is truly a leader at Ryamugabo. As in the Acts of the Apostles, Satan does not let the Gospel enter his territory unchal- lenged. Where he has ruled so long he does put up a terrific fight to keep rule over his subjects. Praise the Lord for the triumphs of His grace at Ryamugabo ! Praise the Lord for the vision the brethren had and that it did bring salvation to souls there. And now we pray that that vision shall grow until there be many, many Ryamugabos — places where Satan knows defeat and souls find glorious liberty in our Lord Jesus. Where there is a vision, people are saved. Musoma, T.T., E. Africa. “Ye Shall Be Witnesses unto Me” By Una Cressman Even the least of us, after receiving the Holy Spirit, can be witnesses unto our Lord Jesus Christ. The Lord has commanded that we should be His witnesses. We can only be witnesses of such things as we have experi- enced, seen, and heard. What the end re- sult of our witnessing will be we cannot measure. The Lord takes care of that. A people with a simple faith can be effec- tive witnesses, regardless of their status in life, educationally or economically. Some- times it takes those deprived of this world’s goods, rich in God, to be able to reach those Averina doing the washing for the Miller family. Martin Miller is in the foreground with a small puppy. who have experiences in common with them. They can also witness to godly contentment to those who do not suffer for lack of mate- rial thigns. One of our dear Indian sisters, Averina, who is so indispensable to us in so many ways and especially in her ability to interpret our messages in our weekly women’s meetings, loves to witness for her Lord wherever op- portunity affords. She has gone through many trials and sorrows. Within the last four years death has entered her home four times, taking from her three daughters, already grown, and one infant son. The death of the two married daughters left her with two in- fants to rear which meant a real sacrifice on her part, because that added to her already multiplied burdens. Nevertheless, she keeps cheerful and holds firmly to her faith in God and never fails to give her testimony. Not so long ago it became her lot to ac- company a daughter-in-law to the hospital for ten days of treatment. While attending to the needs of her daughter-in-law, she also made many friends in the large ward. In her broken Spanish she witnessed to her faith in God and in Christ as her Saviour to the many patients who became very much interested in this Indian woman. Even the doctor took a special interest in her intelligence. To ad of them she seemed so different from those Indians of her own tribe who, from season to season, move to the outskirts of the city and day after day go begging from house to house, all ragged and dirty. Averina was wearing a sweater that she knitted for her- self which all the patients admired. It did not take her long to tell those about her how our mission is teaching them the Word of God and through it they have learned to be- come respectable citizens and learn how to work. Although she cannot read she made use of her ability to quote texts from the Bi- ble to prove her points. She returned home, all bubbling over with happiness to have had this experience to testi- fy for her Lord in this way. I would ask you to unite with us in prayer for her and her husband, Carlos, who is also very useful as a worker in our mission. They need our prayers in a very special way at the present time because again they are under- going a severe trial as their oldest son and two grandsons are receiving treatment for advanced tuberculosis. The doctors are very skeptical as to the future outlook for the entire family. All seem to be affected more or less with the same dread disease. Chaco, Argentina. Annual Christian Workers’ Normal, Madhya Pradesh By Wilbur Hostetler What can we workers do to maintain per- sonal spiritual power while we are busy bringing the Gospel message to the multi- tudes around us? How will it work out to have the congregations take over the super- vision of our evangelistic enterprise when the work of the mission is transferred? What are some tools within our reach that we could use to make our messages more vivid? Where can we get Gospel tracts suitable for use among the unlettered, superstitious, and fear- ridden thousands whose salvation is our bur- den? What if we should follow Paul’s strategy of going only to the large cities to set up Gospel preaching centers? These are some of the many questions that popped into the minds of the workers dur- ing the Annual Christian Workers’ Normal. Not all the questions were answered, but frank discussions uncovered many valuable ideas. The success of the Normal owes much to the discussion leaders. Goldie Hummel gave daily talks on the devotional life of the work- er. George Beare and John Friesen conducted a class in methods of evangelism, in which were considered such topics as public preach- ing, personal work, Gospel singing, pictures, literature. Royal Bauer taught a class in the MISSIONS SECTION 64 January 15, 1952 Acts of the Apostles, making applications to evangelism in present-day India. One period each day was set aside for free discussion of any problems confronting the workers. Broth- er Friesen presided over this class, but various persons took turns conducting discussions. Each night during the Normal there was a church service. Obadiah Lai and Pyarelal Malagar were the message bearers, but the latter was unable to serve each time because of sickness. Many local people, who were not members of the Normal, attended the night services. The Normal was held in the Balodgahan Church, two full weeks, in September-Octo- ber, including three Sundays. About thirty workers, from eight congregations and two isolated centers, were in attendance. The third Sunday was a climax, in the form of an evangelistic rally. Although most of the congregations are too widely scattered for members to congregate for a one-day pro- gram, yet a number from Dhamtari and Shantipur were present. The theme was “True Motives in Christian Work.” Kiyaram Jivanlal, a teacher in the mission school in Dhamtari, outlined the problems that Hindus Many people seem to have a very vague concept of the program or aims of the com- paratively few who are laboring in the vast and wicked centers of evil — the cities. In- deed, we on these fields need often to pause in the midst of many pressures and concerns, to look upon the field and get a long-range view. This will help keep us from becoming nearsighted or even blinded by things and interests of today only. Truly, city missions have but one purpose, only one cause for being and that is to ac- quaint others with Him who said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” This must be the total program, yet this must and will find many, many avenues of expression. No doubt the first thing in the presentation of Christ is faithful, consistent living. Salesmanship in this Firm is promoted only by those who are “satisfied customers,” and who by daily, constant fellowship with Him find in Him life indeed. In these near-by dark and miserable apart- ment houses are many for whom life is hard and cold. As we come to know them and to •share their aches arid wounds and to feel their utter aloneness and friendlessness, We are filled with a deep ache ourselves. Per- haps it is a bit akin to the compassion which engulfed the Master when He looked upon the multitudes. The inexpressible spiritual lethargy and total lack of vision or concern which seems to pervade the hundreds about MISSIONS SECTION GOSPEL HERALD face when challenged to accept Christ as their Saviour, and suggested how Christian workers should help them solve them. He himself was a Hindu until about eight years ago; so he can appreciate what a tremendous conflict the Gospel causes for those who have from birth put their trust in a socio-religious system that cannot touch their sins. Vish- vanath Lai, a compounder in the mission hospital in Dhamtari, next spoke on Volun- tary Service. He spoke from experience, be- cause most of the hospital and dispensary workers voluntarily do much personal work among patients. The audience was chal- lenged to use opportunities for personal work, whether schoolteaching, farming, building, houskeeping is the daily occupation. Brother Malagar was scheduled to speak on “Sacri- ficing for Christ,” but could not be present bceause of his illness. Brother Beare closed the program by giving the charge to Chris- tian workers. M. Sukhlal, pastor of the Balodgahan congregation, presided over the meeting. The song leaders were Sim Kushal, a Dhamtari hospital compounder, and Pritam Singh, village worker in Mohadi. It was an inspiring service. Dhamtari, India. us is more than appalling. Surely they are as “sheep without a shepherd.” What is our program? To bring them to the Saviour who can heal all diseases of sin and self. To bring them, somehow, by some means, perhaps by many ways, to hunger for Him, the living Bread. And when they hunger for Him “they shall be filled” — satisfied. Our mission program is a positive and urgent plan for all who will be led of the Holy Spirit. In the midst of broken homes, bleeding hearts, and severed ties, we bear the Master’s insignia of healing. His mission was “to preach the gospel to the poor; ... to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised.” Though our efforts are shackled by human personality and vision that is often blurred by self, yet as followers of a great Saviour, our program too is that of lifting, healing, and giving comfort. To the aged and failing ones who once saw but a glimpse of that Light we seek to re- new its radiance and warmth, lest they pass on to eternal darkness and gloom. The next generation who are the parents of young peo- ple and little ones, in many, many cases are total strangers to the One who died for them. Because of lack of vision they are perishing. Their days are filled with struggling and searching — for what they scarcely know. But it is not for the Bread that satisfies. Their senses are dulled so that even with “precept upon precept; line upon line” they scarcely comprehend. As if this were not already sufficient to consume even our compassion — we are confronted with their little ones upon whom the iniquities of the fathers have cer- tainly been visited ! Robbed of any semblance of home life, with divorced and remarried parents, having no realization of security in any form, in poverty and sadness they seek for playmates and pleasures in questionable alleys, gutters, and heer gardens. These are but a glimpse of those our pro- gram must seek to rescue. So many will nev- er be rescued ! But we want to have our services at the Gospel Center bring healing to many lives. We must visit and seek and find in many dark rooms those who have decided “no one cares.” The parents must be taught; the children must be caught. There must be many means: shop, crafts, story hour, and, of course, not the least is the Sunday school In the midst of broken koines, bleeding hearts, and severed ties, we bear the Master’s insignia of healing. Our Mission Program in Kansas City [By Mrs. Frank Raber, wife of the pastor of the Kansas City Gospel Center.] January 15, Z952 GOSPEL HERALD 65 Delbert and Ruth (Landis) Erb, missionaries under appointment to Argentina, who sailed Dec. 29 and are to arrive Jan. 15. Delbert was born at Newton, Kans., attended Hesston College 1945-48, and gradu- ated from Goshen College, June, 1951. Ruth was born at Jackson, Minn., attended Hesston College 1947-49, and graduated from Goshen College, June, 1951. Delbert is a member of the Scottdale, Pa., congregation and Ruth of the Alpha, Minn., congregation. and any means we may employ to get them in touch with Jesus, our Saviour and theirs. Our program is to rescue the perishing. Let us count on your help: your prayers, your interest, your personnel, and your means. — From “News in General.” Dr. Kagawa’s Congregation in Tokyo By Lee H. Kanagy On November 18, 1951, we visited the church where Dr. Kagawa preaches when- ever he is at home. Ever since his talk at Goshen College, Goshen, Indiana, in Octo- ber, 1950, we have felt a greater desire to serve Christ in Japan, and today we had the privilege to visit his congregation. When we asked people to tell us where Dr. Kagawa preaches, they seemed eager to tell us the exact location. He is well known to the Japanese people, especially to the labor- ing class and lower economic group. By the time we found the church, back off a main street and through a narrow alley, Brother Kagawa was already preaching. We were able to understand only several words in his sermon, but we learned a new method of preaching — a method which is probably unheard of in homiletics. Yet, de- pending upon the locality, Kagawa’s method has great teaching possibilities. Standing near him was a large easel with numerous white sheets attached. As he was preaching he would illustrate with a brush and black ink certain points very artistically. The audi- ence in the church, which was full (a few were standing), largely .of. a younger genera- tion, sat listening intently as he gave his mes- sage. We saw no one sleeping and many were leaning forward seemingly eager to hear the next word or sentence. After the service we were introduced to the audience and given a warm welcome with the American style of clapping the hands. When Brother Kagawa learned that we are Mennonites he responded immediately by saying that he will long remember the cordiality he received at Goshen and that he has a deep love for the Mennonites. He modi- fied this statement by saying that he appreci- ates their teaching on the total abstinence from war and that they preach and practice the way of the Gospel of Peace. He said that he appreciated knowing Brother Ralph Buckwalter and for the fact that they are working in Hokkaido. Brother Kagawa has a colony of over 2000 acres in Hokkaido at which place he is helping many returning Japanese refugees get started to make their own living. These refugees are Japanese who had lived in Manchuria, Ko- rea, and Northern China before the last World War. In all there are over 3,000,000 refugees who have returned to Japan and Dr. Kagawa is doing all he can to help some of them. He stated further that he is grate- ful the Mennonites have gone to Hokkaido which is the frontier of Japan. Too many missionaries come and stay in Tokyo and rural work is sadly neglected. He pointed out a large needy area in Northwest Hok- kaido yet unreached by the message of Christ. There are no living witnesses in this area and the needs make it urgent that someone enters this area. We took several pictures of the church and of him and during this time he told us that he makes an annual trip to Hokkaido in August. He has preaching centers through- out all Japan. He said in his church at Tokyo the class of people that come are mostly the laboring and lower class which is the type of people he is working with at present. When in Goshen, he made appeal to help From Bihar, India The work at the new building site, Bethet, has been started. They are digging in the well, making bricks, and beginning the work- ers’ houses. With our united prayers, this work will progress speedily and soon a mis- sion family can be working in this area. We have a school pandit and his wife living on our compound this year. He is teaching Allen and Elsie Shirk who will take the first-year examination in the spring. Elva Mae is home from school at Kodikanal now and Elaine and John Allen will come in about a week. We will be so happy to be to- gether again for several months. This is the time of the harvest. Each church will have a day of Thanksgiving. This in- cludes a service and an offering of money or fruits of the field. The rice crop is poor again this year. People are anxious about food for their families. Many who have not had to do other work before are trying to find work outside their homes. Everywhere one goes, especially in late afternoon, one sees women going from the fields to their homes carrying bundles of cut rice on their heads. It is beautiful to see. To make possi- ble this harvest, we know that first the seed had to be sown. Daily we are sowing the seed of the Word of God. Paul and Esther Kniss have been touring in a number of vil- lages. In two places the leaders have been interested and are almost ready to become Christians. Without the leader, the others do not come. Pray that this seed may take root, grow to maturity, and bring forth fruit. On two successive days on his way to Bethet, John met evangelists on their way to villages in the jungle. They were carrying their fiannelgraph boards under their arms, sowing the seed. Seed time, harvest; God has promised the harvest. We pray it may be soon. — Miriam Beachy. establish 1000 chapels at $1000 each through- out the rural areas of Japan. We asked him how the project was moving. He said that chapels are being built, but that since he was in America it cost $2000 to build a chapel now. Building material and labor are rising similar to that in the United States. As we were about to leave, he said that he would like to take us to his home, but at present it was full of Japanese refugees, while he and his family are living in the kindergar- ten room of his church. Such is the spirit of Brother Kagawa, always sharing, giving and giving that others may improve their living conditions and come to know the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. It was a real pleasure for us to visit his church and to receive such a cordial wel- come. We shall not soon forget the visit we had with this great Christian leader in the Far East. It was a challenge to us to work diligently and sacrificially for our Lord and Master. Tokyo, Japan. MISSIONS SECTION 66 January 15, 1952 Missions Editorial What Is That in Thine Hand? This is the question God asked Moses when He commissioned him for his task. Moses felt ill-prepared and made excuses. All that the Lord expected Moses to do was to use the resources and powers at hand. Many people excuse themselves for inactivity be- cause “I cannot preach,” “I am not a personal worker,” “I am not gifted to teach,” “I do not have much money, therefore I cannot give,” and so endlessly. With regard to giving, in II Cor. 8:11 we read that “there may be a performance also out of that which ye have.” The Lord does not hold us responsible for other people’s talents, but He does expect us to use what we have. When Saul sent David forth he put upon him his own armor. According to Saul’s calculations you could not meet the enemy without this tried and tested equipment. But, the armor did not fit David. What was use- ful for Saul would have been a handicap for David. So he laid it aside and used what was in his hand — a sling, and the Lord blessed the effort. There is another significant statement in I Cor. 7 where the apostle, in discussing the advantages and disadvantages of being a slave, counsels the Christian slave who has become a disciple not to seek freedom for its own value but “use it rather.” This is sug- gestive again of our attitude toward all our talents and opportunities. The question is never, “How much do I have?” but rather, “How am I using that which I do have?” One is reminded of the Communist who was being questioned for his loyalty. “If you had two farms, what would you do?” Answer: “I would give one to the Party.” “If you had two horses, what would you do?” “I would give one to the Party.” “Good,” said the examiner. ‘If you had two shirts, what would you do?” “I would keep them,” was the answer. “Why the difference?” he was asked. “Because I have two shirts,” was the an- swer. Some people say, “If I had a million dol- lars, I would give half of it to missions.” Others say, “If I had as much money as so- and-so, I would give heavily.” These are, of course, totally irrelevant remarks because the only thing that matters at all is, how much do I give out of what I have? How am I using my opportunities and talents for the advancement of the kingdom? The Lord asks, “What is that in thine hand?” and then regardless of what it is, He simply says, “Use it.”— J. D. Graber. GOSPEL HERALD Women’s Activities Here is something for every circle! Please send an account of your most successful plan for accomplishing this or that to the editor of the Missionary Sewing Circle Monthly. The best ones will be published in the April issue. We want this number to be full of ideas for new officers and an inspiration to all mem- bers to help their leaders to accomplish their goals. Tell us how you have succeeded in having every member in your congregation participate in your circle in one of these methods: regular attendance, sewing at home, giving money to buy materials, entertaining the children so that a mother can go, provid- ing literature for the circle, sharing their checks to help meet the nursing education project, and the furnishing of the homes of our missionaries in Japan, visiting the shut- ins of the local communities, helping the needy at their very back door, and giving a Christian witness to the community by shar- ing our literature with others. You can think of other means and projects. They may be simple to you, but just the thing that another circle needs to thrive on; so let’s have them. Thank you. * * * Sister Elsie Yoder, Ohio Treasurer, reports in the Ohio Mission Evangel that the num- ber of Ohio circles has doubled since 1947, also the number of dollars has doubled, while the offering at the state meeting tripled itself. How many districts can match or surpass this record? When the women of the Ohio Women’s and Girls’ Missionary Society of the Eastern District met at Pleasant View on September 15, Mrs. E. E. Miller spoke to them about the people of India; special music was provided by the Girls’ Circles and a donation was made to the India hospital. Other interests stressed were the needs of underprivileged children, and possibilities of helping them, such as sponsoring summer camps, taking fresh-air children, and helping those who are serving Christ in these areas. The joys, problems, and blessings of foster parents were also discussed. Another interesting part of the program was that of a friendly interchange of the duties of the minister’s wife to the members and of their duties toward her. * * * The Orrville sewing circle has undertaken a project-a-month plan. Each month since last April they have been helping to supply some needy group. Some of their items are: washcloths, towels, socks and stockings, yardage for dresses, feed sacks, shirts, sheets, and blankets. # * # One more report from Ohio. This is an old one, but I am sure you will like it, for it comes from Bro. A. Metzler who spent his life in caring for homeless children. What I am about to quote is only the postscript to a fine letter of appreciation for the work of the sewing circles. It was written June 11, 1912. “P.S. In the line of ‘woman’s work’ out- side of these circles, or rather in connection with this work, it occurs to me that if each member would be always on the ‘outlook’ for poverty or need of any kind of help that might be given by women, to any family in the neighborhood, and either help them or report at the monthly meetings, a great amount of ‘practical religion’ could thus be ‘lived out’ by our sisters, and many poor neighbors would be made happy that other- wise may be neglected.” Bro. Metzler added this suggestion to his letter of appreciation to Sister Clara Steiner for what the sewing cir- cles were doing for the children’s home. — Mrs. C. L. Shank. M.C.C. Weekly Notes Clothing Shipment Enters Uruguay Arthur Jahnke sends the good news from Uruguay that the relief clothing shipment which had been detained for nearly a year in passing customs, has finally been granted duty-free entrance. The land purchased in Uruguay can be occupied by the immigrants parcel by parcel beginning about Jan. 1. The first tract to be available consists of nearly 500 acres, the major part of which the immigrants hope to use immediately for seeding sunflowers. Arab Refugees Receive Clothing The M.C.C. unit in Jordan has been active in clothing distributions. Early in November some clothing items were give to 129 Bedouin families ten miles north of Jericho. Later 1,430 family bundles were given to refugees in Jericho, amounting to a gift of two basic clothing items to each of 7,300 individuals. For this distribution a Moslem owner offered free use of his building, and a lumber dealer loaned boards to provide shelves to organize the bundles for prompt access as the refu- gees called for them. The workers have names of 2,000 more needy familier whom they want to reach with clothing in the next thirty or forty days, and 2,000 more families are to receive help later. At least seven weekly women’s sewing classes in three camps are meeting regularly to make it possible for the people to help meet their own clothing needs. Java Clinics Serve Many Daily Henry Ewert reports from Java that the rainy season has again brought relief from the recent hot season which is experienced at this time each year. (Java lies in the Southern Hemisphere, only a short distance from the equator.) The hot weather was one factor in bringing to the medical clinics at Marg- eredo and Kajuapu a total of 2,773 patients during November, an unusally high number for a one-month period. Clothing and other gifts were recently giv- en to an orphanage, and to eight families whose homes burned. The 1951 Christmas bundles had arrived in Java by Dec. 6, and were to be cleared through customs as soon as possible for early distribution. Survey Refugee Needs in Trieste Recently Marie Brunk and Alta Schrock, Mennonite workers in I.R.O. refugee camps in Germany, visited Trieste to survey needs January 15, 1952 there. With the termination of the I.R.O. in early 1952, there may be some change in the relationship of these workers with the refugee migration work as it is turned over to another agency succeeding I.R.O. The small territory of Trieste now has probably a greater percentage of refugee pop- ulation than other areas in Europe. The 4500 refugees are housed in three areas or camps. In spite of some government and private help, the conditions among these peo- ple are very unfortunate. The need is com- parable to that in Germany five years ago. The workers saw plenty of work in Trieste in which a church relief agency could make a significant contribution, if it were possible to undertake such. Released December 28, 1951 Germany Relief No Less Vital A recently returned relief worker sum- marizes the material need in Germany as follows: (1) many refugees are very poor and must depend on outside help for the necessi- ties of life. The German government does provide some allowance, but not adequate for livelihood. (2) Even among people other than refugees there is evident need, for able-bodied family heads can scarcely earn enough to buy both food and clothing, besides rent, fuel, and other necessities. Elderly people, convales- cents, orphans, and others find their income much less adequate. To these, gifts of gar- ments, bedding, food, or other items are very helpful. (3) In the children’s home, care is given to a group of children who are victims of the war suffering. (4) Among our remain- ing Mennonite brethren there is special re- sponsibility to help toward resettlement, and in the meantime to provide food and clothing for their daily needs. In addition to these material needs, there are spiritual emphases in connection with the material help. During the past few years the food and clothing gifts have been consumed, but the spiritual message has remained and accumulated, and today this makes for an openness to which the workers joyfully re- spond in helping to organize Bible classes, youth conferences, work camps, children’s story hours, and many other services. The community centers are points where this balance of material and spiritual help is guided. The support from the churches which con- tinues to be necessary falls into several cate- gories, including: (1) continued material gifts, which are being received again in this season in generous amounts; (2) continued funds, the major purpose of which is to get the materials to their effective destinations and to maintain workers there to supervise distribution and interpretation of the gifts; and (3) continued prayer support that the workers may feel strong spiritual undergird- ing in their difficult and demanding work assignments on the foreign field. Day of Prayer Suggestions The date of Feb. 29 is designated as the World Day of Prayer. Some congregations may wish to plan special prayer seasons, using materials or prayer requests relating more GOSPEL HERALD directly to the world-wide service and witness of the Mennonite and Brethren in Christ churches. The 115 Mennonite relief workers are serv- ing in many places where difficult problems are faced daily and where much spiritual power is needed for giving witness to all who are contacted, and repeatedly they request the prayers of the home congregations on their behalf. Then also the Mennonite immigrants newly settled in Canada, Paraguay, Uruguay, the United States and elsewhere, face many difficult adjustments and they beg for the prayer fellowship of the established congre- gations in North America. The staff of workers at the M.C.C. head- quarters, Akron, Pa., and the regional offices 67 at Waterloo, Ont., Reedley, Calif., and Stein- bach, Man., carry responsibility for guiding the various aspects of work in accord with the counsel of the churches, and for this they need wisdom and vision from God. Praise God for marvelously leading in the developing voluntary service program of the church, in which young people are serving in many needy places; pray that as the draft law provisions and regulations are drawn up there may be opportunity for young men to do truly significant work which is in har- mony with their conscience. Released January 4, 1952 Via Mennonite Central Committee Akron, Pennsylvania CHURCH CORRESPONDENCE SHELLY, PENNSYLVANIA (Swamp Congregation) Dear Friends in Christ: “Praise ye the Lord: for it is good to sing praises unto our God.” “Let every thing that hath breath praise the Lord!” We can sincerely say these words with the psalmist as we think back over the past year. We realize we have not deserved the spiritual and physical blessings which God has showered upon us; it is only through His kindness and mercy that we have them. June 29 marked the close of another sum- mer Bible school. We are thankful for the new interest that was shown. Our church building has been remodeled. New benches were installed and the pulpit revarnished. Not only has the building been repaired, but many of its members have been repaired spiritually. As a result of the Brunk broth- ers campaign many souls have taken their Saviour to be Lord and Master of their daily lives. This is evident as the congregation grows. Praise the Lord ! On July 31 Bro. Ralph Smucker talked on different points of interest in India. We were all challenged and felt more deeply our re- sponsibility to the lost as he related some ex- periences among the heathen people in India. Our Sunday school was reorganized on Sept. 30. The results were as follows: Supt., Horace Longacre; Secy., Kenneth Longacre; Treas., Paul Longacre; Chor., David Yoder. We were happy to have the Franconia His- torical Society give their twenty-first annual program at our church. We heard the story of a few of our forefathers, such as John F. Funk, Christopher Dock, and Andrew Mack. Bro. David Derstine spoke on “The Chal- lenge of the Heritage,” after which the pro- gram closed. On Dec. 16 three members were added to our number by baptism. Pray for them, that they may remain true to the promises they have made to God. Pray for us as a congregation that we may continue to grow and serve the Lord in this coming year, that He may receive the praise due to His name. Dec. 30, 1951. Naomi Yoder. ELIDA, OHIO (Salem Congregation) Dear Herald Readers: Greetings in Jesus’ name. We are happy to have had several visiting ministers with us during the past few months. We welcome anyone who may be able to stop with us. The superintendents for the coming year are Robert King and Arthur Smith. Other officers are: S.S. Chor., Edith Martin; Secy., Bertha Good; Pri. Supt., Wilma Augsburger; Asst., William Brenneman. The new benches have been installed and are much appreciated. Oct. 28 Bro. Truman Brunk gave us an account of their trip to Sicily. Oct. 29 was the beginning of revivals by Bro. A. C. Good, of Sterling, 111. Four per- sons are under instruction for baptism Jan. 20. The observance of communion was held Nov. 4. Nov. 11 we were favored with a program by the Mt. Pleasant congregation, followed with a message by Bro. Norman Smith. The morning of Nov. 25 Bro. and Sister Ross Goodall from the House of Friendship, Kitchener, Ont., were with us, telling of their experiences in work among the Jew. As Sister Goodall is a converted Jewess, she was especially happy to give a testimony for her Lord. On Dec. 30 Bro. I. Mark Ross gave us a very timely message for the closing of the year. May the Lord bless you all during this new year. Mrs. Mary Smith. BRESLAU, ONTARIO We greet you in the precious name of Je- sus, our Saviour and Redeemer. As a group of believers we have great reason to praise our heavenly Father for the way He has blessed us with good health, a bountiful har- vest, and many rich spiritual feasts on the Word of God. (Continued on next page) 68 GOSPEL HERALD January' i$, 195 2 MISSION NEWS (Continued) ago. All tracts are purchased from the Herald Press, Scottdale, Pa. Bro. Orie O. Miller, secretary of the Eastern Mennonite Board of Missions and Charities, sailed on Nov. 28 to visit Luxembourg en route to an M.C.C. assignment in Europe and Jordan. He will also visit Ethiopia and Tanganyika and make contacts in Italian Somaliland in the interests of the Board. Forty-five pupils are enrolled in the school at Bedeno in Ethiopia with Martha Wikerd as teacher. At Deder there are forty pupils with Mildred Hiestand as teacher. Following the arrival of Sister Dora Tay- lor’s baggage, the clinic at Trujillo, Hondu- ras, was officially opened. During the first week she had fifty-three patients. She is as- sisted by Tilda Imbolt, one of the members of the church at that place. A young mother from the Diamond Street Mission in Philadelphia is looking for a Christian home in which to place her three children for two or three years. Their ages are six, four, and a year and one half. The City Missions Roundtable, planned primarily for city missionaries and their wives and bishops of city missions, will be held at the Chicago Home Mission Feb. 26, 27. Those planning to attend should send reservations before Feb. 23 to Glenn B. Mar- tin, 825 North Jefferson Street, Lima, Ohio, who is secretary of the Urban Evangelism Committee. For details concerning the pro- gram, see last week’s issue. Ruth Adella was born to Lee and Adella Kanagy, missionaries in Tokyo, Japan, on Jan. 7. The baby weighed 8 lbs. 10 oz. Both mother and baby are reported well. Bro. J. D. Graber spent Jan. 2 and 3 at Montevideo, Uruguay, interviewing mission- ary leaders and visiting the Mennonite colony at El Ombu, about 175 miles north of the city. Argentina missionaries express their grati- tude for the privilege of having Bro. J. D. Graber with them to attend their annual conference Jan. 23, 24, and to visit with them in their homes. Bro. Graber and the brethren Amos Swartzentruber and B. Frank Byler planned to leave for a visit to the Chaco on Jan. 14. FIELD NOTES (Continued) was very much worth while. Bro. Paul M. Miller preached at the Hannibal Church on Jan. 1 and Bro. Roth on Jan. 4. The Hesston College Men’s Quartet gave a program at the Hannibal Church on Dec. 31. Bro. Harold Kreider, at the request of the Hannibal Mission Church, has been released from the Palmyra congregation to serve as assistant pastor at Hannibal for one year. Bro. J. Paul Sauder is serving at the region- al Bible school at Slate Hill and as temporary pastor at Marietta, in addition to his duties as principal of the Krabill Mennonite School. The annual Christian Day School meeting will be held at the New Danville Church on Route 324, three miles south of Lancaster, Pa., on Feb. 16. Speakers include Amos W. Wea- ver, E. G. Gehman, Richard Detweder, John S. Wenger, and Noah Hershey. Bro. Levi C. Hartzler, through the spon- sorship of the local M.Y.F., spoke at Arthur, 111., Jan. 12-14, particularly emphasizing Vol- untary Service. The Christian School is a monthly, illus- trated periodical published in the interests of Christian education, and is widely acclaimed as filling a real need of Christian teachers, parents, and others. If you are not getting it, write today for sample copies and subscrip- tion rates to: The Christian School, Smoke- town, Pa. Goshen College Winter Bible School will be held Jan. 28 to March 7. Twenty-three courses are being offered in Bible, Music, Church History, Practical Work, and Youth Activities. Instructors include Paul M. Mil- ler, principal; S. J. Hostetler, Milton G. Brackbill, and Peter Wiebe. Ministers at- tending will be privileged to audit advanced Bible and Christian education courses offered by the Seminary. Young people will enjoy the fellowship of a Christian college campus. Bro. Raymond Bucher will speak at the quarterly meeting of the Gospel Lighthouse Band, Kinzers, Pa., Jan. 19. Ordination of a bishop to succeed Bro. Paul M. Lederach as an assistant to Bro. Amos Kolb in the western district of the Franconia Conference will be effected, the Lord willing, Thursday morning, Jan. 17, at the Vincent Church, Spring City, Pa., at 9:30. Qualification sermons are planned for each of the eight churches in the district Sunday, Jan. 13, as follows: (morning) Wor- cester, Arthur D. Ruth; Providence, Jacob M. Moyer; Pottstown, Stanley Beidler; Con- shohocken, Joseph Gross; Vincent, Amos Kolb; Norristown, Paul M. Lederach; (eve- ning) Bridgeport, Amos Kolb; Skippack, Paul M. Lederach. Votes will be taken the same day. The prayers of the church are re- quested for this ordination. "Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others" (Phil. 2:4). If you have funds to invest, write for in- formation on the program of MENNONITE MUTUAL AID, INC. 1413 South Eighth Street Goshen, Indiana Announcements Victorious Life Conference, Groveland, Church, eastern Pennsylvania, B. Charles Hostetter, guest speaker, Jan. 26, 27. Winter Bible Conference, Marion, Pa., Clarence Lutz and Raymond Charles, instructors, evenings of Jan. 24-26 and all day Jan. 27. Christian Life Conference, Goshen College, visiting speakers, Milo Kauffman and Don Smucker, Feb. 8-10. Evangelistic Meetings Kenneth G. Good, Elida, Ohio, Congrega- tional Mennonite Church, Marietta, Pa., Feb. 18-27; Paul Landis, Crockett, Ky., at Matta- wana, Pa., Dec. 25 to Jan. 1; Frank Garman, Columbia, Pa., at Miners Village Mission, Cornwall, Pa., beginning Dec. 13. Visiting Speakers Dec. 25: Sanford G. Shetler, Salem, Oreg., at Los Angeles, Calif. Dec. 30: Tilman Martin, Toronto Bible College, at St. Jacobs, Ont.; John M. Steiner, Garden City, Kans., at Pennsylvania Church, Hesston, Kans.; Frank Horst, Calico Rock, Ark., at Bloomfield, Mont.; J. E. Gingrich, Elkhart, Ind., at Kitchener, Ont. Jan. 6: James Millen, Quakertown, Pa., at Johnstown, Pa.; Clarence Troyer, Curtis, Mich., at Naubinway, Mich.; Amos Martin Moorefield, Ont., at Elmira, Ont.; Oliver Keener, Harrisonburg, Va., at Eastern Men- nonite College; Gideon G. Yoder, Goshen, Ind., at Crystal Springs, Kans. Jan. 19: Elias Kulp, Bally, Pa., at M.Y.F. meeting, Rohrerstown, Pa. Jan. 20: Stanley C. Shenk, West Liberty, Ohio, on Social Standards for Christian Youth, at Mellingers Church, Lancaster, Pa., 7:30 p.m.; Noah Hershey, Parkesburg, Pa., at Young People’s Meeting at Hess Church, Lititz, Pa., on Our Need of Power. Jan. 23: Raymond Charles, to Strasburg, Pa., Youth Fellowship at home of Dorothy and Wilbur Shultz. Have we been too hestitant in our day to assume the role of the prophet? Have we been too quiet in our opposition against bad working conditions, unjust labor practices, the liquor traffic, unchristian race relations, and other evils? Has our long period of isolationism tended to dull our sense of jus- tice?— Guy F. Hershberger. CORRESPONDENCE (Continued) Last Easter we had with us Bro. A. J. Metz- ler from Scottdale, Pa. We greatly enjoyed the rich Biblical truths which he presented. In June we had our revival meetings, con- ducted by Bro. C. Z. Martin from Columbia, Pa. As a result of his visitation work, a num- ber of parents have promised to erect a fam- ily altar. One young brother expressed his desire to become a Christian and was later baptized and received into the church. In July we had our summer Bible school. We prayed for teachers, and for children to come from non-Christian homes; and God truly answered. The attendance was higher than previous years, some coming a distance of fifteen miles. A number expressed their desire to become Christians the last morning of the school. May God bless the seed sown in the hearts of these children. In October Bro. John C. Wenger from Go- shen, Ind., was with us in our Thanksgiving services. Local brethren also ministered to us in a Bible Conference. Again God richly blessed us in the study of His Word. Our pastor, Bro. Oscar Burkholder, who is at present serving as principal of the Bible Institute at Kitchener, and who has for many years faithfully served this congregation as pastor, wishes to be relieved of this responsi- bility. So we are praying and looking for a new pastor. We trust the Lord wifi lead us in this matter. Cor. January 15, 1952 GOSPEL HERALD 69 SHERIDAN, OREGON Greetings to all Herald Readers in Jesus’ precious Name. The Christmas season is here once more, and with it comes a fresh sense of humble adoration to Christ our King. We truly had a wonderful Bible school this summer. Many children outside our de- nomination attended. Bro. Howard Nice was our superintendent. We also held Bible school at our two mission Sunday schools, Ballston and Logsden. May the Lord bless the seed sown. In September we had our Sunday-school reorganization. Bro. Clayton Berkey is su- perintendent, Bro. James Marner assisting; Primary superintendent is Lowell Wolfer, Al- vin Nisley assisting; Larry Hamilton is chor- ister. We enjoyed communion services again this fall. A large number were present. It really stirred our souls to partake of the sacred em- blems again. Bro. Max Yoder, Lloyd Lind and Bishop Gabe Shenk left on a trip to Nicaragua to locate a field for our missionaries, Bro. and Sister Eldon Hamilton. Bro. and Sister Joe Kropf had to return from language study be- cause Sister Kropf’s health could not stand the climate. The annual Mission Board meeting and Minister’s meeting were held this year with our congregation. It was a time of spiritual refreshing to all those who attended. Elsie Emmert. PORTSMOUTH, VIRGINIA (Deep Creek Congregation) Our congregation has enjoyed many bless- ings throughout the past year. In March Bro. Ray Shenk, Elkridge, Md., conducted evangelistic meetings. In midsummer two Bible schools were well attended, one at the home church, the other at the colored schoolhouse in Crest- wood. We were happy to again observe the com- munion on Nov. 18 at the church, and on Dec. 2 at the home of a colored friend in Norfolk. One sister who was out of fellow- ship for a number of years was again rein- stated at the church, and one sister was re- ceived upon confession of faith at the colored home. We now have two members of this race, and they were happy to partake of the communion. There are others who are count- ing the cost and some under instruction. Oct. 7 at our mission meeting we enjoyed having Bro. and Sister Laban Swartzentruber from Greenwood, Del., tell us of experiences in their work in a children’s home. On Nov. 30 votes were cast, at a joint meet- ing of the Deep Creek and Fentress churches, for a minister to be ordained for the work at Norview. On Dec. 2 Bro. Levi Kramer was ordained by lot at Fentress by Bro. Truman Brunk. The church building at Norview is now under roof, both churches having do- nated labor from time to time. Bro. and Sister Orrie D. Yoder left us in June, being called to Jewish work in Oregon. During the year different groups have been busy with different tasks. “The Way” is dis- tributed in different localities, some by a young folks’ group, and some by a junior group with an older leader. On Friday evening Fentress and Deep Creek each have some young men on the streets of Norfolk giving out tracts. Monday evening is the time for a group to sing at a nursing home in Norfolk. A short service is also held at that time. It is planned to have a gift for each inmate on Christmas eve. On Wednesday evening a group goes to several homes and sings for some shut-ins. On Thursday evening a minister or other worker accompanies a group to Norview where a service is held in one of the homes in the vicinity of the new church. On this night there is also a Bible study class at Fentress which our young folks attend when convenient. Bro. Eli Kramer has just returned from the Bank Church near Harrisonburg, Va., where he was engaged in evangelistic meetings Dec. 6-16. Dec. 20, 1951. Ella M. Warfel. WINTON, CALIFORNIA Christian greetings. The South Pacific dis- trict conference was held here Nov. 22-24. Arizona, New Mexico, Oregon, and various parts of California were represented. Bro. Allen Erb, who is at present located at Leb- anon, Oreg., preached the conference sermon. Several ministers remained with us the fol- lowing Sunday, Nov. 25. Bro. Ed Harder of Upland, Calif., and Bro. Raymond Mish- ler, of Sheridan, Oreg., brought the morning messages. In the evening Bro. Claud Hos- tetler of Portland, Oreg., preached. In the latter part of October several min- istering brethren visited our congregation. Bro. Merle Bender of Hesston, Kans., spoke to us, representing Hesston College. Bro. and Sister William G. Detweiler, of the Calvary Hour, Orrville, Ohio, conducted an evening service. On Dec. 2 a voluntary service group of ap- proximately fifteen young people, just having completed their orientation at Reedley, Calif., were with us. The following Sunday, Dec. 16, Harold Weaver, Mr. and Mrs. Lyle Weaver and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Weaver and daughters, all of Oregon, were home to at- tend the wedding of Ruth Ratzloff and Rob- ert Weaver. Visiting in the home of Mr. and Mrs. Joe Unruh are their son and daughter-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Merle Unruh, and son, Gerald, of Coldwater, Kans. Our minister and his wife, Bro. and Sister Leonard Garber, and family, have gone to Nampa, Idaho, their former home, to be with relatives for a few weeks. We are looking forward to their return. Sister Darlene Ratzloff will return to Hess- ton College to resume her studies there. Ac- companying her will be Sister Barbara Dirks, who will join the winter Bible term class, and possibly remain for the second semester of school. Our prayers go with them wherever they are used in His service. The Lord expects His children to carry forward the Gospel and be witnesses for Him. Pray for us, as we labor for Him. Dec. 28, 1951. Luella Dirks. BIRTHS "Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord" (Ps. 127:3a). Bast. — To William Ross and Jean (Simp- son) Bast, Carstairs, Alta., a daughter, Carol Ann, Oct. 17, 1951. Bitiltofer. — To Henry and Luella (Zook) Bit- ikofer, Hesston, Kans., a daughter, Anita Carol, Nov. 21, 1951. Blosser. — To James and Janet (Abe) Blosser, Harrisonburg, Va., a son, James DeWitt II, Dec. 18, 1951. Brenneman. — To Paul G. and Grace (Bergey) Brenneman, La Plata, P.R., a son, Timothy Bergey, Dec. 23, 1951. Byler. — To B. Frank and Anna (Hallman) Byler, Bragado, FNDFS, Argentina, a daugh- ter, Carol Martha, Dec. 24, 1951. Christner. — To Walter and Marjorie (Miller) Christner, East Aurora, N.Y., a son, Bernard Jay, Nov. 18, 1951. Deiter. — To Paul W. and Esther B. (Sieg- rist) Deiter, Willow Street, Pa., a daugh- ter, Delores S., Dec. 5, 1951. Derstine. — To Abram and Ruth (Moyer) Derstine, Souderton, Pa., a daughter, Ruth Ann, Dec. 1, 1951. Detweiler. — To Clayton and Kathryn (Halte- man) Detweiler, Perkasie, Pa., a daughter, Martha Jane, Nov. 28, 1951. Dietzel. — To Arnold and Wilmetta (Weaver) Dietzel, Shantipur, via Dhamtari, M.P., India, a daughter, Carol Joy, Dec. 25, 1951. Eby. — To J. Harold and Ruth (Huber) Eby, Lititz, Pa., a daughter, Julia Ann, Dec. 13, 1951. Ewing. — To Robert and Verda (Gardner) Ewing, Holgate, Ohio, a daughter, Dora Ellen, Oct. 26, 1951. Garber. — To Robert K. and Olene (Gardner) Garber, Bristol, Ind., a daughter, Sheryl Elaine, Sept. 11, 1951. Gardner. — To Frank J. and Grace (Fire- stone) Gardner, Goshen, Ind., a daughter, Mary Ellen, Sept. 17, 1951. Ginder. — To Ralph and Margaret (Myers) Ginder, Mt. Joy, Pa., a daughter, Lois Jean, Oct. 5, 1951. Groff. — To Aaron R. and Eva (Hurst) Groff, Pequea, Pa., a daughter, Miriam Elaine, Dee. 4, 1951. Hartman. — To Ira L. and Ruby Jane (New- comer) Hartman, Wakarusa, Ind., a daughter, Kathy Eileen, Dec. 20, 1951. Heatwole. — To Dewitt and Kathryn (Suter) Heatwole, Harrisonburg, Va., a son, Eldon Jay, Dec. 21, 1951. Herr. — To Franklin R. and Lois Alma (Charles) Herr, Lancaster, Pa., a daughter, Cathy Ann, Dec. 2, 1951. Hertzler. — To Harry W. and Edna (Wenger) Hertzler, Denbigh, Va., a son, Michael W., Dec. 31, 1951. Hochstetler. — To Vernon and Bessie (Yoder) Hochstetler, Mylo, N. Dak., a daughter, Lila Lorene, Nov. 21, 1951. Hostetter. — To Amos and Ethel (Martin) Hostetter, Hagerstown, Md., a daughter, Doris Elaine, Dec. 10, 1951. Kaufmann. — To Mr. and Mrs. John Kauf- mann, Tiskilwa, 111., a daughter, Christine Ma- rie, Dec. 25, 1951. Landis. — To Harold G. and Ruth B. (Shenk) Landis, Lancaster, Pa., a son, Herbert Glenn, Nov. 8. 1951. Landis. — To Heber and Mary Elizabeth (Musselman) Landis. Lederach, Pa., a daugh- ter, Deborah Lynn (born Feb. 13, 1951), by adoption, Nov. 21, 1951. Liechty. — To Clifford D. and Betty (Rupp) Liecht.v, Graybill, Ind., a son, James Edward, Dec. 23, 1951. Martin. — To Daniel J. and Dorothy (Phen- neger) Martin, Kinzers, Pa., a daughter, Donna Louise, Dec. 30, 1951. Martin. — -To Paul B. and Arlene (Denlinger) Martin, Kinzers, Pa., a son, Vernon David, Dec. 12, 1951. Martin. — To Roy D. and Ruth (Yoder) Mar- tin, Waynesboro, Va., a son. Kirk Stuart, Oct. 26, 195i. Metzler. — To Elam B. and Anna Mary (Mar- tin) Metzler, Lititz, Pa., a son, Dale Lynn. Dec 16, 1951. Metzler. — To Roy and Kathryn (Mellinger) Metzler, Strasburg, Pa., a daughter. Linda Sue, Deo.. 6, 1951. Miller. — To Harry and Orpha (Wagler) Mil- ler, Partridge, Kans., a son, Leon, Dec. 26, 1951, 70 GOSPEL HERALD January 15, 195 2 Miller. — To John K. and Florence (Brb) Miller, Bainbridge, Pa., a son, Richard E., Dec. 10, 1951. Neuhouser. — To Merle and Mary (Gardner) Neuhouser, Graybill, Ind., a son, Donald Merle, Sept. 19, 1951. Noll. — To James and Esther (Seignst) Noll, Lancaster, Pa., s son, James Elvin, Nov. 11, Noll. — To Kenneth and Lois (Hershey) Noll, Lancaster, Pa., a daughter, Jeanette H., Dec. 3 1951. ' Schloneger. — To Irvin and Irene (Falb) Schloneger, Louisville, Ohio, a son, David Amos, Dec. 25, 1951. Shank. — To Marlin and Beulah (Frey) Shank, Clear Spring, Md., a son, Nelson Marlin, Dec. 4, 1951. Short. — To Elden E. and Erma (Holsopple) Short, Wauseon, Ohio, a son, Eugene Elden, Dec. 12, 1951. t „ Sommers. — To Elvin and Nellie (Hostetler) Sommers, Louisville, Ohio, a daughter, Nedra Maxine, Dec. 5, 1951. Steiner. — To Elmer and Elsie (Amstutz) Steiner, Orrville, Ohio, a daughter, Laurel Lou- ise, Dec. 22, 1951. Stuckey. — To Earl A. and Opal (Sauder) Stuckey, Stryker, Ohio, a son, Robert Earl, Dec. 28, 1951. _ Stutzman. — To Paul and Merlyn (Roth) Stutzman, Albany, Oreg., a son, Earl Eugene, Dec. 17, 195L _ , Stutzman. — To Virgil and Dorothy (Nafzig- er) Stutzman, Lebanon, Oreg., a daughter, De- Wanda Mae, Dec. 25, 1951. Troyer. — To Emerson and Norma (Reber) Troyer, Mio, Mich., a daughter, Ardis Louise, Sept. 28, 1951. Weaver. — To Harvey and Irene (Musser) Weaver, Denver, Pa., a son, Harvey, Jr., Dec. 26. 1951. _ . , Wenger. — To Melvin and Janette (Kreider) Wenger, Palmyra, Pa., a son, Melvin Kenneth, Dec. 30, 1951. „ Whisler. — To Amos and Florence (Myers) Whisler, Elizabethtown, Pa., a daughter, Mar- ian, Dec. 11, 195L Yoder. — To Clarence and Leona (Hochsted- ler) Yoder, Kokomo, Ind., a daughter, Arlene Kay, Dec. 20, 1951. Yoder.— To Loren Wayne and Mary Lou (Stoll) Yoder, Montgomery, Ind., a son, Ran- dall Owen, Dec. 8, 1951. Zimmerman. — To Laban and Emma (Long- enecker) Zimmerman, Mechanicsburg, Pa., a daughter, Linda Ann, Dec. 22, 1951. MARRIAGES May the blessings of God be upon the homes established by the marriages here listed. A year's subscription to the Gospel Herald is given to those whose address is supplied by the officiating minister. Brenneman — Dowling. — John Henry Brenne- man, Denbigh, Va., and Mary Dowling. Knox- ville, Tenn., by P. J. Blosser, South English, Iowa, at the Concord, Tenn., Church Dec. 21, 1951. Detweiier — Troyer. — Tillman Detweiler, Hu- ber congregation, Medway, Ohio, and Charlene Troyer, Fairview, Mich., congregation, by Har- vey Handrich at the bride’s home Dec. 24, 1951. Drawbond — Miller. — Emmett William Draw- bond, Fortuna, N. Dak., and Tillie Miller, Glendive, Mont., by L. A. Kauffman at the Little White Chapel, West Glendive, Mont., Dec. 30, 1951. Heimbach — Kauffman. — Albert Wm. Heim- bach, Susquehanna congregation, Port Trevor- ton, Pa., and Mary Elizabeth Kauffman, Cross Roads congregation, Richfield, Pa., by W. W. Graybill at his residence Dec. 30, 1951. Horst— Bontreger. — Lester Paul Horst and Esther M. Bontreger by M. E. Bontreger at the Bethel Springs School, Culp, Ark., Nov. 22, 1951. Horst — Eby. — Preston M. Horst and Rebecca M. Eby, both of the Reiff congregation, Hagers- town, Md.,‘by Moses K. Horst at the home of the bride Jan. 3, 1952. Kauffman — Brubaker. — James Richard Kauff- man, Cross Roads congregation, Richfield, Pa., and Miriam Irene Brubaker, Lost Creek con- gregation, Oakland Mills, Pa., at the home of W. W. Graybill, who officiated, Oct. 28. 1951. Kauffman — Graybill. — Raymond Eugene Kauffman and Wilma Feme Graybill, both of the Cross Roads congregation, Richfield, Pa., at the home of the officiating bishop, W. W. Graybill, Nov. 25, 1951. Kauffman — Yoder. — Marion Kauffman, North Goshen, Ind., congregation, and Barbara Yoder, Clinton Frame congregation, Goshen, by Rus- sell Krabill at the bride’s home Dec. 31, 1951. King — Steffy. — Naaman E. King, Millwood congregation, Gap, Pa., and Marian L. Steffy, Groffdale congregation, Bareville, Pa., by Mah- lon Witmer at the Groffdale Church Dec. 6, 1951. Kratz — Anders. — Robert R. Kratz and Eliz- abeth N. Anders, both of the Franconia, Pa., congregation, by Marvin M. Anders at his home Dec. 29, 1951. Kraybill — Metz. — Paul N. Kraybill, Bossiers congregation, Rheems, Pa., and Jean Metz, Lansdale, Pa., congregation, by John E. Lapp, assisted by Jacob Z. Rittenhouse and Raymond Charles, at the Lansdale Church Dec. 22, 1951. Lapp — Brenneman. — George E. Lapp and Kathryn Marie Brenneman, both from the Mountain View Church near Creston, Mont., by the bride’s father, D. D. Brenneman, at the church Dec. 28, 1951. Longenecker — Hipcher. — Norman Roth Long- enecker, Lititz, Pa., and Emma Hipcher, Co- lumbia, Pa., by Frank Garman at the bride’s home Dec. 12, 1951. Martin — Lehman. — Clarence Sensenig Mar- tin, Erb congregation, Lititz, Pa., and Mary Elnora Lehman, Chambersburg, Pa., congrega- tion, by Amos E. Martin at the home of the bride Dec. 8, 1951. Martin — Wallace. — Eldon Martin, Wakaru- sa, Ind., and Rose Mary Wallace, Goshen, Ind., by Peter B. Wiebe at the home of the bride’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. Clifford Ramer, Dec. 9, 1951. Minnich — Showalter. — Herbert Minnich, Lan- caster, Pa., and Shirley Showalter, Waynes- boro, Va., by Joseph R. Driver at the Spring- dale Church, Waynesboro, Dee. 18, 1951. Shenk — Martin. — Charles E. Shenk, East Petersburg, Pa., congregation, and Marian H. Martin, New Holland, Pa., congregation, by Mahlon Witmer at the New Holland Church Jan. 1, 1952. Sollenberger— Wadel. — John B. Sollenberger, Pleasant View congregation, Chambersburg, Pa., and Doris Wadel, Rowe congregation, Shippensburg, Pa., by Amos E. Martin at the Rowe Church Dec. 9, 1951. Spurlock — Brunk. — Ford Spurlock, Wild Cat, Ky., and Gertrude Brunk, Elida, Ohio, Pike congregation, by Merlin Good at the Wild Cat Church Dec. 21, 1951. Strite — Clugston.— Clarence B. Strite, Cham- bersburg, Pa., congregation, and Mary Grace Clugston, also of the Chambersburg congrega- tion, by Amos E. Martin at the home of the bride Dec. 29, 1951. Tyson — Birky. — Erwin Tyson and Ruth Birky, both of the Hopewell congregation, Kouts, Ind., by Chester C. Osborne at the church Oct. 3, 1951. Vendrely — Lederman. — Richard A. Vendrely and Meredith Lederman, both of the Leo, Ind., congregation, by S. J. Miller, assisted by Wal- ter Stuckey, Stryker, Ohio, at the Leo Church Dec. 8, 1951. Weaver — Good. — Elmer H. Weaver, Bow- mansville, Pa., congregation, and Dorothy Good, Vincent congregation. Spring City, Pa., by Jacob F. Kolb, assisted by Ivins Steinhauer at the Vincent Church Dec. 15, 1951. Yoder — Miller. — Edwin Lloyd Yoder and Es- ther Juanita Miller, Kalona, Iowa, by Edwin Hershberger June 3, 1951. Yoder — Shellenberger. — Harold Yoder, Co- lumbiana, Ohio, and Patricia Shellenberger, Bryan, Ohio, by S. A. Yoder at the West Beth- esda Church, Bryan, Dec. 29, 1951. OBITUARIES May the sustaining grace and comfort of our Lord bless those who are bereaved. Bachtel. — Emma Shoup was born in Holmes Co., Ohio, Sept. 14, 1868; died in the Wooster, Ohio, Hospital Nov. 21, 1951 ; aged 83 y. 2 m. 7 d. She was married to Daniel Bachtel at Wooster; he predeceased her Dec. 28, 1927. She was at one time a resident of Wakarusa, Ind. Surviving are 4 children (Monroe, Misha- waka, Ind. ; Myrtle — Mrs. George Bachtel, and Marvin Bachtel, Elkhart, Ind. ; Merril Bachtel, New Paris, Ind.). One daughter (Mandella — Mrs. Maynard Hoover) died Oct. 10. 1948. Surviving besides her children are 20 grand- children, 23 great-grandchildren, and 3 sisters (Mrs. Fred Hunsberger, Wakarusa, Ind.; Mrs. Melinda Forrer, and Mrs. Harvey Eshliman, Orrville, Ohio). Funeral services were con- ducted at the Olive Church by D. A. Yoder and C. A. Shank. Burial was made in the adjoin- ing cemetery. Brubaker. — Leah, daughter of Elias and Nancy (Martin) Gingrich, was born in Water- loo, Ont., March 24, 1878 ; died after an illness of two weeks at her late home near Myers- town, Pa., Sept. 12, 1951 ; aged 73 y. 5 m. 19 d. At the age of ten she moved with the family to Osceola Co., Iowa, where she grew to wom- anhood. In February, 1897, she was married to Jacob M. Brubaker. To this union were born 10 children. Surviving are 4 daughters and 2 sons (Nancy — Mrs. Peter Smith, Lovina — Mrs. John Horst, Franey — Mrs. Leroy Groff, and Sara — Mrs. Melvin Gehman, Amon, and Simon, Myerstown, Pa.). Early in life she confessed Christ and united with the Mennonite Church, remaining faithful to the Lord and to the church. She was a devoted wife, a kind and loving mother and grandmother, an unassuming neighbor and friend. Funeral services were held at the home Sept. 16 and at the Fairview Church by Banks Horning and Joseph Hostet- ter. Text : Job 17 :11. Interment was made in the adjoining cemetery. Ebersole. — David M. Ebersole was born May 26, 1867 ; died Dec. 24, 1951, at the home of his daughter (Mrs. Norman Shenk), Elizabeth- town, Pa. ; aged 84 y. 6 m. 28 d. His wife died seventeen years ago. He is survived by these children : Mrs. Anna Mary Sipling, Manheim, Pa. ; Mrs. Isaac Geib, Mt. Joy, Pa. ; John Heisey, Mt. Joy ; Lloyd, Manheim ; and Mrs. Norman Shenk, Elizabethtown, Pa. Also sur- viving are 27 grandchildren, 24 great-grand- children, and one great-great-grandchild. He was a member of the Elizabethtown Mennonite Church. Funeral services were held Dec. 28 at the Miller Funeral Home and at the Elizabeth- town Church, in charge of Clarence E. Lutz and Walter Keener, Jr. Burial was made in the Mt. Pleasant Cemetery. Kropf. — Aria Jean, daughter of Elmer and Minerva (Birky) Kropf, was born Dec. 11, 1951, at Eugene, Oreg. ; passed away Dec. 13, 1951 ; aged 2 d. Surviving are her parents, 2 brothers (Roy and Lyle), one sister (Sheryl), 4 grandparents (Mr. and Mrs. J. A. Birky, Salem, Oreg. ; and Mr. and Mrs. S. J. Kropf, Tampico, 111.), and a number of aunts, uncles, and cousins. Graveside services were held Dec. 17 at the Alford Cemetery, with John P. Yoder and Herman Kropf officiating. Pfile. — Celinda Meyer was born in Lancaster Twp., near Freeport, 111., June 10, 1865 ; died in a Freeport Hospital Dec. 22, 1951 ; aged 86 y. 6 m. 12 d. She was married to Henry Pfile in 1900. Survivors include one son (Russell). The last of her immediate family, she leaves a number of brothers- and sisters-in-law. She accepted Christ as her Saviour and united with the Freeport Mennonite Church in 1943. Fu- neral services were held at the Freeport Church Dec. 24, with Richard J. Yordy officiating. Text : Luke 2 :30-35. Burial was made in the adjoining cemetery. Wittrig. — Amos, son of Daniel and Elizabeth (Sutter) Wittrig, was born Jan. 16, 1892, at Hopedale, 111. ; died at his home in Hopedale Dec. 8. 1951 ; aged 59 y. 10 m. 22 d. Aug. 2. 1914, he was united in marriage to Lydia Sut- ter, of Milford, Nebr. Surviving besides his wife are 3 sons (Howard, Glenn, and Loren, of Hopedale), one daughter (Iola Bowman, Lancaster Co., Pa.), 6 grandchildren, and the following sisters : Lena Litwiller and Mary Martin, of Hopedale; Lydia Birkey, Alto, Mich. ; and Anna Wittrig, Glendale, Colo. His parents and one sister (Elizabeth) preceded him in death. In early youth he accepted Christ as his Saviour and united with the Hopedale Mennonite Church, remaining faithful to Christ and the church until his departure from this life. Funeral services were held Dec. 10 at the Davis Funeral Home and at the Hopedale Mennonite Church, in charge of Ivan Kauff- mann, Simon Litwiller ,and Ben Springer. Burial was made in the Hopedale Mennonite Cemetery. Every human soul is precious in the sight of the Creator. — A. E. Kreider. , January 15, 1952 71 THE BOOK SHELF Books reviewed in these columns may be ordered from the Mennonite Publishing House, Scottdale, Pa. Revivals in the Midst of the Years, by Benjamin Rice Lacy, Jr.; John Knox Press; 1943; $1.50. This 160-page book on revivals is written in expectation and hope, though it is largely a work of history. The author is a devout scholar who, while waiting for God to visit his church once more in either judgment or mercy, wrote a book “to see how God has visited His church with great awakenings in the past.” The first chapter tells of three Biblical re- vivals: the Exodus, the Samuel-David Awak- ening, and the Restoration under Ezra and Nehemiah. In these revivals “great leaders were raised up . . . sacred poetry and music gave expression to new hope and new faith . . . doom and salvation, judgment and mercy are presented . . . great preaching, perhaps; much prayer certainly.” Going into church history Dr. Lacy cites the revivals of Bernard, Wycliffe, Hus, Sa- vonarola, and others. The Reformation had in it the elements of revival: “disquiet over spiritual and moral conditions, great leaders, much prayer, urgent preaching, inspired sing- ing, movements of individuals and masses toward repentance and new faith, social and moral reforms, and the beginnings of new systems to preserve if possible the work of grace. Knox and his kind were leaders in a revival which transformed a nation within a generation.” The book is in good part a story of the im- pact of revivalism on the Presbyterian Church. The author is Presbyterian and the chapters of the book were given first as lectures at a theological seminary of his church. In dis- cussing the Great Awakening of colonial America the author states: “The South and Presbyterian Church of the South received untold strength from this movement — yes, in reality our Church in the South was reborn through this movement.” The chapter on the Revival of 1800 is per- haps one of the best accounts in point on this awakening which “spread until in a general way it covered the entire United States.” Though marred by certain excesses which substituted “bodily phenomena for heart re- ligion” and by a “group of millennialists who took their doctrine of the immediate return of Christ so seriously that family life was for- bidden,” the author believes that the gains of this revival vastly exceeded the losses. Col- leges felt the revival. In New England it quickened Yale and Williams. “Theological seminaries had to be established to care for the increased number entering the ministry, and the early roots of Andover, Princeton, Union in Virginia (of which Mr. Lacy is president), Yale Divinity School, and other seminaries go back to this revival.” In fact, the author regards seminaries as “the most essential agency produced by the revival.” But the effect of this revival and later ones on religious literature is also quite impor- GOSPEL HERALD tant. Pamphlets, tracts, and books were pro- duced in large volumes, though the “crown- ing effect from the point of Christian litera- ture was the organization of Bible Societies throughout the land, especially the creation of the American Bible Society (May 8, 1816), which was largely the work of men whose religious zeal had been kindled during this revival.” Besides giving impetus to schools and liter- ature, the revivals in America have influenced greatly the founding of temperance societies, Sunday schools, and home and foreign mis- sions. A distressing feature of revivals has been the divisive effects which, in the case of the Presbyterian Church (and others), rent the church asunder. With every revival wave there were controversies: the Old Side against the New Side in the colonial Great Awaken- ing; the Old Lights against the New Lights in 1800; the Old School against the New School in 1830. Cleveland points out in “The Great Revival in the West 1797-1885” that, “The teachings of the revivalist were sub- versive of ecclesiastical authority.” Sweet in “Revivalism in America” says that re- vivalism is “the new cascade which recreates.” It is “the rapids in the stream and therefore as much a legitimate and essential part of it as any other.” As stated at the beginning of this review, “Revivals in the Midst of the Years” was written in expectation and hope. Is the time ripe for another revival? the author wonders. If so, he expresses two hopes about the next revival. (1) He hopes that the disputes between the advocates of the Gospel of Personal Re- demption and the enthusiasts of the Social Gospel will not interfere with the good of a revival. He envisions a sane balance be- tween the two and believes that “The mutual understanding and the adjustment of these two groups to the ideas and aims of each other may be prophetic of a new revival in which both elements will be preserved.” (2) Christian Education likewise has been at times at variance with revivalism. Mis- givings exist because evangelists looking at the religious education program “thought they saw in that movement an effort to save men by character building apart from the operation of the Spirit.” Likewise the meth- ods of evangelists were criticized by leaders in the religious education movement. Dr. Lacy sees a place for both emphases and states that “our next revival may profit by and greatly advance Christian Education in our Church.” Today, Dr. Lacy concludes, we stand in the midst of years that are “more fateful than we think.” The world waits on America’s answer to the great question: “Will God visit her now in wrath or in grace?” There are signs of “His imminent judgment upon our nation, but there are signs, too, of a turning to Him in penitence and faith.” — Grant M. Stoltzfus. Words without thoughts never to heaven go.— Shakespeare. ITEMS and COMMENTS Dorothy Thompson, well-known Amer- ican writer, recently spent two days in the Mennonite community of Newton, Kansas. The story of those two days appears under the title “Queer People” in the January, 1952, Ladies’ Home Journal. Her outstand- ing impression concerns the Mennonite re- jection of war, “war which destroys and does not bring peace,” Miss Thompson concludes. “And the more I have thought about it, the more I wonder whether the ‘Queer’ people are not just a little more ‘scientifically ad- vanced’ than are the rest of us in the most fundamental of all the sciences, the one that should reveal how we can continue to live together on this planet, in this universe.” * * * A new high in the advertising of beer has just been made public. Advertising Age says that the brewers of the United States will spend more than $100,000,000 in advertising in 1951. If the sale of beer in 1951 is the same as in 1950 (83,000,000 barrels), this is advertising at the rate of $1.20 per barrel. Within the past three years, however, the sale of beer has decreased by several million barrels. In an effort to boost the consump- tion to 100,000,000 barrels a year, the ad- vertisers are securing the most skillful ad- vertising propaganda. One of the clever and deceiving phrases recently appearing is: “Beer Belongs.” Theodore Roosevelt, how- ever, told the truth about it He said, “There isn’t a thought in a hogshead of beer; there isn’t an idea in a whole brewery.” It is conservatively estimated that distilled spirits and wine are advertised even more extensively than is beer. * # * It is estimated by The Clip Sheet that women drink about 25 per cent of all the beer consumed in the United States today. * * # Robert M. Hutchins, former chancellor of the University of Chicago, now associate di- rector of the Ford Foundation, said recently that Americans dedicate too much leisure time to the comic book, the secondhand car, and the local tavern. He thought Americans show no sign of reaching emotional and in- tellectual maturity. He described the comic book as the principal cultural manifestation of our epoch, and said it seems to be pro- duced by and for people who have had three years — and not very good ones — in grade school. There may be a good deal of intel- lectual snobbishness in this, but certainly there is also some moral discernment. * * * There are no millionaires in Japan, we are told. The highest income earner in that country gets about what the best baseball player in this country gets. # # • It is reported that India faces another famine this winter probably as bad as last year’s or worse. 72 GOSPEL HERALD January 15, 1952 Now available A DECLARATION OF CHRISTIAN FAITH AND COMMITMENT with respect to Peace, War, and Nonresistance The official statement of the Mennonite Church position as adopted by the General Conference on August 23, 1951, is now ready for distribution. This statement replaces the one drawn up in 1937 at Turner, Oregon. Keep a supply on hand to give to local draft boards, gov- ernment officials, and to others who are interested in under- standing the doctrine of nonresistance. A copy should be in the hands of every young person and adult in the Men- nonite Church. You will want to read and reread it care- fully. Ea., 5U!Vtt V % 10 ie 31IWONN3W GOSPEL HERALD “On the defence and confirmation of the gospel" ' How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace " volume XLV TUESDAY, JANUARY 22, 1952 The Disciples’ Challenge to Evangelism BY J. W. SHANK Matthew 9:36-38; 10:3, 16, 19, 20; 28:18-20 The Vision of Jesus The first months of Jesus’ preaching ministry had passed, and with them a great train of experiences that must have borne upon Him with intense signifi- cance. On the mountain during the tempta- tion He had viewed the kingdoms of the world, but its conquest by the suggested plans of Satan made no appeal to Him. On the other hand, in those early days of His ministry among the masses He was dealing with society in its common and even vulgar aspects. The people in their poverty, sin, and ignorance crowded around Him. He saw their misery in sickness, their despair in poverty, and their bewildered fear of the future. He saw the men of power who “ground the faces of the poor,” the greed and graft practiced in the temple, and the tithes and rites exacted by religious teachers with the rigid coldness of tyrants. In the Sermon on the Mount He gave the first great fundamental truths that must be loved and practiced by all mem- bers of the kingdom of God. At the same time He met the great opposing forces in the persons of the scribes and Pharisees, challenging them for their blasphemous unbelief. Likewise He faced the clerical party at Nazareth only to be rejected by them. He healed the centurion’s servant, raised the son of the widow of Nain, turned water into wine, spoke parables by the sea, stilled the tempest, cast out devils, and healed the blind and dumb. It was at the close of such an initial ministry that the people of the outlying regions, hearing of the fame of the great teacher of righteousness, came day after day from all quarters and even “trode one upon another” in order to get near Him. Then it was that the impact of their bitterness of spirit and their soul- longings overwhelmed the Master so that as He saw them, “he was moved with compassion on them, because they faint- ed, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.” What was it that the Master saw? A turmoil of people, milling here and there, dreading, fearing, despairing; yet hoping, desiring, seeking a better way of life. It was a people who were, in truth, “walking in darkness,” but upon whom the “great light” was about to shine. Jesus Passes on the Vision The urgent need of the hour was to pass the vision of need on to the newly chosen disciples. They, too, must see the burning need of humanity. They, too, must enter as soldiers into the battle. They, too, must get experience. It was in that hour that Jesus seized the oppor- tunity to give to His disciples a prac- tical lesson in evangelism. Note the sug- gestive appeal when He said: “The har- vest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few.” “So many people, my dear disciplesl What a harvest might be reaped among them! How few laborers there are who really care about these tragic needs!” “Yes,” the disciples must have ad- mitted, “there is urgency here, but what are we among so many? What could we do in such a motley crowd? So few are the laborers! How could we even be- gin?” But, praise God, the Master had a plan! Listen to His challenging appeal when He said: “Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.” “Pray!” urged the Master. The Lord of harvest knows what to do. He has believing children in the world, servants, laborers, disciples. He is well prepared to direct the laborers. The laborer, truly, is but a humble servant. He must wholly confide in the Lord of the harvest. He personally must accept the burden and carry it upon his own heart. He, too, must look and see. He, too, should be- come overwhelmed at the tragic needs of humanity. He, too, must feel that Christlike compassion for the milling multitudes. He, too, must be ready to obey orders from the Lord of the har- vest. Let the believers pray. Let them believe in the efficacy of prayer. Let them offer themselves, as a partial answer to their own prayer, as did Isaiah when he said, “Here am I; send me.” Jesus Plans a Lesson in Practical Experience The next lesson that came to the dis- ciples was one in practical experience. number 4 As yet they were Christian laymen. They were not tried veterans of warfare. They lacked utterance and tact in dealing with men. They were just crude men of the common walks of life. What should they know of evangelism? Yet the Master saw in them potential evangelists. He sent them forth into the school of practi- cal experience. He said to them: “Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues. . . . But when they deliver you up, take no thought [be not anxious] how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak. For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you.” These men were sent forth “to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick” (Luke 9:2). They were to go on faith, depending upon God for power, sustenance, protection, and utterance. In a sense they were “put on their own,” among strangers and even among en- In Jerusalem By Lorie C. Gooding We’re concerned for the sinner in China, The heathen in Mandalay. But, say, do we care, have we offered a prayer For the neighbor just over the way ? W e say we would go ivith the Gospel To lighten dark Africa’s shore. Have we spoken a word in the name of the Lord To the people who live next door ? That farmer who lives down the highway. Who looks so forbidding and grim. Do we have no “call’’ to witness at all. Or to speak of the Saviour to him f We’d take the Gospel to savages, We’d cross the stormy tide. But we can not tell out what the Gospel’s about To the fellow who works by our side. We’d tell of our ivonderful Saviour And His love we have found so szveet To the Hottentot, but certainly not To the friends whom we meet on the street. Oh, we would be missionaries And go out the lost ones to seek. We will send a preacher to Hindustan, And we’ll give for Testaments for Japan, But never a word will we speak. Holmesville, Ohio. 74 January 22, 1952 emies. Yet they were promised every aid from the Lord who sent them forth. It was for them, indeed, a school of ex- perience. They probably made mistakes and failed to follow all the directions given by their Master. Yet it was for them a great adventure. They were in the Master’s business. They were am- bassadors for Christ in a world of human need. Their vision was doubtless very much enlarged. Their compassion and concern for those lost in sin must have become greater day by day as they went from city to city. God was surely open- ing their eyes to the meaning of the great ministry of Christ to the lost world. Friends, let us try to appreciate the challenge that comes to us through the sending forth of those inexperienced dis- ciples. They were not yet called to per- manent service. They were mere “fresh- men” in their training school. They were not appointed workers but Chris- tian laymen, out on an experimental mission. The important thing is that the Master confided in them for this special service. Why did Jesus do this? I believe He did it to help them to a greater love for human beings and concern lor lost souls. I believe they needed some lessons in love and faith, in patience and endurance, in humility and sacrifice. They needed to rub up against people of all classes— small and great. They needed some eye- opening experiences such as come to one when he is thrown upon his own re- sources. Jesus’ Teaching— Dynamic for Evangelism The next step in the training of the apostolic evangelists was one designed to build up their morale. Until the last, Jesus was aware of the crude, human frailties in that little group of followers. During the years of association with them He gave them many lessons in faith, humility, patience, and love. He made clear to them that He, Himself, was living in intimate relation with God, the Father. It was for that reason that He could speak of Himself as the “living water . . . springing up into everlasting life”; also that He was “the bread of life” that could satisfy every hungry soul; that He was “the light of the world” that would flood the soul of every true believer with brightness; that He was “the resurrection and the life” to those who would accept His offer of redemp- tion; that He was “the good shepherd” ready to lay down His life for the sheep; GOSPEL HERALD that He was “the true vine” in whom His disciples might abide forever; that He would pray the Father who would give them "another Comforter” to abide with them, teach them, and guide them into ail truth; finally, that He was go- ing to “prepare a place for” them in the presence of the eternal Father. All of these teachings were designed to inspire in them an implicit faith in the power and omnipotence of God as re- vealed through tneir Messiah and mani- fested forever through the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer. Here was the dynamic that would never fail as long as life should last, if all the while the believer’s faith were firm. Here was the fountainhead of strength and cour- age; here was the dispenser of spiritual wisdom, of consolation in the hour of persecution; here was the final answer to all of the promises the Master had given during those years of training. Much of the dynamic for evangelism was acquired by the disciples through the consummation of the tragedy of the crucifixion and the triumph of the resur- rection. The disciples had to go down into the valley ol sorrow and despair with the Master. They had to see all that it takes to pay the price of love for the sinner. They had to be snatched from the brink of despair by the dis- covery that Jesus was victor over death. After that any word of authority from Him must have come with tremendous power and challenge. Jesus Gives the Great Commission The last step in the apostolic train- ing came just before the Master’s final departure for the world beyond. The disciples were then equipped with a vision of the urgent needs of humanity and of the possible harvest for God among the world’s millions. They were fortified by the lessons in prayer and in faith through their constant contact with the rich prayer-life of Jesus during the years when they walked with Him. Through their own practical service tours and through the daily teaching and example of the Master they had no doubt learned of the constraining love and joy in such service. And through those bitter experiences in the days when their Master was dragged to trial and death, they must have come forth great- ly humbled and chastened and ready to behold Him as their risen Lord. Thus, on that last day, on the mount of Olives, the disciples were ready to listen to the voice of authority from Him (Continued on page 93) * Our Readers Say — I thank God for such a publication as our Gospel Gerald. Especially to be appreciated is the broadness of the scope covered by its con- tents. When read regularly its worth is revealed in the prevention of a "rut” in the course of our thinking, teaching, and practice. 1 especially appreciate the carefulness in the selection of the materials which are presented J weekly to a constituency which varies in prac- j tice and thought in this; that the principles of God and the Word, coupled with the needs of the church, are printed for our reading rather than seeking only to satisfy the demands of its readers as is the basis for many current publica- tions. The editors of this “ship of thought” have a heavy duty resting upon them, to steer her through the waves of heterodoxy in maintain- ing a Christ-pleasing course for time to come. How many of you readers pray regularly for the editors of all our publications? — Omar A. Kurts, Oley, Pa. * * * The custom of sending greeting cards is an old one. There are cards for every occasion ex- cept the one for which the Lord laid a burden on my heart during the Christmas season. Let’s send “Christ’s Return” greeting cards. “Get Ready.” "Be Ready.” “Are You Looking for Him?” Many different titles could be used from the 318 places in the New Testament where j Christ’s return is mentioned. If every one of the 64,591 Mennonites in U.S.A. and Canada sent only ten Christmas greetings about an event that happened nearly 2,000 years ago, and they cost ten cents each, $64,591 was spent. May God lead our printers to print this new type of greeting and may we spend at least an equal amount in 1952 in telling souls of Christ’s re- turn.— Daniel Dillcr, Willow Hill, Pa. * * * We appreciate the good Mennonitc literature that you are making possible for our church. I know there are many who look forward to every issue of the publications they receive. May God richly bless you as you serve Him through this avenue to build His kingdom. — Peter B. Wiebe, Wakarusa, Ind. * * * In the death of J. B. Smith we have lost a beloved brother, counselor, leader, and teacher. A more humble man we have yet to lind. He always had time to listen to our problems. He was sympathetic, loving, kind, and free with his spiritual admonition. There is surely a large vacancy in our church. The whole congrega- tion keenly and deeply feel his passing. YVe can vividly recall his untiring efforts in unfolding to us the Scriptures. How we enjoyed his dis- courses! We could drink in with ever-increasing thirst the best things of God as he gave them. He was a man of unselfish devotion. We are not worshiping the man, but that for which he stood, the Word of Life. How true in his case is Revelation 14:13! ‘ Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.” — Clyde Swartz, Route 4, Lima, Ohio. GOSPEL HERALD ESTABLISHED 1908 AS SUCCESSOR TO GOSPEL WITNESS (ISOS) AND HERALD OF TRUTH (1864) PAUL ERB, EDITOR CATHERINE HERNLEY, EDITORIAL ASSISTANT J. D. GRABER, MISSIONS EDITOR JOHN L. HORST, MILLARD C. LIND, ASSOCIATE EDITORS THE GOSPEL HERALD IS A RELIGIOUS WEEKLY PUBLISHED IN THE INTERESTS OF THE MENNONITE CHURCH BY THE MENNONITE PUBLICATION BOARD, SCOTTDALE, PA. ENTERED AS SECOND-CLASS MATTER IN 1908 AT THE POST OFFICE AT SCOTTDALE, PA., UNDER ACT OF MARCH 3, 1879. SUBSCRIPTION PRICEl $3.00 PER YEAR, THREE YEARS IN ADVANCE, $8.00, FIVE YEARS IN ADVANCE, $12.50. SAMPLE COPIES SENT FREE ON REQUEST. SEND ALL MATERIAL FOR PUBLICATION TO GOSPEL HERALD, SCOTTDALE, PA. PRINTED IN U.S.A. GOSPEL HERALD EDITORIAL January 22, 1952 The Average American There is no such thing as an average person, and so the average American is only hypothetical. But we have read recently that the average American has the title to his own home, and is mak- ing payments on it. He owns a car, and enjoys many modern conveniences. And so we found ourselves asking a few more questions about him. Is he a church member? Possibly so, for nominal church membership includes a little over half of our population. Does he go to church? Probably not, for average church attend- ance is far below church membership. At best, he possibly goes to church at Christmas and Easter, or on some other special occasion. How much does he give to church and charity? Only one cent and one mill for every dollar of income, only one tenth of the tithe. At the same time he is putting into savings, for himself and his family, five cents of every dollar. He is spending ten cents on alcohol, to- bacco, cosmetics, jewelry, sports, and other nonessentials. Is he a Christian? It is not ours to say, but knowing that he is barely inside the church, and that many people come into the church for social reasons, without an experience of salvation, we must strongly question whether Mr. Average American is a Christian. What a situationl In a nom- inally Christian country, crowded with churches and with Christian witness reaching everywhere by preaching, teach- ing, literature, or radio, the average per- son does not know Christ as Saviour, but is plunging toward eternal damnation. How far above the average are you? Far enough to be a real Christian? Far enough to be a sincere worshiper, a tither, a personal witness for Christ? To be average is not enough. One might further inquire concerning the average Mennonite. In his financial situation he is probably up with the average American, or above. He certain- ly is much more faithful in church at- tendance, and gives four or five times as much. We have reason to hope that, though there are no doubt unsaved peo- ple on our church rolls, the average Men- nonite knows Christ as a personal Sav- iour from sin. But certainly he is not nearly as spiritual as he ought to be, not as active in Christian service as the needs require, not as completely separate from the world and its sin as an effective testi- mony depends upon. And yet, some of us feel pretty well satisfied because we are as good as the average. Cod, lift us above that low mediocrity. A Good Time Westbrook Pegler, well-known com- mentator and columnist, is reported to have said recently to the Board of Temp- erance of the Methodist Church, “I have been vacationing in Miami, drinking, gambling, and having a good time. Now I want to know how a Dry has a good time.” What would you have told him? It is a common idea among people of the world that those who live by the Chris- tian code have a very dull time of it. Can it be that we give them that idea by our morose countenance and by sighing for the things that we would like to do if we only dared? Where is the joy of the Lord that bubbles out in smiles and happy words, in a personality triumphant over every circumstance? We should like to tell Mr. Pegler and his ilk that life is full and rich for men of Christian morals. They can en- joy a good meal without a dark brown taste the morning after. They need never get out of sorts because tobacco and liquor are unobtainable. They can en- joy an evening of conversation without wondering the next morning whether they had said anything indiscreet. They can get into a car for a drive along beautiful highways without a fear that they have taken enough alcohol to anes- thetize their judgment, to retard their reflexes, and to cloud their vision. They need not fear that whiskey-breath makes them a nuisance. By staying away from the bar, the to- bacco counter, the gambling table and the amusement booth they save so much time and money that they can afford travel to the beauty spots of the country; or the best in music and literature; or a quiet vacation in forest or mountain, by stream or seashore. If they travel by boat, they can enjoy the fresh air of the 75 deck, rather than a game of cards in the smoke-filled beverage room. If they travel on a modern streamliner, they can enjoy the wonderful scenery from the no-smoking strato-dome, instead of guzzling drinks at $1 each in the stuffy club-car. Christian men can really enjoy home life, for they have nothing to conceal from wife and children. They have the joy of saying to a son, “Follow my ex- ample.” Recognizing God and paying attention to the spiritual side of life, they have no accusing conscience to tell them they are living a partial and un- balanced life. They have the joy of knowing that when the doctor says, “On- ly six months,” there will need to be no sudden adjustments. It is a great satis- faction to have one’s reckoning up to date. Pegler said he was having a good time —the only kind of a good time he knew how to have. He drank— probably for his own satisfaction, for we cannot see how anyone else could enjoy his drinking, or get any good out of it. That indulgence was purely selfish. He gambled— again for his own pleasure and satisfaction. For he probably hoped to win, and did his best to do so. So far as possible, he car- ried off the winnings, and left someone the poorer for it. That is his concept of a good time— satisfying his own appetite and cupidity to the disadvantage of others. Poor fellow! He knows nothing, by his own confession, of w’hat a pleasure it is to do things for others: to meet their needs by one’s gifts; to bring balm and comfort by the word of kindness; to solve problems by bringing the truths of the Scriptures; to restore harmony and peace in the soul through forgiveness of sins and the redemption of Christ. The joy of the Lord in the heart is genuine and lasting. One doesn’t need to go to Miami or any other resort to get it. How would you have a good time, Mr. Pegler, if you couldn’t go to Miami, or buy spirits, or find someone willing to be fleeced? The driest souls in the world are those whose good time depends upon such externals. We must in all seriousness ask our- selves to what extent we still live the life of humility, brotherhood, simplicity, and piety; and to what extent we simply revel in pride because of the piety of our ancestors.— Guy F. Hershberger. 76 GOSPEL HERALD January 22, 1952 What May Our Young People Do? BY NELSON E. KAUFFMAN The question is not, Will the young people do something, but it is. What are young people going to do? The answer to that depends not only on the young people but also upon the commercial and social world and upon the church. Some time ago I read an article in a current magazine telling of the pheno- menal financial success of a young man who undertook to tell the business world what the youth of today would buy, and what appealed to them. The Mennonite Church is no more ready to have her youth exploited and dissipated through any other group, but it is becoming increasingly clear to the thinking person of today that if the church does not offer activity to guide the energy of that young person in our homes, an unprincipled man certainly will. Objectives Persons are sometimes heard to say, Others are doing things, and we have a right to do something too. The world offers an attractive variety of activities; so we must compete and get the young people to do things in and for the church. Such objectives lead the modern church to bring the restaurants, poolrooms, rec- reation halls, theaters, and other such things under the auditorium or behind the pulpit. Competition with the world in entertainment is certain spiritual death to the church and to her youth. The Church of Jesus Christ should provide a program of activities because it is Christian, it is Scriptural, it is spir- itually necessary for guided development of youth. We ought to guide the devel- opment of youth even if the world were not interested in their nickels and dimes. It is Scriptural to overcome evil with good, whether it is overcoming bad words by using good words, overcoming bad thoughts with good ones, overcom- ing evil conduct with good conduct, or overcoming bad activities with good ac- tivities. Divine power is needed to keep the commandment in Rom. 12:21. It is certain that our boys can’t be at a gam- bling den and at chorus practice at the same time; they can’t be at a roadhouse and at the Reading Hour Club at the same moment, nor at the movies and at the missionary project simultaneously. Young people are interested not only in being good or in being good for some- thing sometime, but in being good for something definite now. We should not insult them by suggesting only the first. Life, doing good to all men, and especial- ly to those of our family of faith is any- thing but dry. The desire to do, to ad- venture, to dare, to become, to accom- plish, to excel is normal and may be di- rected but cannot be crushed. Ideals To do is not enough; it must be done rightly. To act is not sufficient, but to act wisely. To enjoy is not good, but to enjoy nobly. The fact that the young man likes chocolate cake does not mean that all his wife’s married life is circumscribed by chocolate cake baking. The cake might even profitably wait till the bed is made and the floor swept. A church program and spiritual progress depends upon more than singing for Grandma White and hoeing potatoes or sacking popcorn. The ball game is not quite so enjoy- able as when Uncle Dan pitches. At least we like to have Johnnie’s father to umpire. All work and no play makes Dick a dull Dutchman, but all play and no work might make Pete a problem for pulpit and also the pew. The better the balance, the better the boy is built. My oldest brother once severely criti- cized me for building fly traps when I should have been feeding wheat bun- dles into the family threshing machine. I spent several dollars once trying to build a portable drill to run off a storage battery, which would save lots of time, if we needed it, and if it would work. To be doing is not always doing wisely. Some boys I once knew could enter- tain a crowd all evening with moron stories. When a certain fifth-grade pupil was handed a first-grade reader he said, enthusiastically, “Say, that’s the kind of a book I like to read.” Because the simple love elementary simplicity is scarcely justification to avoid construc- tive and instructive activity in planning a program of enjoyable recreation and service. A further ideal that should not be overlooked in any program of activity is the necessity of that program including opportunity for everyone in the group. Types of Activity No service or activity which we are obligated to perform should be incom- patible with the church. If it is right and proper it can be done with the church as the center. The end of all en- deavor is spiritual, to please Christ, whether that is fishing, fighting weeds, finding Sunday-school pupils, filling Christmas boxes, frying wieners, or fold- ing tracts. Two types of service should be avail- able to every energetic youth: marginal- time projects, and full-time short or long- er period activities. The Lord and the church have a claim on the young Christian’s time and talent. That claim is not a kill-joy but an oc- casion for a good time in the truest sense of the word. There is no sorrow added when God is in it. Young people should be led to discover the joy of fellowship and service in activities that admit of physical, mental, and spiritual release. Congregations having a sizable group might well profit in having a building to house the activities of the church that are not advisable in the sanctuary, set aside for worship. In this building the I sewing circle might meet, the mission I and relief canning might be done. Stor- 1 age space would be available. Here the 1 young people’s organization would con- vene. The Christian Day School might i be housed in part of it. This would be 1 the center for the Youth Missionary Proj- 1 ect, and the preparing of Christmas ; packages. The popcorn might be dried s and shelled, or the potatoes sorted in t this building. The junior sewing circle 1 and the boys’ activities group would find « convenient and suitable quarters under 1 this roof. A class in crafts, such as wood- 1 working, leather tooling, and making 1 plaster of Paris mottoes could be held here. Some forms of physical exercise i might also be provided for the little profit which Paul conceded to such ac- j tivities. If built near the church build- a ing, it might also house some Sunday- j school classes. s Such a building would be helpful, but is not essential to a program of marginal- time activities for the youth of a congre- gation. The church might well profit from evangelism projects, such as sur- veys, visitation of sick and aged, distri- bution of literature, summer and week- 1 day Bible schools, singing classes, and projects for helping the poor and needy. (Continued on page 93) TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO ( From Gospel Herald, Jan. 20, 1927) A great spiritual awakening was ex- 5 perienced at Mellinger’s Church, Lan- caster Co., Pa., in the recent revival held there with Bro. John Grove, Greencastle, 1 Pa., as evangelist. Nearly one hundred souls had confessed at last reports and i the meetings had not yet closed. Bro. H. A. Diener of Hutchinson, Kans., came [Harper, Kans.] ... in | evangelistic work .... As a visible re- sult sixteen souls confessed Christ. Brethren N. H. Mack and N. E. Miller are . . . handing the bread of life to their classes of Short Term students [E.M.S.]. On the evening of Dec. 8, Bro. Jacob A. Shenk . . . and Sister Lucy B. Wenger . . . were united in marriage .... Bro. Glen R. Miller . . . and Sister Mary Pearl Klopfenstein were united in marriage Dec. 24 ... . It Happened — January 22, 1952 GOSPEL HERALD 77 William McPherson By Anna D. Smith Because of the approaching birthday of Mr. McPherson, at the request of a friend, a briet sketch of his life is given. Wm. McPherson was born in Scotland Feb. 5, 1866, and on June 6, 1883, he left his native country and came to the United States. At Warrensburg, Mo., he was employed as sandstone quarryman. Later he went to Rawlings, Wyo. Among the many men with whom Mr. McPherson worked, there was one man who seemed to be especially interested in him. This man was a sincere Christian, and in a tactiui way gave him to under- stand that even though he during his early years attended the Free Church, he felt Scotland without having been “born again,” according to John 3:16. Some days later he joyiully told his friend that he fully believed John 3:16, and knew that Jesus died for him, and saved him. This great peace of heart and soul came in 1887. It was fully nineteen years later, on June 21, 1906, that early in the morning, a premature blast in the quarry not many miles from Ft. Collins, Colo., de- stroyed both the hands and the eyes of Blessing Fullness By Leota Good Listen to the voice of Jesus As He pleads with those distressed, “Come, all burdened, heavy laden, Come, and I will give you rest.” “Come,” the Spirit now is saying; And the Bride is saying “Come.” He that heareth and believeth Should be telling everyone. “Come,” the sweetest of the sweet words, Jesus knew just what to say To bring peace and joy and comfort To His sheep who’d gone astray. T hen in coming to the Master We find rest in Him complete; For His yoke is, oh, so easy, And our cares are at His feet. We must come before the fullness Of His blessing we may see. The condition, after coming, Jesus says, “Abide in me.” To abide, keep His commandments ; Do not let the least one go, If you want the fullest blessing He can give us here below. Logan, Ohio. Mr. McPherson. Having the perfect peace which God so freely gives to all who put their trust in Him, Wm. Mc- Pherson bravely lived each day, with the faith that the Lord would send some one to read the Bible to him, and it was so. Not only did the lady read to him, but she brought a card with the alphabet lor the blind. He was so eager to yead, and worked so hard that both his lips and tongue would bleed. But again prayer was answered by the Father whom ne was so eager to honor. He could read the Lord’s Prayer, and as days passed made good progress in reading with his tongue. I or many years Wm. McPherson has lived at 1918 E. 71st Terrace, Kansas City, Mo. An elderly Christian lady is his efficient housekeeper and nurse. A visit in that home brings blessings never to be forgotten. A large bookcase holds his Bible consisting of hfty-nine volumes in the Moon type lor the blind. To watch Mr. McPherson, who has only handless arms with which to handle the books, and no eyes with which to see, read God s Word with his tongue, makes those with hands and eyes feel that their blessings cannot be counted. And yet, on one such occasion his face brightened as he said, “I have been looking into the Book of Colossians.” For several years a heart condition has caused him uneasiness and at times much rest is needed. On the fifth of February another year will have passed, and Wm. McPherson will be one year older. A card or some remembrance from friends will again be greatly appre- ciated. Were it not for God’s unfailing love, life for Wm. McPherson would be one long night. But with Him, each succeeding day brings him nearer to his Saviour whom he longs to see, and to the City where there is no night, as told in Rev. 22:3-5. Kansas City, Kans. From Johnny Allison Box 900 Register No. 65381 Missouri State Penitentiary Jefferson City, Missouri “Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Je- sus Christ. I thank my God upon every remembrance of you” (Phil. 1:2, 3). “O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together” (Ps. 34:3). God sent His Son into the world and the prophet said His name should be called Wonderful. He has been man’s most wonderful Friend. Our burdens are heavy but this wonderful Friend will bear them for us. “Come unto me,” this wonderful Friend said, “and I will give you rest.” However great our bur- dens, this wonderful Burden Bearer will share them with us. Our hearts need no longer be heavy, for His sunshine will lift us into fields of joy. He will set bells of delight ringing in our souls. “God so loved the world that he gave” this wonderful Friend, Provider, Sav- iour, and Burden Bearer to die for our sins. He loves us with an everlasting love, and when all others forsake us this wonderful Friend loves us still, because He loved us enough to die for us that we might go free and have eternal life. Truly He is wonderful. How I do praise His precious name for so many dear brothers and sisters in Christ everywhere. I can never thank Him enough for all the letters and Christmas cards I have received. God bless you each and every one is my prayer. As I am not able to write but two letters a week, I will have to write this one to all. We are not allowed eatables or liquids of any kind, but I sure appreciate the church papers, tracts, and books that I have received. When I have finished with them I let others read them and it helps me in my testimony for my lovely Saviour. I need your prayers each day and your love that has meant so much to me. Please con- Prayer Requests — Pray for the salvation of a man hurt in an accident. His wife, mother, sister, and brother-in-law are also unsaved. Pray that a young married couple may allow God to have His way in their lives. Pray for a sister whose hearing is not good. Pray for a father of five children who has drifted away from the Lord. Pray for better spiritual use of tele- vision. A brother has trouble with his eyes and requests the prayers of the church. Pray that the curse of permanent mili- tarism may not come upon us through Universal Military Training. Pray that the way may be opened for effective witness in alternative service by our 1-0 men. Pray for the Mission and the Church in India as they prepare to operate unit- edly under a new constitution, begin- ning July 1. Pray for our young men of draft age, and their parents, that they may stand for Christian convictions on nonresist- ance, and be willing to make personal sacrifice in the interests of Christian witness. Pray for the Brunk revival campaign in Florida. GOSPEL HERALD January 22, 1952 tinue to pray for me as I go about my “Father’s work.” Also I want you all to write me as you have before, although I am not permitted to write each of you in person. Your letters are so encourag- ing and inspiring. Just when I feel in need of a lift I receive one of your most welcome letters. And to think, 60,000 of us, all joined together in Christ Jesus. How I thank God for you and all your kindness and prayers. May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God be with you all. Your brother in Christ, Johnny Allison If pastors did but realize it, there is a simple way to produce all the funds the churches need, for all the work they can possibly do. It is by the spread of the practice of tithing, already tried and proved by thousands of Christian men and women.— John Timothy Stone. A Prayer for This Week Eternal God, as we have launched into another year, we are mindful of our complete dependence upon Thee. As time-conscious sojourners, give us dis- cerning minds that we may choose wisely those things which contribute to our spiritual betterment. Help us, O God, to be good stewards of Thy manifold grace. We pray Thy blessings upon our church and her institutions. May they faithfully serve to develop souls in their love and devotion to our Lord and Sav- iour Jesus Christ. We ask a special bless- ing upon the winter Bible schools being held throughout our church. May the seed that is sown result in an abundant spiritual harvest. Keep us faithful in every way is our prayer in the name of Jesus. —Paul T. Guengerich Taxes By Ira Birmingham Those awful taxes! Most of us grum- ble about them. But should we as Chris- tians complain? What did Jesus say about taxes? Read Matt. 17:24-27. This was an unjust tax, normally assessed on foreigners, but now being demanded of citizens. Christ did not have the money and apparently His disciples did not either. So He per- formed a miracle and obtained the need- ed cash. t Let’s not waste our breath complain- 51 ing about the politicians who we think ,( waste our money. I, for one, don’t want ei their jobs. Ovid, Mich. •' ni se General Conference Report Condensed Report of the 27th Mennonite General Conference Goshen, Ind., Aug. 21-24, 1951 The Conference opened on Tuesday evening and closed Friday noon. Each session was opened with prayer and closed with a wor- ship service. Day sessions were attended chiefly by ministers and their wives. Evening sessions were public, and were well attended. The moderator was Oscar Burkholder, assisted by Paul Mininger. E. M. Yost had charge of the singing. The -following served on the Nominating Committee: J. L. Horst, E. J. Yoder, Harold A. Zehr, H. A. Diener, and C. J. Ramer. The Resolutions Committee con- sisted of H. F. Reist, R. F. Yoder, M. D. Stutzman, Harold Bauman, and B. Charles Hostetter. The following addresses were given: 1. The Faith by Which the Church Lives — C. F. Derstine 2. Building Christian Homes — Roy S. Koch 3. Conference sermon, Our Heritage of Faith — J. L. Stauffer 4. A Systematic Plan for Financing the Program of the Church — Ernest Bennett 5. The Church and the Conflicting Ideologies of the World Today — Carl Kreider 6. Making Nonresistance Live — J. D. Graber 7. The Church in a Welfare State — John E. Lapp 8. An Effective Leadership for the Living Church — J. R. Mumaw 9. Basic Issues in Nonconformity to the World — J. C. Wenger 10. Ye Are the Light of the World — Milton G. Brackbill 11. Laymen Serving in the Work of the Church — N. E. Kauffman 12. The Call to Discipleship — Allen H. Erb The following reports were read: 1. Commission for Christian Education and Young People’s Work 2. Minutes of the 1949 Conference and of the Executive Committee 3. The Treasurer and Auditors 4. The Moderator 5. The General Council 6. The Secretary 7. Music Committee 8. Historical Committee 9. Mennonite Board of Education 10. Peace Problems Committee 11. Committee on Industrial Relations 12. Mennonite Mutual Aid 13. Mennonite Publication Board 14. Ministerial Study Committee 15. Life Insurance Study Committee 16. Mennonite Board of Missions and Charities 17. Women’s Sewing Circle Auxiliary The following actions were taken: 1. Approval of the plan for representation at the Fifth Mennonite World Conference at Basel, Switzerland. 2. Adoption of a “Declaration of Christian Faith and Commit- ment with Respect to Peace. War, and Nonresistance.” (Published in Gospel Herald, Oct. 16, 1951) 3. Direction that expenses of district conference representatives on the Council to the Council’s meetings be paid out of the treasury of the General Conference and that this expense be added to the regular budget. 4. Approval of the appointment of a Budget and Finance Com- mittee, responsible to the General Council, which shall co-ordinate budgets and fund-raising. 5. Approval for the establishment of a Travel Office. 6. Adoption of recommendations of Committee on Industrial Re- lations: a. Request the General Council to increase budget to allow for a half-time assistant in this area. b. Encourage conferences to appoint committees in this area of interest. c. Authorize appointment of co-opted members, not to exceed three in any biennium, in case the committee feels the need for them, the appointments to be approved by the Executive Committee. d. Inasmuch as the committee’s work has come to include con- siderably more than merely “industrial” relations, to adopt another name more nearly descriptive of its total work, authorizing change of name to Committee on Economic and Social Relations. - II. That the Ministerial Committee of General Conference shall be composed of six brethren, one to be appointed by the Seminary Council from their own number, and the other five from representa- tives of the three offices of the church and the laity, as follows: three bishops, one minister, and one deacon; the term of office shall be four 7. Adoption of recommendations of Ministerial Study Committee: I. That General Conference create a standing committee to be known as the Ministerial Committee of General Conference with the following and other functions that may be assigned to it: 1. Provide guidance and co-ordination to ministerial or other such committees of district conferences that serve in matters relative to the ministry. 2. Present to General Conference for consideration, as needs may indicate, policies, and standards relative to the ministry of the church. 3. Promote throughout the church practical and balanced applica- tions of the Biblical teachings for material support of the ministers of the Gospel. 4. Make a continued study and keep records of the demand for and supply of brethren in ministerial offices of the church. 5. Make assignments for study and writing of articles for publica- tion on subjects relative to the ministry. 6. Take an active interest in the church-wide effort of helping pre- pare brethren for more fruitful ministerial services in the church, working in co-operation with the Seminary Council of the Board of Education and district conferences in the following: a. In recommendation of individuals to be admitted into our Bible schools who should have further help for most fruitful service as ministers of the Gospel. b. Observe the results of the training which our ministerial stu- dents receive in our Bible schools and seminary. c. Give helpful critical thought and encouragement for the most useful curriculum and Biblically sound Bible faculty in our Bible schools and seminary. d. Assisting ministerial students in finding their place for service in local congregations. January 22, 1952 GOSPEL HERALD 79 years, three to be elected at each regular session of General Con- ference. III. That the initial Ministerial Committee of General Conference members, other than the representative from the Seminary Council, shall be appointed by the General Council of General Conference according to the following arrangement: one bishop, one minister, and one deacon to serve two years and two bishops to serve four years. The Seminary Council appointee also to serve four years. 8. Changing name of Insurance Study Committee to insurance and Investment Study Committee. The following resolutions were adopted: I. We the members of the Mennonite General Conference and visiting guests assembled in our regular biennial meeting at Goshen College, Goshen, Ind., August 21-24, 1951, wish by this means to give expression of gratitude and appreciation: 1. To our kind heavenly Father for permitting us to meet in peace, and fellowship for counsel and inspiration under the guidance of His Holy Spirit. 2. To the Mennonite congregations in and surrounding Goshen for their kind hospitality during this Conference in providing for the comfort and necessities of delegates and visiting guests; especially do we want to give recognition and thanks to the sisters of the local congregation for their daily and faithful work of serving food in the cafeteria, and to the sisters of the surrounding congregations for a similar service in the Kulp Hall dining room. 3. To Goshen College for so kindly offering the use of the audi- torium, classrooms, dining rooms, and whatever facilities were need- ed to carry on the work of Conference. 4. To the Police Department for their assistance in so efficiently directing the traffic and thus preventing accidents as cars were leav- ing the college grounds. II. The Mennonite General Conference assembled in regular bien- nial session, August 21-24, 1951, at Goshen College, Goshen, Ind., sends greetings of Christian love unto the: Argentine Mennonite Church India Mennonite Conference Bihar Mennonite Mission Tanganyika Mennonite Mission Ethiopia Mennonite Mission Mennonite Church in Puerto Rico Scattered workers of the China field Workers in Belgium, Japan, and Honduras who are in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ. “Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ. We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers; remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father” (I Thess. l:lb-3). This Conference has been to all of us days of blessing, inspiration, -efreshing, and challenge. We wish so much you could have shared these good things with us. Under the blessing of God and guidance of the Holy Spirit we feel we have made and planned progress for our church. We know you will rejoice with us that the Mennonite Church is being used of God in fighting principalities and powers and the pulling down of strong- aolds. "The Lord bless thee, and keep thee: the Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: the Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.” III. Whereas, In response to the need of a clear statement and exposition of the doctrine of nonconformity, our General Problems Committee and the Publishing Committee of the Mennonite Publica- tion Board acted to meet this need by the appointment of a writer to execute the task, and Whereas, The resultant book, Separated unto God, by Brother John C. Wenger, has just been released; therefore be it Resolved, a. That we express our sincere appreciation to Brother Wenger for this significant work and contribution to the church. b. That on the basis of the approval of the Publishing Committee we commend the book for distribution in our congregations and as a witness beyond our circles. c. That we commend and encourage the General Conference and its committees to continue this type of contribution to the life of the church in attempting to aid in the application of Biblical teaching in our day. IV. Inasmuch as the Life Insurance Study Committee has so dili- gently and thoroughly carried out their assignment, and Inasmuch as there is a great need for a clear statement on this problem to our people; therefore be it Resolved, a. That we commend the committee for its thorough work. b. That the committee be retained for the coming biennium and be asked to bring a statement of position to the next session of Conference. V. Whereas, The home was established by God before the fall of man, and is therefore the basic unit of society for the forging of char- 1 acter: and Whereas, Our homes today are exposed to many and insidious evil I influences which complicate and make extremely difficult the rearing 1 of our children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord; therefore be it Resolved, ! 1. That we place renewed emphasis upon the establishment and maintenance of strong Christian homes in which rich spiritual ex- periences may be realized; that the ministry teach the Scriptural ideals of courtship and marriage, family relationships and encourage the establishment of the family altar, and by positive teaching by pastor and parents the coming generation may be established and fortified in the faith we hold dear and for which our forefathers suffered even unto death. 2. That we give special recognition to the work done by the Com- mission for Christian Education and Young People’s Work in empha- sizing the importance of strengthening "Our Homes for Christ,” and that we ask them to continue to provide for printed material on the Christian standards of the home, and to sponsor a liberal distribution of such material among our people. VI. Whereas, There is a pronounced trend today toward covet- ousness and materialism which is reflected among us in a decline in giving; and Whereas, The life of the church depends upon her continued inter- est in missions and other related church-wide interests which require a systematic plan of giving to adequately finance the total program of the church; and Whereas, The New Testament clearly teaches Christian steward- ship and systematic giving, and points up the dangers of covetous- ness as well as the blessedness of giving; therefore be it Resolved, 1. That we urge local pastors to give definite teaching of steward- ship and the grace of giving. 2. That we encourage the ministry to acquaint themselves with, and give proper and adequate information relative to, the total program of the church and her need to their congregations in order to inspire a more adequate support of her activities by systematic giving, using as our guide the spirit of the tithe. 3. That we encourage our church-wide agencies to co-operate in planning for their financial needs in order that an integrated program can be presented to the brotherhood. 4. That we support the unified budget of General Conference work and that we urge our church boards and committees to aid the local pastor in keeping his people informed on the total work of the church in whatever way possible. VII. Whereas, The messages on the theme, “The Living Church in the World Today,” have challenged and refreshed our minds con- cerning the Biblical teaching on the Church of Jesus Christ, on the glorious beginning of the Anabaptist church by our forefathers, and on our resources to meet the needs of the world today; therefore be it Resolved, a. That we commit ourselves anew to the faith that the church and her work move forward only through prayer and the power of the Holy Spirit which must be released through the life of every minister, and that efficient organization is only a tool to aid in the work. b. That we commit ourselves and call our people to a commitment to a life of discipleship to Jesus Christ, a life which stems only from a vital union with Christ and His indwelling presence. c. That we reaffirm our acceptance of the whole teaching of the Bible, including the distinctive doctrines, and commit ourselves to a continual examination of our application of these eternal truths in the changing culture in which we live. d. That we raise our voice against the vice, immorality, and evil habits that are sweeping our land, and that we diligently wage the spiritual warfare against these evils with all the spiritual powers which God gives to us, especially warning and teaching our youth against these evils. e. That we commit ourselves to renewed witnessing for the Gos- pel of Jesus Christ in the many paths of redemptive love, that we continue to pray for our rulers and for the peace of the world, that the work of our beloved church may be expanded and many souls won before the return of our Lord. VIII. Whereas, There is a growing concern and interest on the part of our lay brethren for the carrying out of the great commission of Christ through a united expression of personal evangelism, and Whereas, There has come to General Conference a resolution from the South Central Conference looking for guidance on this question; therefore be it Resolved, a. That we encourage the lay brotherhood in this interest and concern which is a proper responsibility of every child of God, and wholly in accord with the command and spirit of Jesus. Matt. 28:18- 20; Acts 1:8; 2:17-21; 8:4. b. That we recognize the responsibility of the ministry of the church to provide adequate leadership in order that this expression may be utilized through the church for the saving of souls for the kingdom, for the upbuilding of the church, and for the strengthening of the fellowship of our brethren. Eph. 4:11-16. c. That we direct the General Council to study this question and deal with it in the way that seems best for the work of the kingdom. The results of the election were as follows: Moderator, Paul Mininger, Goshen, Ind. Assistant Moderator, E. S. Garber, Nampa, Idaho Treasurer. J. Robert Kreider. Wadsworth, Ohio Fiftli Member of Executive Committee, C. C. Cressman, New Ham- burg. Ont. Peace Problems Committee U.S. Committee H. S. Bender, Goshen, Ind. C. L. Graber, Goshen, Ind. Amos Horst, Akron, Pa. 80 GOSPEL HERALD January 22 , 195: John E. Lapp. Lansdale, Pa. O. O. Miller, Akron, Pa. J. L. Stauffer, Harrisonburg, Va. Canadian Committee J. H. Hess, Kitchener, Ont. J. B. Martin, Waterloo, Ont. Emerson McDowell, Toronto, Ont. M. D. Stutzman, Kingman, Alta. Mennonite Mutual Aid John Alger, Broadway, Va. E. C. Bender, Martinsburg, Pa. H. A. Diener, Hutchinson, Kans. C. L. Graber, Goshen, Ind. Simon Gingerich, Wayland, Iowa O. O. Miller, Akron, Pa. General Problems Committee Truman Brunk, Denbigh, Va. Milo Kauffman, Hesston, Kans. Music Committee J. P. Duerksen, Hesston, Kans. Paul Erb, Scottdale, Pa. Chester K. Lehman, Harrisonburg, Va. J. Mark Stauffer, Harrisonburg, Va. Walter E. Yoder, Goshen, Ind. Committee on Social and Economic Relations Marcus Clemens, Souderton, Pa. M. R. Good, Waterloo, Ont. H. Ralph Hernley, Scottdale, Pa. G. F. Hershberger, Goshen, Ind. Millard Lind, Scottdale, Pa. Historical Committee H. S. Bender, Goshen, Ind. H. A. Brunk, Harrisonburg, Va. J. C. Clemens, Lansdale, Pa. S. F. Coffman, Vineland, Ont. J. C. Fretz, Kitchener, Ont. Melvin Gingerich, Goshen, Ind. Ira D. Landis, Bareville, Pa. Grant Stoltzfus, Scottdale, Pa. M. M. Troyer, Conway, Kans. J. C. Wenger, Goshen, Ind. Commission for Christian Education and Young People's Work Noah G. Good, Lancaster, Pa. Roy Koch, St. Jacobs, Ont. Paul Lederach, Lederach, Pa. Paul Mininger, Goshen, Ind. John R. Mumaw, Harrisonburg, Va. Mennonite Publication Board E. C. Bender, Martinsburg, Pa. J. E. Gingrich, Elkhart, Ind. Merle Shantz, Hespeler, Ont. Mennonite Board of Education H. A. Diener, Hutchinson, Kans. Paul M. Roth, Masontown, Pa. Mennonite Board of Missions and Charities Jess Kauffman, Colorado Springs, Colo. Melvin Ruth, Phoenix, Ariz. T. E. Schrock, Clarksville, Mich. A. Lloyd Swartzendruber, Kalona, Iowa Amos O. Hostetler, Secretary. OUR SCHOOLS GOSHEN COLLEGE NEWS Bro. Ernest E. Miller spent the week end of Dec. 29 in southeastern Iowa. On Friday evening, Dec. 28, he delivered an address to the second annual Wayland Goshen College Alumni Reunion. On Saturday evening he showed pictures of his Far Eastern tour at the Iowa Mennonite School near Kalona. On Saturday, Dec. 29, at New York City, Bro. Harold S. Bender, dean of the Goshen College Biblical Seminary, read a paper, “The Anabaptists and Religious Liberty,” at a joint meeting of the American Historical Associa- tion and the Society for Reformation Re- search. Bro. Carl Kreider, dean of the college, de- livered two addresses at the Kouts, Ind., Men- nonite Church on Dec. 29, 30. On Saturday evening he spoke on “Problems of the Chris- tian Farmer” and in the Sunday morning service on “Jesus’ Teaching with Respect to the Stewardship of Wealth.” Bro. John H. Mosemann attended the an- nual meeting of the Foreign Missions Confer- ence of North America at Toronto from Thursday to Saturday, Jan. 3-5. On Sunday evening he gave an interesting report of the conference to the College congregation. Bro. Ernest E. Miller attended a meeting of the Council of Mennonite and Affiliated Colleges in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 7. Jan. 8-10 Bro. Miller and Bro. Karl Massanari, who has been elected acting dean to serve in the absence of Bro. Carl Kreider, attended the annual meeting of the Association of American Colleges in Washington, D.C. Pastor Harry Saulnier, of the Pacific Gar- den Mission in Chicago, spoke to the Chris- tian Workers’ Band in Assembly Hall Sun- day morning, Jan. 6. Bro. Silas Hertzler’s forthcoming book “Hertzler-Hartzler Genealogy,” a revision and expansion of the original “Hertzler Gen- ealogy” printed in 1885, is being printed by the Economy Printery Company, of Berne, Ind. The volume will contain the genealog- ical record of 8,757 families and a compre- hensive index. A large part of the edition of 2,500 volumes already is in print, but the publication date has not been decided. The bulletin board of the Church Relations Committee of the Y.P.C.A. is featuring two large posters containing twenty-four photo- graphs of last summer’s voluntary service units under the Mennonite Central Commit- tee. Bro. Carl Kreider has announced the fol- lowing dates for the close of the first semes- ter: reading days, Jan. 16-18; final examina- tions, Jan. 21-25; registration of new students for the second semester, Jan. 26. Dr. Bart J. Bok, Harvard astronomer, ap- peared in the Union auditorium on the eve- ning of Jan. 10 as the fourth on the 1951-52 Lecture-Music Series. Dr. Bok spoke on “Ex- ploring the Milky Way.” He illustrated his lecture with slides. Dr. Bok is one of a group of astronomers who spent eighteen months in South Africa taking hundreds of photo- graphs of more than a million stars in the Milky Way. The annual Ministers’ Week will be held Feb. 6-8; moderator, Bro. Earley Bontrager; instructors, Brethren Milton Brackbill, Law- rence Burkholder, Milo Kauffman, John R. Mumaw, Ernest E. Miller, Gideon G. Yoder, Paul Lauver, and Charles Haarer. The theme of the Christian Life Confer- ence Feb. 8-10 will be “Christian Fellowship in a Divided World.” The moderator is Bro. Ernest E. Miller; speakers, Brethren John R. Mumaw, Milo Kauffman, Don E. Smucker, H. S. Bender, Carl Kreider, and Dr. H. Clair Amstutz. There will be two panel discus- sions, one on “Christian Fellowship in the College Community” and the other “Strengthening the Home as a Christian Fel- lowship.” John Umble. BETHEL SPRINGS SCHOOL, CULP, ARKANSAS The faculty for the 1951-52 term consists of Edwin Alderfer, principal; Paul Diener, high school and treasurer; Dorothy Diener, librarian; Theodore Walter, intermediate; and Arietta Selzer, primary. For nearly six weeks Mrs. Helen Alderfer conducted a remedial reading class. Mrs. Walter assists with primary Bible classes and intermediate crafts class. The present school enrollment is 52 — high school 15, intermediate li, pri-i mary 26 Several times we have had visitors in chap- el. Bros. Levi Hartzler, Nelson Kauffman and Allen White were here Sept. 24 and 25 for the Culp Area Committee meeting and attended chapel. Bro. Elam Hollinger, Brew- ton, Ala., spoke in the worship service Nov 16. Bro. and Sister Paul Erb and Bro. anc Sister Delbert Erb were in charge of the chapel period on Nov. 28. Each Friday the entire school has the chapel period together. Each faculty mem ber has his turn to conduct the service. A the present time “Pilgrim’s Progress” is be ing told with flannelgraph. Nov. 26 was the beginning of hot lunche for the students and faculty. Mrs. Diene is in charge of this program, assisted by Mrs Walter. Every Friday evening there is a meetinj at the school for the students and communit' people. Every other Friday night craft class es are held. Woodworking, leather working clay modeling, textile painting, and glas painting are the classes in session the firs semester. The other Friday nights are fo literary programs. Occasionally we subst tute an evening of games for the literary prc gram. The faculty attended the District Teacher Si Conference of the Arkansas Educational A: sociation at Harrison, Ark., Oct. 30. The school’s Christmas program was hel Friday, Dec. 21. Each room participate^ Vacation began Dec. 21 and ended Dec. 3:f Mrs. Arlene Walter. , January 22 , 1952 GOSPEL HERALD 81 TO BE NEAR TO GOD THEME FOR THE WEEK: OLD FOLKS Sunday, January 27 Paul, “the Aged” "Yet for love's sake I rather beseech thee, being such an one as Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ. I beseech thee for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds" (Philem. 9, 10). At least two age levels are represented here. Certainly Onesimus is younger than Philemon, and much younger than Paul. So strong are the ties between Paul and this new convert that Paul, “the aged,” calls this slave his son. Happy the aged who know that they have sons, begotten in the Gospel. Happy the aged who are appreciated by those who are a generation younger. I appreciate that faculty in Paul, for his references to Timothy, Titus, Onesimus, and John Mark bespeak warm human relationships. Paul, the aged, is not alone in spirit; though he is a prisoner and his young friends are scat- tered, the aged prisoner has a fraternity not dimmed by disparity of age. Monday, January 28 Abraham "And thou shalt go to thy fathers in peace; thou shalt be buried in a good old age" (Gen. 15:15). Old age is not always a badge of right living, nor is early death a sign of disobedi- ence to the will of the Lord. Generally speak- ing, it is true that obedience to God’s laws will promote longevity. Certainly such obedi- ence will promote peace of mind in the aver- age person, and peace of mind will be of great assistance in the proper functioning of the body. God meant for you to enjoy this earth as Abraham undoubtedly did. A sublime confidence in God’s eternal purposes resided in him and he did nothing to abuse God’s purpose for his life. So his long and satisfactory days were both gift and wages. Such was his life that his sons could and did co-operate at the time of his death. Thus was there peace at the end of a long life of faith. Tuesday, January 29 Noah’s Wife "These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God. And Noah begat three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth. . . . And Noah went in, and his sons, and his wife, and his sons' wives with him, into the ark, because of the . . . flood" (Gen. 6:9, 10; 7:7). Not much is said of Mrs. Noah, but much is inferred. She was a preacher’s wife for one hundred and twenty years and that’s something. People always talk about the preacher. Many people forget how essential his wife is. If you, kind reader, are neither a preacher nor his wife, kindly take a preach- er’s wife aside someday and ask her what it would mean to be a preacher’s wife for over a century. Mrs. Noah was such a good one that all her boys listened to their parents, even though all the rest of the world mocked. She was a good mother-in-law also, for all the daughters-in-law followed her example of faith and belief in Noah’s message. Mrs. Noah’s relatives all were unheeding and perished, as did the three families of the daughters-in-law, only these three wives were saved. Pretty good influence for the 500- year-old woman. She found faith, knew the place of blessing and stuck to it, becoming thus the mother of all living, including you. Grand old Mrs. Noah! Stick it out, Grand- ma, if you know where the place of obedi- ence is. Wednesday, January 30 Gideon "And Gideon the son of Joash died in a good old age, and was buried in the sepulchre of his . . . father" (Judg. 8:32). Gray heads are not always right; some rascals are long-lived also. However, it could be said of Gideon that his old age was good, even though a grave evil, idolatry, entered his life, indirectly. His motives appear to have been good, however. How happy to recall, in the evening of life, the all-sufficiency of the Lord. “The sword of the Lord and of Gide- on,” that grand shout, how often he heard it again as it re-echoed in memory’s halls. How grand and glorious it is to acknowledge when old that the Lord has not failed in anything. Thursday, January 31 David "I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread. . . . Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace" (Ps. 37:25, 37). I suppose righteous men have begged bread somewhere, sometime, only David wasn’t there to see it. It is generally true that they do not nor need not beg bread. If such need exists, many stand ready to give bread to the aged righteous. It is a pleasure to minister to them. And, at the end, there is peace. To fall asleep at the end of a harvest day, hav- ing earned the right to sweet repose, how pleasant it is! So with the righteous laborer in God’s vineyard, mark his end, for it is peace. Then after a little rest, everlasting peace in the presence of Him, whom to know is peace. Friday, February 1 Mnason "There went with us also certain of the disciples of Caesarea, and brought with them one Mnason of Cyprus, an old disciple, with whom we should lodge" (Acts 21:16). This is the only reference to this man; so we know nothing of his character. He flits across the page of history just once, by reason of entertaining the Apostle Paul and the doctor Luke. There was no other arrange- ment available, evidently; so Mnason was there, having been a disciple for a long time. He was a long way from home too; in fact, this was on the mainland and his home was some hundreds of miles west, on an island. He must have been refreshing, or Luke would not have chronicled the stay with aged WHO CAN FOLLOW JESUS? Sunday School Lesson for February 3 (Luke 7:36-50) In this lesson we have a study of contrast. We learn of the conditions whereby one may enter into the fellowship (become a follower) of Jesus and of the conditions that separate us from Jesus. Which is the Pharisee? Were there women Pharisees? Jesus received an unexpected invitation to dine with a Pharisee. Perhaps Simon was a bit hungry for truth or curious, or perhaps he was seeking some chewy material to re- port on this impostor. The fact that Simon failed to extend to Jesus the most common courtesies usually accorded a guest, bespeaks some feeling of smugness and haughtiness. Now to this scene there comes another sinner. Jesus loved both sinners. Jesus knew both sinners and would have been a Saviour of each. Consider how Simon looked upon the two — the one respectable, the other disrespect- able. Consider how Jesus looked at them. Knowing Simon’s thoughts He described the two in a little parable of two debtors. Both Simon and the woman had sinned and come short. Both had nothing with which to pay for their sins, but the great difference was that Simon thought he had righteous merit, while the woman had none, “if only Jesus knew this.” The woman never spoke a word, but Tesus knew her heart of repentance and granted her full pardon. Having been forgiven much she pours out her costly expression of love, costly not only in money. What great forgiveness Jesus gave this prodigal woman! It was her faith that had saved her. It is not a question of how great is one’s sin nor of the kind of sin but of one’s attitude to that sin. The self-righteous, the self-centered, and the self-seeking have no admittance into Tesus’ fellowship and discipleship. We fol- low in His train by way of acknowledged sin, repentance, forgiveness, and love. — Alta Mae Erb. Lesson based on "International Sundav School Les- sons: the International Bible Lessons for Christian Teaching," copyrighted 1951 by the Division of Chris- tian Education National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. Mnason, the Greek disciple from Cyprus. It was quite an ordeal that Paul was facing, and who knows what help Mnason gave that night or for those brief days before Paul’s arrest? Age has that faculty of entertain- ment, if the person has come to his advancing years by a pleasant route, a route rich in ex- periences with the Lord. Saturday, February 2 Jesse "Now David was the son of that Ephrathite of Bethlehem-Judah, whose name was Jesse; and he had eight sons: and the man went among men for an old man in the days of Saul" (I Sam. 17:12). This was the man who had seven of his eight sons sanctified when Samuel came to sanctify all his sons. He left the youngest in the fields tending sheep. He thought that surely the Lord would not have anything of spiritual import for “the boy.” Thus did old age blind itself to spiritual truth. Even the (Continued on next page) 82 GOSPEL HERALD CHURCH HISTORY One Hundred and Fiftieth Anniversary at Vineland By Barbara F. Coffman The years rolled back for our little congregation here at Vineland during the last week of October. In spirit we were carried back to the beginning of the nineteenth century as we recalled events leading to the founding of the first Men- nonite congregation in Canada, one hun- dred and fifty years ago. It was in 1799 and 1800, we are told, that a number of Mennonite families de- cided to leave the rich farm lands of Bucks and Montgomery counties, Penn- sylvania, to make new homes for them- selves in the fertile wilderness of the Niagara district in Ontario. Two young men, Amos Albright and Abraham Moyer, haying heard of this good farm- ing area, decided to investigate it as a possible settlement for their people and so set out on a cross country hike, reach- ing the district in the spring of ’99. They were pleased with what they found and immediately purchased an 1100-acre tract of land, making a down payment of $40. Then they hurried home as fast as two legs could carry them, in order to make preparations to move to the new country before winter set in. They re- turned that fall with their families and some neighboring families. Stowed away with the luggage was enough money to pay for some of the best farm land in Ontario, at $1.50 to $2.50 per acre. Eight families arrived with the group in 1799, and sixteen the year following, making a total of over 100 souls in the new settlement. Family names in this early group included Fretz, Kratz, Moyer, Honsberger, Albright, Althouse, Culp, Fry, Grobb, High, Rittenhouse, and Wis- mer. Because of a series of unfortunate circumstances, differences of opinion among members of the congregation leading to three definite breaks in the congregation during the first century, many of these names are no longer found on the church roll. But a large number of the descendants of these first families, still living in the community, attended the anniversary services and enjoyed the season of fellowship with us. To celebrate this historic occasion special services were arranged for Thurs- day, Friday, and Saturday evening, and all day on Sunday. Thursday evening was devoted to local history of the con- gregation which was brought to us by one well versed in the history of the com- munity, our pastor, S. F. Coffman, who has been the minister at Vineland since 1895. He spoke of the coming of the sep tiers to this district and of their reasons for coming. Although the Mennonites were not officially known as United Em- pire Loyalists, it was in reality a feeling of loyalty to the British crown that brought them to Canada. Prior to the Revolution they had enjoyed freedom of worship and exemption from military duty under British rule in Pennsylvania, and not knowing what to expect from the new democratic government now in power, they decided to cross the border to the country still enjoying British rule. Here they were granted the same privi- leges which had been accorded them in Pennsylvania. By 1801 these people were well estab- lished in their new homes and although they, no doubt, had held Sunday worship services in their little log cabins, they be- gan to long for regular church services and to organize themselves as a congre- gation. Their big problem was how to proceed, since they had no ordained min- ister in the community. The only solu- tion was to write to the home church in Pennsylvania for advice and help. A reply to this letter, written Sept. 4, 1801, was signed by six ministers, and was con- firmed by an assembly of ministers in Bucks County, and also by a group in Lancaster County. It advised that since no minister or officials of the church were available to send to Canada at that time, the brotherhood should look to the Lord and seek His assistance and direction to proceed among themselves to choose and authorize one whom the Lord should indicate to carry on the work of the church. Accordingly a special service was called at the home of Dilman Moyer for the purpose of choosing a minister and a deacon. The lot fell to Valentine Kratz for minister, and John Fretz, deacon. About a year later the congregation was visited by Bishop Eby, who was among a group of Mennonites settling along the Grand River in Waterloo County, and at that time he ordained Jacob Moyer to the office of minister. In 1807 he was ordained bishop of the congregation. Two prominent historians of our church were able to be with us for these special services, Dean H. S. Bender and J. C. Wenger of Goshen College Biblical Seminary. On Friday evening Dean Ben- der took us back 400 years to the begin- ning of the Anabaptist movement in Switzerland and for an hour held his audience almost spellbound as he told the moving story of the persecution of these believers by both the Catholic and state Protestant churches. J. C. Wenger, a former Pennsylvanian, and author of the History of Bucks and Montgomery counties, the original home of the set- tlers at the “Twenty,” was well qualified to tell us on Saturday evening, something about the family life and traditions as well as the faith of these people. Three messages on Sunday were also greatly appreciated by large audiences, com- January 22, 1952 | posed of visitors from neighboring Men- J nonite communities, and friends from other churches in the community. Bro. 1 Wenger’s Sunday topics were “Witness- ing to the Faith,” “Applications of the | Principles of the Faith,” and “World- wide Testimony in an Age of Conflicts.” Both dinner and supper were served at the church on Sunday, making the entire day one of happy fellowship, long to be remembered. Another interesting feature of the meetings was the presentation of brief historical sketches of the Moyer, High, Fretz, Culp, Wismer, Rittenhouse, and Hunsberger families. Music by the young people’s chorus also added interest, es- pecially the number demonstrating modes of singing in vogue seventy-five and one hundred years ago. Several selections were sung in unison, some were lined, and some demonstrated three-part singing, with altos and tenors singing the air, sopranos singing high tenor, and the low male voices taking the bass. Bro. Coffman also demonstrated the kind of singing he used to hear when he was a lad in Virginia, the air being ornamented with many extra slurs, grace notes, and semi-yodels at the end of lines and phrases. Also of interest was a display of old Bibles, hymnbooks, and singing-school books dating back to the early 1800’s; early record books and account books be- longing to the settlers who soon worked ! up trades and business enterprises; am old atlas and map of the county nearly one hundred years old; pictures andl other items pertaining to the life of the people in these early years. Of special! importance was the old German Bible brought with him from Pennsylvania by/ Valentine Kratz, the first minister. Thisi was given a place of honor on the table in front of the pulpit, along with the Bibles of two other former ministers, Ja- cob Moyer and Abraham K. Honsberger. Altogether, it was an enjoyable occa- sion, and an inspiring one as well. May/ the next one hundred and fifty years see the congregation filling an even greater need in the community and see many new family names added to the roll, names coming from other countries be- sides Switzerland. Vineland, Ont. TO BE NEAR TO GOD (Continued) prophet very nearly fell into the same pitfall. Only the prophet’s delicate spiritual ear kept him from Jesse’s error. Advanced age must not presume to know the will of the Lord by reason of its advanced age alone. Jesse and Samuel were both old men, and experi- enced and WRONG, so far as natural in- clinations were concerned. Both were obedi- ent to the will of the Lord as it was revealed, and so both men avoided error, thank God. The recipe for correct living for the aged is the same today. Place the word of God above one’s best judgment, and all will be well, even if it appears contrary to all good sense. — J. Paul Sauder. January 22, ip$2 GOSPEL HERALD 83 FAMILY Vessels By Verna Roth Gingerich Of what do you think when you zvash a jarf Of the clay in the potter's wet hand? Or do you see a craftsman’s design And the beauty his art commands ? Of zvhat do you think when you scrub a pan ? Of the dirt and the grime it contains ? Or do you see a strength and repose Which endures even white-hot flames ? Of what do you think when you clean a cup? Of the liquid it offers to give? Or do you see a chalice of gold And the lips that will drink and live? Of what do you think when you clothe a child? Of the worry it brings every day? Or do you see the handwork of God And a soul that will live for aye? Of what does God think when He sees your soul? Of a cask filled with hatred and sin? Or does He see a vessel of gold That is pure and refined zvithin? Goshen, Ind. “Thank You, Johnnie” By June B. Weber Many people in the world are getting a false set of values, placing too much emphasis on size and glitter, on cost and frothy glamor. Since so many fascinating things are available in this age it be- comes a real problem to keep our chil- dren appreciative of small gifts and favors. We need to think about this part of their nurture because we don’t want them to become spoiled “Gimmes” who rate a gift by its size or cost, and even worse, who can only see the kind of gift that is a wrapped present. There are gifts of time, of neighborli- ness, or kindness that come from the heart, and though they are not as tangi- ble as a boxed package they are even more beautiful. These are the things we need to help our children to see. Father and mother set the standard for their children’s responsiveness to kindness. As a child is growing up many instances in daily living give us oppor- tunities to nurture him to be sensitive to the generosity and goodness of others. We want him to understand this so that he will know the graciousness of our heavenly Father and all His gifts. There are many ways in which we can help our children to appreciate kindness. The example of parents, the practice of the “Thank You” habit, and the train- ing of the heart and mind to see the thoughtfulness that prompts gifts and deeds— these are important. CIRCLE A guest comes into the home and learns of a child’s stamp collection. After he has gone he sends a letter with two valuable stamps. The thoughtfulness of a thing like that deserves mention and praise, and a letter of thanks. Talk about it among the family and say how it is the nice little things like that, done with- out a thought of anything in return, that make life happy and worth while. Children sometimes get weary of re- peated urging to “tell the man thank you,” or “thank the nice lady, Johnnie.” They can be prompted until it is a habit with them to say Thank You at the right times, but we want something more than an automatic response. What we covet for them is a spontaneous expression of appreciation. Catch the imagination of your child by going behind the scenes with him. At Christmas one mother said to her children, “As busy as your teacher is, I wonder when she found time to fix each one of you a gaily wrapped gift. Her light was on until very late last night. No doubt she was wrapping the gifts when everyone else was asleep and the only noise was the little clock saying tick-tock.” Her little girl thought about that and then said, “I’m sure she was. Miss Martin seemed tired today. I’m go- ing to be very quiet in school tomor- row to help her.” This child had been made aware of the price Miss Martin paid for the little kindness. Three-year-old Jerry always forgot to thank the milkman. One morning as his mother put away the milk she talked to Jerry. “The milkman has a long way to go. He gets up very early when it is still dark. He could put our milk in the container at the end of the walk, but the snow is deep; so he takes extra time to bring the milk up to the door for us. I think it is a kind thing to do, don’t you?” After that Jerry was quick to thank the milkman because he now thought about the man’s kindness. Sometimes an unpleasant experience a child has had can be turned to gain. I know a little boy, Peter, who came home from a birthday party feeling very mis- erable and hurt. “Mother, Harold laughed at my gift and he never thanked me at all!” His mother said that per- haps Harold did not realize how care- fully they had worked to make the little gift. She told Peter, “You and I will be sure that we always thank people for gifts, and never laugh at them.” “Yes,” he nodded, “because it hurts not to be thanked.” Having been a victim of un- thankfulness he will remember the sting of it. If the members of the family take each other and all that they do for granted, it dulls the ability to recognize kindness EXPRESSIONS OF APPRECIATION I wish to express my sincere thanks and appreciation to all the kind friends, neighbors, and my Sunday-school class, who remembered me with prayers, flowers, cards, gifts, and vis- its, while I was in the hospital and since I am at home. May the Lord bless each one for your kindness. — Mrs. Clarence D. Rohrer, R. 5, Lan- caster, Pa. • • • I want to sincerely thank all the relatives and friends who so kindly remembered me — for the many beautiful cards, letters, and flowers sent to me on my eightieth birthday anniver- sary Dec. 24. It was quite a surprise ; I enjoyed them so much. — Mrs. D. B. Betzner, 9 Cameron St., N., Kitchener, Ont. * * • I want to take this opportunity to thank my neighbors and friends for their kindness and sacrifice in putting my crops away this past summer; also for the many cards and letters, which were greatly appreciated. May God rich- ly bless you. — Milton E. Yeager, R. 0, Hagers- town, Md. • * * I wish to express my heartfelt gratitude to all who so faithfully remembered me with prayers, cards, flowers, visits, gifts ; also those who made the scrapbook and those who sang Christmas carols, during my illness. May the blessing of the Lord and abounding grace be with you all. — Mrs. Wayne G. Shirk, Bowmans- ville, Pa. * * * The family of Amos A. Ressler desire to ex- press their sincere thanks and appreciation for the many kind tokens of remembrance sent to him at Christmastime. The lovely greeting cards, letters, fruit, and flowers were very much appreciated. Thank you. — Mrs. R. W. New- swanger, for the family, R. 1, Ronks, Pa. or to feel thankful. On the other hand, it is true that in the very act of express- ing thanks we become more thankful. There is something beneficial about put- ting it into words. Mother, be sure that you smile and thank Mary Jane for doing the dishes so well. Add an extra word about how much it helped you to be free to care for the baby. Mary Jane absorbs every part of your expression and it makes her happy. It teaches her how good it feels to be appreciated. Father, be sure not to overlook the extra touches Jimmie gave to cleaning the garage. He’s going to be disappoint- ed if you don’t notice. Be sure to show your surprise and pleasure. Your praise, given sincerely and warmly, teaches him more about this business of appreciating the going-out-of-our-way kindnesses than ten memorized rules could teach. Parents teach in attitudes without words too. Are you two-faced about the large and small gifts you receive? Are you quick to mention the love a gift or a kind deed shows? Are your prayers at Family Worship full of thank you’s? Children read their parents’ reactions keenly. Our attitudes in these things will be mirrored in the attitudes of our chil- dren. If you graciously receive all gifts without a thought of size, your child will learn that way. If your prayers are always thankful, it will help your child to pray with a tender heart that is aware of many blessings. I want to re-emphasize my belief that the example of parents is the most im- portant thing in enlarging our children’s capacity for noticing kindness and ex- pressing their thanks sincerely. Oyster Point, Va. 84 GOSPEL HERALD January 22 , 1952 FIELD NOTES Items to appear In this column for any issue. of the following Tuesday must reach Scottdale by Wednesday morning. The chorus of the Pleasant Hill Church in Illinois sang at Morton the evening of Jan. 13. Reports of a stirring revival at Hesston College come to us. Before the meeting closed more than fifty decisions were re- ported. The evangelist was Bro. J. S. Neu- houser. The Christian Workers’ Course offered at Souderton, Pa., each Monday evening in- cludes the following courses: The Work of the Holy Spirit, by Milton G. Brackbill; Jew- ish Evangelism, by Markley H. Clemmer; Church History Survey, by Paul M. Lede- rach; Old Testament Poetry and Prophecy, by Paul Clemens. The Holdeman Mennonite congregation of Wakarusa, Ind., has recently deposited the minutes of its young people’s meetings for the years 1939-49 in the Archives of the Men- nonite Church. Records previously deposited by the Holdeman congregation include Sun- day-school and literary society secretaries’ books. The Little White Chapel congregation of West Glendive, Mont., conducted a Christ- mas vacation Bible school Dec. 23-30. Bro. Frank Horst, Culp, Ark., taught classes in mission study, Bible doctrines, and Ephesians. Bro. D. Chauncey Kauffman, treasurer of the Ohio Mission Board, spoke at the South Union Church, West Liberty, Ohio, on the work of the Board. The Missions Class of Iowa Mennonite School gave a program at Parnell, Iowa, the evening of Jan. 6. Table of Contents 73 — The Disciples' Challenge to Evangelism In Jerusalem (Poem) 74 — Our Readers Say 75 — The Average American A Good Time 76 — What May Our Young People Do? It Happened 77 — William McPherson Blessing Fullness (Poem) From Johnny Allison Prayer Reguests 78 — A Prayer for This Week Taxes General Conference Report 80 — Goshen College News Bethel Springs School, Culp, Arkansas 81 — To Be Near to God Sunday School Lesson for February 3 82 — One Hundred and Fiftieth Anniversary at Vine- land 83 — Vessels (Poem) "Thank You, Johnnie" Expressions of Appreciation 84— Field Notes 85 — Mission News 86 — Lay Evangelism Conference Latehar and the Gospel 87 — Development of Voluntary Service in Europe 89— Tidings from Luxembourg 90 — The Kingdom to the South I M.C.C. Weekly Notes 91 — Church Correspondence 93 — Births Anniversaries Marriages 94 — Obituaries The Book Shelf 95 — Items and Comments Bro. Gerald C. Studer led the Wayne Coun- ty Mennonite Ministers’ Fellowship in a dis- cussion of universal military training at the Pleasant View Church on Jan. 7. Young people from Mellingers’ Church, Lancaster, Pa., accompanied by two brethren, Joseph Leaman and James Hess, held a series of cottage meetings in Baltimore on Dec. 16. This young people’s group gave a program for the youth meeting at the Paradise, Pa., Church on Jan. 2. About sixty people from New York, Eliza- bethtown, and Mellingers sang Christmas carols at different places in New York City, including the Grand Central Station. The Brunk brothers began evangelistic meetings at Sarasota, Fla., on Jan. 13. The tent is located on Tuttle Avenue. The Tuttle Avenue congregation is sponsoring the meet- ings. Bro. Paul M. Yoder, Harper, Kans., is con- ducting a week’s singing class at Protection, Kans., in February. The Oak Grove congregation, West Liber- ty, Ohio, has joined the number of churches making improvements in their buildings. Bro. Earl Blauch, active layman at Pinto, Md., was struck by a car and died on Jan. 9. Obituary later. A musical program under the direction of Bro. Victor Amstutz, Kidron, Ohio, was giv- en at Wooster, Ohio, the evening of Jan. 6. Bro. Harold Good was ordained to the ministry at the Pike Church, Elida, Ohio, on Jan. 6. The ordination was in charge of Bro. E. B. Frey, assisted by Bro. Elmer Stoltzfus. May God abundantly bless our brother in his new responsibility. Two ordinations were held at the Lock- port Church, Stryker, Ohio, on Dec. 30. Bro. D. Wyse Graber was ordained to the ministry and Bro. Maynard Wyse was ordained dea- con. Bro. Walter Stuckey officiated, assisted bv E. B. Frey, Menno Troyer, and Henry Wyse. Announcements PUBLICATION BOARD MEETING The annual meeting of the Mennonite Publication Board will be held, D.V., Feb. 20, 21 at the Sugar Creek Mennonite Church, Wayland, Iowa. The first session is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. Wednesday and the last session for 7:00 Thursday evening. All Board members are asked to arrange their schedules to be present for all sessions if at all possible, in the light of the full schedule and the importance of some of our business. Wayland, Iowa, is located eleven miles south of Washington. It is on state highway 78 and six and one-half miles west of U.S. highway 218, but has no railroad or bus service. The accessible railroad stations are South Washington, located out in the country seven miles north of Wayland, on the Rock- Island line between Chicago and Kansas City; and Mt. Pleasant and Burlington, located on the Burling- ton route between Chicago and Denver. Washington and Mt. Pleasant are both on the main routes of the Burlington Trailways Bus Lines. Kindly plan your route early in coming to the meeting and notify .Simon Gingerich, Wayland, Iowa, , of time and place of your arrival and you will be furnished transporta- tion from any of the above-named stations. The public is invited to all sessions. Harold Zehr, Secretary. Sister Helen Trumbo, assistant to the Pub- lishing House Editor, Bro. Ellrose Zook, plans to attend Eastern Mennonite College during the second semester. During her absence Virginia Ann Brenneman and Alma Trumbo will be assisting in the House Edi- tor’s office. Sister Isla Zink is recuperating from her recent accident and returned to her duties in the Publishing House treasurer’s office on Jan. 14. Sister Naomi Graybill, East Earl, Pa., who formerly worked in the subscription office at Scottdale, is now assisting in the Tract De- partment. Sister Elva Yoder, Publishing House work- er, is attending Bible school at Canton, Ohio. Bro. James Hawk, Scottdale, has joined the Publishing House force in the Maintenance Department. The ordination service for Bro. Murray Krabill, which was postponed because of snow and road conditions, is now scheduled for 2:30 p.m. Jan. 27 at the Community Church in Pulaskiville, Ohio. Thirty-eight ordained men from five dif- ferent conference districts attended the Min- isters’ Normal of the Johnstown Bible School Jan. 8-10. The annual Ministers’ Week will be held at Goshen College Feb. 6-8, with Bro. Earley Bontrager as moderator. Speakers are Milton Brackbill, Lawrence Burkholder, Milo Kauff- man, John R. Mumaw, Gideon G. Yoder, Paul Lauver, Charles Haarer, and E. E. Mil- ler. Bro. E. E. Miller will moderate the Chris- tian Life Conference Feb. 8-10. An interest- ing program has been arranged. The Beech congregation, Louisville, Ohio, conducts services at the Miller Rest Home each Sunday afternoon. (Continued on page 92) Calendar Conference on Summer Camps, Sponsored by Com- mission for Christian Education and Young Peo- ple's Work, Salem Church, Elida, Ohio, Jan. 25, 26 Winter Bible School, Goshen College, Jan. 28 to March 7 _ Special Bible Term, Eastern Mennonite College, Har- risonburg, Va., Jan. 29 to March 10 Annual Christian Day School Meeting, New Danville, Pa., Feb. 16 Mennonite Publication Board, Annual Meeting, Way- land, Iowa, Feb. 20, 21 Annual Ministers' Meeting, South Central Conference, Greensburg, Kans., March 11-13 Conference on Christian Community Relations, Tis- kilwa. 111., March 27-29 Lay Evangelism Conference, Goshen College, Go- shen, Ind., April 5-7 Mennonite Youth Fellowship Workshop, Iowa Men- nonite School, Kalona, Iowa, June 9-12 Mennonite Youth Fellowship Annual Meeting, Lower Deer Creek Church, Kalona, Iowa, June 13, 14 Mennonite Board of Missions and Charities, Annual Meeting, Lower Deer Creek Church, Kalona, Iowa, June 14-17 Laurelville Mennonite Camp, Mt. Pleasant, Pa. Boys' Camp (ages 9-12), June 28 to July 4 Girls’ Camp (ages 9-12), July 5-11 Junior High Camp (boys and girls, ages 13-15), July 12-18 Missionary Bible Conference, July 19-25 First Family Week, July 26 to Aug. 1 First Young People's Institute, Aug. 2-8 Second Young People's Institute, Aug. 9-15 Second Family Week, Aug. 16-22 Victorious Life Conference, Aug. 23-24 Music Week, Aug. 25-29 Southwestern Pennsylvania Conference, Springs, Pa., July 20-23 Illinois Mennonite Conference, Flanagan, 111., Aug. 19-21 1 Mennonite General Conference, Place Undecided Aug. 26-30, 1953 January 22, 1952 GOSPEL HERALD 85 Go, Preach . ^ I S S I O N S * Give, Pray The General Board Headquarters for Missions, Relief and Service: 1711 Prairie Street, Elkhart, Indiana. Telephone, Elkhart 2-2786. Mission News Bro. J. A. Heiser, Fisher, 111., preached for the congregation at the Chicago Home Mis- sion on Sunday morning, Jan. 6. The annual winter Bible school conducted at the Canton, Ohio, Mennonite Mission be- gan on Monday, Jan. 7. Classes will be held in the daytime and on Tuesday and Thurs- day evenings. Prayers are being answered in the case of the two young men from the Palo Hincado, Puerto Rico, congregation who are facing the test of the nonresistance principle. Bro. Julio Rivera Colon has now been given a presiden- tial appeal. In the case of the other, Ruben Rivera Fuentes, the Puerto Rico Board of Ap- peals denied a procedural right and his re- quest has been referred back to this board. Further prayer is requested that the Lord’s will be done in this test of the principle of nonresistance on the island. Bro. D. Walter Miller, pastor at the Woos- ter, Ohio, Mennonite Mission, participated in the dedication services held at the Canton, Ohio, Mission on Jan. 6. Giving for the poor was encouraged at the Palo Hincado, Puerto Rico, Church on Christmas Eve, at which time gifts in mate- rial goods and money were brought. On Christmas morning they met again, at which time these things were distributed among the needy in the community by the donors. Bro. Manasseh Bontreger, Calico Rock, Ark., writes in recent correspondence: “On Oct. 20 Bro. Ezra Beachy and Bro. and Sister Edwin Yoder, Kalona, Iowa, came to help us on the construction of our new house. They were here nearly two months and now the foundation is nearly completed and about half the first-floor joists are in place. They first had to build the cabin for them to live in.” January 23 and 24 the annual Workers’ Conference will be held, D.V., at the camp- ground in Trenque Lauquen, Argentina, fol- lowed by the biennial church conference Jan. 24-27. The latter is attended by delegates from all congregations. The main theme this year is “For a Church Victorious.” The mis- sionaries then stay on for a week of Mission Council. Bro. J. D. Graber will be present for these meetings and many problems and needs will be discussed. Prayer is requested for these meetings. The work in Salto, Puerto Rico, was re- opened on Saturday evening, Dec. 15, 1951, by the Calvary congregation at La Plata. Bro. Lester T. Hershey brought the message; the Calvary Hour quartet sang, and a member of the Calvary congregation, formerly from Salto, gave a testimony. There were thirty- four in attendance. Weekly Saturday night preaching services are planned to be held and also a Saturday afternoon children’s Bi- ble class. Bro. John Driver, pastor of the Calvary Church, will be in charge, assisted by several members from the church. Sister Marta Quiroga, student at Goshen College last year, spent the third week end of December with the congregation at Pehuajo, Argentina, speaking twice on Sunday and to the women’s meeting on Monday. Her messages were appreciated. Pray for her as she testifies to the various congregations. She gave a fine resume of voluntary service and our Mennonite mission activities in other parts of the world. SPRING MISSIONARY DAY, March, 16. Now is the time to begin planning your program for the observance of this day. Plan to have the children in your congregation participate. During the regular Sunday morning servi- ces in the Palo Hincado, Puerto Rico, con- gregation, three teen-age young people re- cently made the decision to follow Christ. So as to get away from crowding three of the Church’s sacred ordinances into one meet- ing without doing ample justice to their meaning, the Trenque Lauquen congregation recently met on three different days to cele- brate baptism, communion, and feet-washing, in the following order: Your Treasurer Reports Mennonite Youth Village is a child wel- fare project opened recently by the Mission Board. Located in southern Michigan, Men- nonite Youth Village is directing its program toward reaching the needs of children from our cities. Closely correlated with the city mission work of the Board, the village serves children from those places where missions are being operated. Experience has proved that this project can be very helpful in bringing a wholesome Christian experience to children from urban homes. Considerable planning is now being done for expanding the facilities of Mennonite Youth Village. Funds are yet needed to cover the cost of a residence and plot of ground purchased when this project was being con- sidered. To carry on this work, considerable funds will be needed during the next six months. We are particularly in need of sub- stantial contributions to cover property pur- chase and additional buildings. Contribu- tions for this purpose should be designated for Mennonite Youth Village. Mennonite Board of Missions and Charities H. Ernest Bennett, Treasurer Elkhart, Indiana. MENNONITE RELIEF COMMITTEE (M.R.C.) Kathryn Ruth Birky joined the La Plata Mennonite Project on Jan. 7 as a junior mem- ber of the service unit family. Her parents are Bro. and Sister Luke Birky. The Mennonite Relief Committee will meet at the Elkhart headquarters on Jan. 22 to consider plans for the summer service pro- gram, personnel needs in the long-term serv- ice program, relief needs abroad, and the present status of the draft law and its rela- tion to the service program. A nurse will be needed in Puerto Rico in the La Plata Hospital by May, 1952. Anyone interested should contact the Secretary for Service and Relief at once. Bro. Dorsa Mishler of the Relief and Serv- ice office was taken to the hospital on Jan. 8. The prayers of the church are requested in his behalf. Contact the Relief and Service office for information about the summer service pro- gram. On Sunday, Dec. 16, four young men and five girls of twelve and thirteen were bap- tized. Of this group, only two did not grow up through the Sunday school. On the following Saturday, Dec. 22, a Fellowship Supper was held for all members in the church patio, at which time the ten new members baptized during the year were instructed as to duties and privileges of church membership. A feet-washing service closed the evening’s fellowship. Sunday, the 23rd, the Christmas commun- ion service was held, with very good attend- ance. It is the unanimous expression of the membership that this experiment of separat- ing the services makes each ordinance more meaningful and sacred. Language study is being continued with a new teacher by Sisters Bonita Driver and Gladys Widmer in Puerto Rico. This teacher accepted Christ in the Pulguillas, Puerto Rico, congregation about two months ago. So they have the unique experience of being taught the language and at the same time teaching her from the Word of God. ARRIVED SAFELY is the cablegram re- ceived from Delbert Erb on Jan. 15 from Buenos Aires. Bro. Paul Stoltzfus, Louis Road Chapel, Cleveland, Ohio, who has spent several months in the survey in southern Ohio, spoke at the quarterly mission meeting at Lima, Ohio, on Jan. 6. Bro. Don D. Reber, a volunteer for mis- sionary work in Japan, preached at Sunny- side, Dunlap, Ind., on Jan. 6. (Continued on page 92) GOSPEL HERALD Lay Evangelism Conference By J. D. Graber April 5, 6, and 7, 1952, are the dates select- ed for a church-wide conference on lay evan- gelism, to be held at Goshen College, Goshen, Ind. Evangelism is here viewed in its broad as well as in its fundamental aspect. The conference will, naturally, have much to do with the layman as he seeks to get under the burden of his church’s task in many different ways. There is a great variety of tasks that the layman can and should be doing in the total program of the church. But we focus our attention on evangelism because it is this, specifically, that every member of the church should be busy doing and it is this that furnishes the integrating point to which all other church activity must relate itself. Whatever the church does must always be subject to the test, “What relation does it have to evangelism? How does this con- tribute to the extension of the kingdom?” It may be education, nurture, social service, pastoral support, or nothing more spectacular than consistent, fruitful Christian living, but it all has relation to church expansion. For, why should the church grow pure and strong? So that she is strong to reach out. What other answer could there be? It is this vision of evangelism that furnishes the dy- namic for many types of plain hard work in the church. If we are merely paying money, turning wheels, or following routes, we soon grow tired. But when we see our immediate tasks, however humble and ordinary, as a part of the total task of the church to make the Gospel known to all the world we un- cover the dynamic that makes the dullest task in inspiring thing. Who Should Attend? Laymen and ministers should both be in attendance at this conference. The former will want to be there for the inspiration, di- rection, and help they can receive for mak- ing their own Christian lives more fruitful in service to the church. What are others doing? In the reports from various sections of the church the layman will get a vision of what is being done, and, especially, what he can do in co-operation with his fellow breth- ren and sisters in his own situation. How do others do it? What are their successes and their failures? The active layman, interested in serving his church, will want answers to these questions. The pastor of a congregation will want to attend because a group of active laymen in a congregation can serve effectively only if the pastor sees the vision and if they work in co- operation with him. Active members of a congregation can be an embarrassment if not a real danger to the congregation or its pas- tor. That is why some would make the bar- ren suggestion that it is safer and more com- fortable if the lay members are not too much interested in the work of the church. It is only when the pastor works with and in most cases directs the work of his laymen MISSIONS SECTION that the situation is really fruitful. It is hoped that the conference next April in its discus- sion periods will come to close grips with this central problem, for we recognize it as a problem. If laymen are to be active it is imperative that their pastors are wide-awake to the situation and in a position to give in- telligent direction. That is why pastors should attend the conference on lay evan- gelism. Types of Lay Activity Although the conference will deal pri- marily with the work of lay men, this will need to be integrated into the total picture of lay activity. We have long had the wom- en’s sewing circles and the missionary ac- tivities of the women’s organizations. There will be room for a report from our sisters. They have, in a manner, pioneered the way for their brethren. Youth activities in their varied forms are also “lay evangelism.” An attempt will be made to bring youth into the picture. The Voluntary Service program, offering an ave- nue of significant service for hundreds of young people, is almost entirely a lay move- ment. There is also the total work of the Sunday school, always a lay activity in the church, young people’s meetings, mission- ary projects, money raising, and other types of activity. All these come into the picture. There are also laymen throughout the church, more or less organized into local and regional groups for the accomplishment of specific tasks. They may be called a Fellow- ship, Business Men’s Committee, Ambas- sadors, Good Samaritans, Disaster Relief Unit, Christ’s Men, or by any of a variety of names. In this conference we shall not be creating a lay movement; it has already as- sumed the nature of a movement and we hope the conference can give help in direct- ing, setting objectives, defining relationships, and all together serving to release more and more of the lay potential that is still so large- ly lying unused in nearly every congregation. Elkhart, Ind. Latehar and the Gospel By Gladys Becker [Henry and Gladys Becker are stationed at Latehar, in the Bihar province of India. In this short paragraph Sister Becker tells of many who are interested in Christianity.] We are seeing some fruit from the years of toil by the British Churches of Christ here. As we have read of the great revivals at home, we have prayed that we too may see it here. Today the Spirit is being poured out upon some and moving among many others. How we praise the Lord for this! As we visit the village at Koni where the ten new Christians live, our hearts are truly blest. What an inspiration to see those village peo- ple take their stand for Christ! Then at Dumarhdohar, the village about one and one- Jamiary 22, 195 2 half miles back of the bungalow, the Word has been given for a couple of weeks in night meetings. Again those people have seriously considered coming. The leader, who is a young rich fellow, has said that if he comes he will not only bring that village but sev- eral other Oraon villages round about here. He has been interested, but when it came to the decision he wasn’t ready. He said he wants to make marriage arrangements, but already has two living wives that he doesn t want. He said he would have too much to clear up and change if he became a Chris- tian; so he isn’t ignorant. Two families want to come badly and we believe by prayer they will come alone. One is our servant and the other is working for Knisses. This is the touring season and we all plan to be out soon. The Vogts talked of touring Nagar and we want to go toward Daltonganj Phulchand and his family, one of the Bihar, India, village evangelists. where a leader asked us to come. Knisses have several places where they have been asked. Pray for us all that His Word will bear fruit. Our pundit and his wife, Bro. and Sister Swarup, have been doing work at the weekly bazaar at Chandwa and report some interest. They have also sold literature. We are glad for such consecrated helpers. He is much in- terested in being an evangelist This Friday is our Thanksgiving service here. It is interesting to watch the growth of our little group. Each year it is larger. The monthly workers’ meeting held at I Hisri this year was evidence that the Spirit is working among the people of our area. Bro. Joel of Itki reported of fourteen who want to become Christians. From two new families there are eight, and from another family whose brother is a new convert, there are six. Bro. Topono told of the conversion of ten Mundas (aboriginal tribe) the past week from a village about seven and one-half miles from Latehar. Bro. and Sister Paul Kniss have been touring there with the mas- ter and his wife. Two Oraon families in a village about one and one-half miles from our Latehar station want to become Christians, but hesitate because of the leader and other families not coming. These people have heard the Gospel many times. Recently a [ series of nightly meetings were held there when they again considered acceptance of I Christ. Pray for them. Latehar, Palamau, Bihar, India. January 22, 1952 GOSPEL HERALD The Mennonite Voluntary Service Council, pins M.C.C. representatives at a recent meeting. L-R: Adriaan Swartendijk, Holland; Paul Peachey, M.C.C. ; Richard Hertzler, Germany; Andre Kauffman, France; Cal Redekop, M.C.C.; Dr. H. A. Fast, M.C.C.; Samuel Gerber, Switzerland. The Role of a Mennonite Youth Throughout the entire development of Voluntary Service in Europe special attention was given to Mennonite young people, since this program taught them the service con- cept and their responsibility to their church, their fellow men, and above all, their God. A balance of Mennonite and non-Mennonite projects has always been maintained to keep the youth aware of service possibilities and their responsibility to their churches as well as their mission to the world. Espelkamp, a long-term work camp, was started in December of 1948. This offered service opportunities all year around. Many young people have spent their vacations and unemployed time there. Many gained new insight and courage. One young German couple joined the Mennonite brotherhood as the result of their contact with the Espelkamp group. Already in 1948 projects of Mennonite in- terest were arranged by M.C.C. This did much to gain the support of the Mennonite young people. The first such project was Leutesdorf on the Rhine where a group of American and German Mennonite youth helped to renovate an old building to be used as an old people’s home. Sembach in the Palatinate was another such project. Here a Mennonite youth meeting place was con- structed. As each year passed by, adding experience to experience in youth work, it became more and more obvious that the way to reach the youth was through Voluntary Service work. Due to the keen perception of our people at home, realizing the value of this work, more support came from America and the pro- gram here expanded. In 1950 six summer work camps were held aside from a spring help to reveal basic problems. Development of Voluntary Service in Europe By Cal Redekop Immediately after the war, the European church was to a considerable extent demor- alized. This is entirely understandable, con- sidering the events of the past decade. Having lost several “idealistic” wars and having been taken for a long ride by a man since con- sidered fanatical and even insane, young peo- ple, as well as old, were taken ill hy nihilism — a belief that no truth exists. The Mennon- ite young people were also affected by nihil- ism, although with less pernicious effects. The long struggle because of misunderstand- ings and fundamental differences peculiar to the Mennonite Church promoted this condi- tion. These circumstances brought the vitali- ty of the Mennonite youth to a dangerous low. It was into this general scene of faithless- ness that many church groups came at the close of the war. Some came to proselyte, but many came to bring sincere help to the people; and especially young people. Through gifts of material aid and other means a basis was provided for the restoration of faith. As the emergency of the physical needs began to recede and the spiritual and moral vacuum in the lives of the people became more ob- vious, the agencies felt the need of branching out into work of a more direcdy spiritual nature. Thus M.C.C. also began to work in areas other than material aid. M.C.C.’s first such project was the student retreat held at Kropsberg in the winter of 1947. Here un- dernourished students were not only given food to eat, but were given opportunity to discuss their problems and with the help of the leaders, to find answers to them under consideration of the Gospel. Then in 1948 with the aid of fifty American students who were in Europe on tour, M.C.C. organized two work camps well remembered as Ham- burg and Frankfurt. These camps were de- signed to give the Americans an opportunity to contribute concretely to the broken people they had visited. To make the contact more personal, young people from the continent, mostly German, also took part in the camps. By the summer of 1949 the Voluntary Service idea had expanded to include four camps. That year a greater number of Europeans were present. It was becoming obvious that the Voluntary Service work camp method was one of the most effective ways to reach and help European youth. It was found that by living with them we could help restore their confidence in man and God. Intimate, informal discussions 88 GOSPEL HERALD January 22, 1952 The first international Mennonite builders’ unit helping three Mennonite The first house completed by international builders’ units at Espelkamp. refugee families settle in the Palatinate. (The American men in these units referred to as PAX.) project in France and other activities. (This year four summer work camps were origi- nally planned, but by camp time six camps were under way. The increase was due to several openings for projects which could not be resisted.) Increasingly, Mennonite young people took part in the program, es- pecially the young people who had been to America on the exchange program. These are proving to be leaders in many cases. The V.S. concept was increasingly taking root. Many of the workers began to consider V.S. as a direct method of evangelization. This meant for us the necessity to start thinking in missionary terms. One of the primary roles for missionary work is to make it indigenous. The fact that we would have to establish this concept firmly in European soil, or continue indefinitely to depend on importing leader- ship and inspiration from America, prompted us to bring this problem to the leaders of the Mennonite churches in Europe. Beginning of Mennonite Voluntary Service On August 29, 1950, M.C.C. presented to the official acting bodies of the Mennonite churches in Holland, France, Germany, and Switzerland the proposal that they share the responsibility for Voluntary Service in Eu- rope. We requested that each country elect a representative to a V.S. Council. This Coun- cil was to get acquainted with the V.S. con- cept and program, being responsible for the interpretation and promotion of this work, and gradually taking charge of the program within their respective countries. This pro- posal was favorably acted upon and all the countries soon nominated a representative to the Council. In December, 1950, this Council had its first official meeting. Here it assumed the official name of MENNONITE VOLUN- TARY SERVICE or, in German, Mennon- itischer Freiwilligendienst. At first the mem- bers of this Council dubbed this as another of the many postwar movements to organize, but soon they became convinced of its possi- MISSIONS SECTION bilities and now are most ardent supporters and promoters of M.V.S. The first activity planned by the new Council was the creation of an international Mennonite youth team to help in the resettle- ment of several Mennonite families in south Germany. The team worked from October until the close of the year. This team was conceived to be the beginning of a larger group of young men from all countries to work on common projects. Not least among the purposes for such a team was the thought that in the event of world crisis they might furnish a basis for appeal to European gov- ernments for recognition of the work as al- ternative to war, and also to provide an out- let in some service for those who already take the C.O. stand. This plan, though the prog- ress is slow, is surely gaining significance in Europe. When the plan of international builders’ units was presented to America, it was approved and soon groups of young men came to work with their European brethren in refugee housing. The Council meets from time to time and is directly responsible for all that transpires. Although M.C.C. has been almost the sole financial backer up to the present, the coun- tries are beginning to shoulder their share of the financial burden. We hope soon it will be a truly indigenous organization with full European support and directorship. When this happens, M.C.C. will serve only in the capacity of representing the American youth on the Council. M.V.S. is recognized as a European youth organization by AIG (Association of work camps operating in Germany), AIWCP (As- sociation of International Work Camps for Peace), UNESCO Work Camp Division, the Youth Department of the Evangelical church- es in Germany, and the Ministry of the In- terior of the Bonn Government through AIG, and receives certain support from several of these agencies primarily when the work reaches non-Mennonite youth. This year the Council members took active part in the arrangements. The camp in An- dermatt, Switzerland, was almost entirely ar- ranged and directed by our Swiss representa- tive. This year, also, the representatives have been increasingly successful in interpreting to their own youth organizations not so much the concept of M.V.S., but the challenge of Voluntary Service which is the reason for the existence of M.V.S. Young people are beginning to feel the urge to serve and offer their services whereas in the past each person had to be coaxed out of his environment. Present Scope and Future of M.V.S. The activities of M.V.S. at present include: co-operating with the Neuwied and Espel- kamp builders’ groups as continuing projects, a two-month camp at Salzgitter which is do- ing social and spiritual work among refu- gees, a winter work camp near Frankfurt, a spring project in Switzerland where a home for a Mennonite schoolteacher is to be built, three summer camps, and a possible con- struction project for Mennonite youth in Holland. Aside from the above, several larg- er building projects are planned which will utilize large contingents of men from Amer- ica. Bible camps are being planned for refu- gee as well as non-refugee youth in Germany. France is planning some Bible camps during the winter and several work projects. The future activity of M.V.S. may not be long-lived. If it dies in the next few years we will not be unhappy because, before it dies, we intend to see that it accomplishes its purpose. This purpose, as stated before, is to tutor the young people in the “volunteering” Christian life. In Christ’s own words that means “Freely ye have received; freely give.” However, even if the spirit of giving oneself is firmly implanted, M.V.S. may still be need- ed. M.V.S. might be asked to continue to exist as the “organizing capacity” for con- tinuing youth activities among the European youth and to help in the rebuilding of de- stroyed Europe. We must not for one minute forget the concrete help that voluntary work supplies. This rebuilding work is very tangi- ble. The explanation of the M.V.S. symbol serves as a fitting close. Superimposed on a January 22, 1952 GOSPEL HERALD 89 When Bro. and Sister Nachtigall moved to Palo Hincado, Puerto 'Rico, in September, 1949, to attend the work at that place, they set up living quarters in a part of the concrete build- ing that served as a place of worship. They lived there for six months, after which in March, 1950, they were able to rent a house across the street where they have been living since. It was always felt that when land could be purchased a pastor’s home and a church would be built in Palo Hincado. However, since the price of land is so very high in Palo Hincado, the Executive Committee began investigating the possibility of purchasing a building site in the Cuchilla area. Some of the landowners in Palo Hincado asked over $1000.00 per acre for land and it was felt that these prices were beyond reason. Finally, a four and one-half acre plot of land was purchased at a reasonable price in what is called “La Loma” (the hill) of Cuchilla. It has since proved to be a wise decision to pur- chase this plot. The electric power line has now been extended to this area and the plot lies at the crossroads of a secondary road, that will lead to Pulguillas when completed, and a new highway which will cross the center of the island when it is finished! The latter is in the process of construction now. In September, 1951, the building site was prepared as shown by the picture. A play field for children was also prepared. The ground is now ready for actual construction of the home which will probably get under way after January 1, 1952. This house will be located about two and one-half miles from where the Palo Hincado congregation now meets. But it will be easily accessible since the road is good. The place lies about one mile from the Cuchilla chapel. When the new road is finished this chapel will also be easily accessible. It is felt that this location will enable the pastor to attend both con- gregations very well. weary world, as advocate between man and God, is the cross. Under the shadow of the cross stand two young people clasping hands in fellowship. On their shoulders are tools — symbols that youth is ready for action in the upbuilding of the kingdom. Action is the password for youth. Frankfurt/Main, Germany. Tidings from Luxembourg By Clarence Y. Eretz Almost three months ago, on September 13, Bro. and Sister Harvey Miller and the writer and his family arrived in the city of Luxembourg, capital of the independent grand duchy of Luxembourg. Here we were met by Joseph Oesch, pastor and bishop of the Luxembourg Mennonite congregation. By his arrangement, we found board and lodging in a pension (tourist home), run by Mina Nafziger and her brother Joseph, also members of the Mennonite congregation. Here we have lived ever since. We have been sent here by the Eastern Mennonite Board of Missions and Charities to inaugurate mission work in the Metz-Thion- ville-Esch area, beginning in Esch in the southwest corner of Luxembourg. Metz and Thionville are in the near-by northeast corner of France, not far from the Verdun area, which became so well known during World War I. For Pennsylvania Germans, as we are, it is naturally easier to begin in Luxem- bourg than in France, since German is un- derstood and spoken practically as well in this little country (smaller than Rhode Island) as in Germany itself. In fact, Ger- man is the language of the newspapers, churches, and primary schools. In secondary schools and in legal and business circles, however, French is the official language, be- cause here people feel more kindly toward the French than toward the Germans, at whose hands they, too, like many others, suffered in both World Wars. Our first task, of course, is language study. All of us knew some German before we came, and three of us also the Pennsylvania Dutch, which is some help. But we still have to work hard in order to express our- selves in correct German, and are taking daily lessons from private teachers to attain this end. We have also begun taking weekly lessons in elementary French, chiefly to ac- quire the correct pronunciations of the many French terms in common use here. While one cannot take formal lessons in the Luxem- bourg dialect, it is sufficiently related both to high German and to Pennsylvania Dutch for us to be able to catch on slowly. We were permitted to stay in this country for two months as tourists without visas of any kind. To stay longer we had to secure permanent residence visas. Moreover, these visas were required to get the major part of our baggage through customs and to rent residences in which we can set up house- keeping on our own. We applied for such visas on September 21. Not long after, the Protestant Landesbischof told us that our ap- plication had met with Roman Catholic op- position in government circles. On October 16, a member of the secret police came to make an investigation of us, our character, beliefs, means of support, and purpose. This, he said, was a routine procedure before visas are granted. By November 9, our first two months in the country were almost up, and the visas had not yet been granted. Upon inquiry, we were informed that department of justice had not yet reached a decision in the matter, but that we could stay on with- out a visa until they did. Three weeks later, the weather was getting colder, and we be- gan more and more to need the winter cloth- ing in our baggage. Bro. Orie Miller was on a visit here, and he and the writer went to see the American consul about it, who then called the department of justice on the phone. Later in the day this department gave the consul a favorably reply, and the visas were issued the next day. A number of friends both here and in the homeland had been praying with us about this; so we rejoiced in this answer from the Lord, and praise Him for it. We now look to Him to undertake and guide further in the securing of resi- dences in Esch, or if not there, in the city of Luxembourg. There is a serious housing shortage in this country, especially in the Esch industrial area. The local Mennonite congregation in Lux- embourg has received us very kindly. They are mostly farmers, scattered over the north central and eastern part of the country, and have received us warmly as guests in tfieir homes. When the cold weather began to come on and we did not have enough warm clothing for our children, the mothers got enough clothing together to help out until we could get our own out of customs. At the beginning of each month, they have a mid- week prayer meeting during which they do not forget to remember in earnest interces- sion the new missionaries who have come into their land. One brother told us that in his home they pray for us every day. A real concern for the success of the mission enter- prise is manifest among them. They say that while over 95 per cent of the people of this country are nominally Roman Catholics, many are dissatisfied and at sea, and that Roman Catholicism has nothing to offer them. We ourselves have observed that very few of the people whom we have met in our various contacts in government, business, and otherwise, give any evidence of possessing the new life that is in Christ Jesus. Men and women here, as elsewhere, need to hear and accept the pure Gospel given in His Word. “Brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you.” Lauterborn, Echternach, Luxembourg. MISSIONS SECTION 90 GOSPEL HERALD January 22, 1952 The Kingdom to the South By J. D. Graber I Finding a suitable title for the series of reports I propose to give during the course of my visit to Latin-American countries has not been easy. In all my casting about, how- ever, the two words, “kingdom” and “south,” were always present, and so I have finally put them together according to the title above. We sometimes talk about the twenty-one Republics of Latin America. Did you know there are that many? Take a good map and count them. You’ll be sure to find several hidden in Central America and among the islands of the Caribbean. Some of these are referred to as “vest-pocket republics” because of their extremely small size. In contrast there is the Republic of Brazil, nearly as large as the United States. This is also a surprise to many people. You can find it by comparing figures in your dictionary or atlas giving square miles, or you can simply compare the two countries super- ficially on any map of the Western Hem- isphere. Argentina is about one fourth the size of the United States, which also em- phasizes the fact that it is a country large in extent. But in spite of the large number of inde- pendent republics, and in spite of the vast extent of Latin America, I still prefer to use the word “kingdom” in the singular. I have reference, naturally, to the kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ, and of this kingdom there are not twenty-one in Latin America, but one. Neither shall I use the word in any technical sense. For practical purposes we could as well say “church,” but somehow, “kingdom” expresses more of the conception of the church as a conquering force in the world which is the viewpoint I want to main- tain in these reports. As soon as one starts southward he becomes aware of approaching a strange language and a new culture. People of somewhat different appearance, speaking a different language are sprinkled among those of our own land who speak our own language. All the print- ed instructions are done in Spanish as well as English. When the sign on the plane is illuminated for the take-off, “fasten seat belts — no smoking,” it appears also in Spanish. When the captain or the steward makes an announcement over the public-address sys- tem of the plane, it is done in both languages. I noted that in Miami and in the Panama Canal Zone the English announcements were made first, followed by Spanish. From there southward, however, all announcements were in Spanish first, followed usually by a repeti- tion in English. From Central America down we are in the land where very little English is spoken or understood, and, what seems to us in North America a bit strange, the peo- ple do not care much at all to learn English. In fact, speaking any language other than Spanish in public is considered to be in bad form. English-speaking missionaries on street- cars and busses have been reminded by fellow passengers or by officers in no uncertain terms to talk a language that is understood. This fact has many implications for mis- sion strategy in Latin America. Chief among them is that the Gospel, in order to succeed, will have to “go native.” We in North Amer- ica will more and more need to “kiss our Gospel daughter good-by,” as it were, when she goes southward. For unless she can here become a true Latin American, she will nev- er be a success. The Gospel here needs to be told to a new language and needs to find out how to express itself in terms of a culture that is not Anglo-Saxon or German. In short, the problem is, “How can the Gospel strike deep root and grow in this new soil?” And let us recognize at the outset that the problem is not in the Gospel; it is in us. — Via Elkhart, Indiana. M.C.C. Weekly Notes U.M.T. Hearings Start Soon Public hearings on the proposal for Uni- versal Military Training are to begin Jan. 15 and will be completed as promptly as pos- sible by the House Armed Services Com- mittee. The M.C.C. Peace Section has asked for the opportunity to present testimony on this issue. In the 1951 draft law, Congress gave tenta- tive approval to the general principle of U.M.T., but set up a plan for bringing before Congress at a later time the problem of more detailed provisions. Actually U.M.T. is not yet a law and can become a law only if and when detailed provisions are drawn up and approved by Congress. At the present time therefore, it is not possible to give official testimony on the general principle of U.M.T., but only in regard to specific provisions that have been proposed. However it is in order for those in our churches who feel led to express concerns on this issue, to write or speak personally to their government rep- resentatives, either in opposition toward the militaristic trend fostered by the U.M.T. proposal, or in more specific points. Draft Information Mailed to Pastors Packets of draft information have recently been sent to all M.C.C. constituent pastors, either directly or through the conference rep- resentatives. These packets in most cases contained two items: (1) a number of cards to be used in making a census of all the young men of the churches in the age group of seventeen to twenty-six years. Each young man of this age is asked to fill out one of these cards regardless of his draft class. The purpose of this census is to determine the number of men who may be subject to the draft, and the numbers in deferred or other groups. (2) Also in these packets were copies of a letter entitled “A Message to All Young Men in Class I-O.” This letter is to be placed into the hands of each young man in class 1-0 or seeking class I-O. This letter gives some pertinent information regarding the draft of conscientious objectors, and the various pos- sible steps that men may take in view of the tentative draft information now available. In case any pastors failed to receive such a packet, or if the number of copies was in- sufficient, please notify the Peace Section, Mennonite Central Committee, Akron, Pa., or your conference representative. Young men who are away from their home congre- gation may also write for this information. Work in Greece Opens Steps are being taken to open a village rehabilitation project in Greece, to be or- ganized as an M.C.C. Pax Service Unit. A number of villages in the vicinity of Salonika (Thessalonica) have suffered considerable damage and plunder during the guerilla war- fare in recent years. The people who fled from these villages have returned, but be- cause of hardship in providing an immediate livelihood, are not able to reconstruct the buildings and other physical aspects of com- munity life. Five men who have entered M.C.C. Pax Service and have been serving in Germany are being transferred to Greece. Men in this Pax Service are single men of draft age who offer themselves and in addition provide funds to cover expenses of this foreign serv- ice. It is this additional sacrifice on the part of these men and their churches which makes it possible now to enter this needy field. It is hoped that the significance of this work may reach far beyond the physical recon- struction, to give also a spiritual witness and message. Two Relief Workers Sail To help at the Mennonite refugee camp at Gronau, Germany, Doreen Harms of White- water, Kans., sailed from New York on Jan. 6. The work will include counseling and other contacts with refugees, particularly in connection with their emigration. Prior to her departure, Doreen served as secretary and assistant in the Mennonite Aid Section of the Akron M.C.C., headquarters, where the U.S. aspect of the Mennonite refugee aid program is directed. Sailing on the same vessel was Marjorie Wienss of Beatrice, Nebr., who is to serve as secretary in the Amsterdam, Holland, unit, and also assist in the work at Heerewegen, a conference center in Holland where the M.C.C. relief concerns and interests and those of the Dutch Mennonites are co-ordinated. Marjorie likewise had been on the Akron office staff for several years, as secretary. Released January 11, 1952 Via Mennonite Central Committee Akron, Pennsylvania Sacrifice is the very soul of missions. MISSIONS SECTION January 22, 1952 GOSPEL HERALD 91 CHURCH CORRESPONDENCE EAST PEORIA, ILLINOIS (Pleasant Hill Congregation) A number of our college students were home for the holidays; also Sister Leda Lit- willer, from Hudson, Ind.; where she has been teaching for several years, and Bro. Ed- win Langenwalter, who has been in Missis- sippi pardy for his health. The Illinois Christian Workers’ Normal was held at Eureka Dec. 26-30. Our M.Y.F. planned to pay tuition for anyone wanting to go from here. Because of ice and snow, trans- portation was very poor at that time. Sunday evening, Dec. 30, Bro. Loyd Gundy and wife, of Pekin, 111., were with us. Bro. Gundy brought the message and Mrs. Gundy had children’s meeting. Our Christmas program was well attended by the community. We are interested in hav- ing the community come to hear the blessed truths of the word of our Lord. We trust some seed may have fallen into fertile soil. Tonight our chorus of thirty members will give a program under the direction of Bro. Simon Birky of Hopedale. We are glad the ice is gone and most of the snow. We hope many people will come to hear this Christmas program for which much effort has been put forth; some members come from quite a distance to attend practices. Next Sunday evening, Jan. 6, the chorus is to sing at the new Highway Village Church, were Bro. Robert Harnish is pastor. Attendance was good at our fall commun- ion. Bro. J. N. Kaufman used as his text Ex. 12:26. He was assisted in the service by Bro. Roy Bucher, our pastor, and Bro. Robert Harnish. For Fall Missionary Day we had as speaker Bro. Willy Peterschmitt from Muntzenheim, France, now a student at Goshen College. Bro. Peterschmitt is studying for the ministry. He expects to return to his own country to labor for the Lord. May the Lord richly bless him in furthering the Kingdom. If plans carry, Bro. Howard Zehr, of Peoria, III., is to be our evangelist; meetings are to be held in the near future. Let us re- member our evangelists in prayer, that the Lord may give them messages. Prayer meeting, beginning Wednesday eve- ning, Jan. 9, will be held at the home of Bro. Roy Buchers for the winter months. A happy new year to you. We wish you all the richest blessings of our Lord and Saviour. Jan. 1, 1952. Amelia Conrad. VESTABURG, MICHIGAN (Zion Congregation) Greetings to all Herald readers. As we come to the close of another year we have much reason to praise the One who supplies all our needs. Nov. 12-14 Bro. Llewellyn Groff from White Earth, Minn., was here and gave in- spiring missionary messages each evening. A group of twenty-five young people from the Midland congregation gave a much-ap- preciated message in song on Nov. 18. On Nov. 19 Bro. J. Frederick Erb from the Detroit Mission gave us a challenging message on Giving. Several from here attended the all-day Thanksgiving service with the Bowne con- gregation. This also included the White Cloud and Pleasant View congregations. Our Sunday school and young people’s meeting have been reorganized; Supt., Clark Sharp; Asst., Lawrence Dintaman; Secy.- Treas., Leta Beach; Chor., Virginia Sharp; Y.P.M. Mod., Leroy Snyder; Asst., Clark Sharp. Our revival meetings were held Dec. 10-19 by Bro. Jesse Yoder from the Flint Mission. We are thankful to God for the messages He brought to us through our brother; although no one openly accepted Christ, all who heard the messages were stirred to more consecrated service to our Lord. Sister Mary Bontrager is home from Hess- ton College for the holidays. We were host to the eleventh annual Mich- igan meeting Dec. 26, 27. We enjoyed the fellowship of the ministering brethren and the inspirational talks and discussion. Neil C. Buskirk. ALTOONA, PENNSYLVANIA (Mill Run Mennonite Chapel) Greetings: We have been having services in this community for the past 24 years. Al- though we are few in number, we claim all of God’s promises. We are looking forward to our Twenty-fourth Annual New Year’s program. Bro. LeRoy Zook from Mt. Union, Pa., and Bro. Emanuel Peachey from Belle- ville, Pa., will be the guest speakers. We had two groups come and render pro- grams for us: one group from Scottdale and the other from Allensville. We certainly en- joyed their messages and special music. During the past 6 months we had a re- election of church officers. The new officers are as follows: Supt., Sidney Cashman, Sr.; Asst. Supt., George Cashman; Sec., Bertha Kanagy; Asst. Sec., Clifford Cashman; S.S. Chor., Helen McConnell; Church Chor., Le- na Cashman; Cradle Roll, Mina Cashman. The last two weeks of June we held our summer Bible school. We had a high attend- ance of 123. Surely the Lord has blessed this phase of His work. With the coming of the Christmas season, 13 gift boxes were made up and distributed here in Mill Run. Bro. Aaron Mast, Belleville, Pa., brought the morning message on Dec. 9. And Bro. Charles Weyandt gave us an evening mes- sage before leaving for California. After New Years we will be in the process of refinishing our church floor. Continue to pray for us as a congregation. Sidney Cashman, Jr. KALONA, IOWA (Lower Deer Creek Congregation) Greetings to all Herald readers. Since our last correspondence from this place a number of guest speakers have brought us interesting messages from God’s Word. Sunday, Oct. 14, Bro. Alva Swartzendruber, of Hydro, Okla., preached for us during our morning service. The evening of the same day Bro. Paul T. Guengerich of the West Union congregation brought a message. Missionary Day was observed Sunday, Nov. 18. Guest speakers for this day were Bro. and Sister J. N. Kaufman, of Peoria, 111., and Bro. John Litwiller, of Chicago, 111. Sunday evening, Nov. 25, a Thanksgiving program was given by the children. After this program Bro. Jacob Birky, of Spartansburg, Pa., preached a sermon about the victorious life. During our Sunday morning services Dec. 9 a class of seven were admitted to the church by water baptism. The evening of the same day Bro. B. Charles Hostetter of Harrison- burg, Va., delivered a much-appreciated ser- mon. Sunday evening, Dec. 30, the Iowa Men- nonite School chorus brought us the Christ- mas message in song. As we look forward to the new year we ask an interest in your prayers for the work at this place. Dec. 31, 1951. Homer J. Hershberger. WELLMAN, IOWA (West Union Congregation) How thankful we are to the Lord for the many blessings He bestows on us here at this place of worship. Bro. Ernest Garber, of Nampa, Idaho, conducted a series of meet- ings this fall. As a direct result a class of fourteen young souls were added to the church by baptism Sunday, Dec. 16. Our bishop, Bro. John Y. Swartzendruber, was with us for the service, bringing a message from Acts 2:38. We are always grateful to visiting brethren who bring us messages on which we can feast. For both services on Dec. 3 we were privileged to have Bro. B. Charles Hostetter of Harrisonburg, Virginia with us. “Lord, Is It I?” was the theme in the morning; in the evening his message was on “The Chris- tian Home.” Those of us who are parents of Iowa Mennonite School students enjoyed two more messages brought by Bro. Hostetter as he addressed the parent-teacher group in the regular meeting at the school on Tuesday evening, and spoke to the student-parent body on Friday evening. Praise the Lord for men who are willing to speak out in such a thought-provoking manner for the cause of Christ. Dec. 30 Bro. Gideon Yoder and family, of Goshen, worshiped with us. Bro. Yoder’s sermon in the morning was on believers’ baptism and in the evening he spoke on “The Promise of the Christ.” The congre- gation here is always glad to have Bro. Yoder come “back home” and break the Bread of Life for us. Our midweek meetings this winter have been well attended and much interest is 92 GOSPEL HERALD January 2 2^ 1952 shown. The children have separate classes, grouped as to age. The M.Y.F. group has been studying the Book of Romans under the direction of Bro. Alvin J. Blough of the I.M.S. faculty. In the adult group we have been thinking together on The Home. We have been enjoying talks by a number of guest speakers. Bro. Max Yoder of the Well- man congregation began the series as he was with us a number of weeks. Bro. Blough spoke on “Dangers That Threaten the Home,” and Sister Ada Schrock, teacher at I.M.S., had as her subject “Christmas in the Home.” The meetings began with a fifteen minute period of singing led by Bro. Emery Hochstetler, and closed with a period of dis- cussion. We were glad to have Bro. and Sister Eugene Blosser with us during the summer as they were staying with Sister Luella’s parents. We do so much thank God for their safe return from Communist China, and again are reminded of how God hears and answers prayer. Jan: 3, 1952. Ella H. Kinsinger. MILLER, SOUTH DAKOTA • * (Pleasant View Congregation) Dear Christian Friends: Let us as Chris- tians celebrate Christmas not only once a year but every day, for there are many who n6ed our gifts for their natural bodies and many who are in need of a Saviour. Bro. Jesse Short held revival meetings here in September. He had a lesson for the chil- dren each evening, followed by a sermon. All of us received many blessings. Bro. Sam Oswald was with us Oct. 28. We had counsel meeting in the morning and com- munion services in the evening. Because of snow and cold, our church at- tendance has been dropping. But spring will soon be here, with hopes for joyful worship, with every member present. Remember us in prayer. Mrs. Wayne Miller. FIELD NOTES (Continued) Bro. Roy S. Koch was the speaker in the quarterly Sunday-school teachers’ meeting at Elmira, Ont., on Jan. 18. The Ontario Mennonite Bible School and Institute conducts a radio broadcast each Monday evening. More than fifty are enrolled in the Ontario Amish Mennonite Bible School which began at East Zorra on Jan. 7 and will continue for four weeks. Instructors are Henry Yantzi, B. B. King, Jesse J. Short, and Millis Leiss. . The Michigan Bible School at Fairview has an enrollment of eighty-five, with students from at least six states. Attention, Sunday-school superintendents and secretaries: your district conference Sun- day-school officers are having difficulty in completing their reports for the Yearbook be- cause so many local superintendents and sec- retaries have overlooked sending in their re- ports as of Jan. 1. Your co-operation is urgent- ly solicited. Perhaps you have lost your re- port blank or mislaid the one sent you. If so, please write your district secretary for another. Perhaps you have just forgotten or have asked someone else to send it in. Will you please see that the person responsible fills this report out and mails it immediately. This matter is urgent. — J. J. Hostetler, Secretary of Sunday Schools. Mennonite Sunday schools have enrolled 12,758 preschool children, more than twice the number ten years ago. Correction: Bro. Ivan J. Miller, Grants- ville, Md., held a two-week Bible school at Kalona, Iowa, on the date given recently for his meetings at Harrisburg, Oreg. He began the meetings at Harrisburg on Jan. 12. The Ministers’ Week will be held at Hess- ton College Jan. 29 to Feb. 1, with Bro. Roy D. Roth as moderator. Speakers are Grant M. Stoltzfus, C. R. McBride, Clayton Beyler, Milo Kauffman, Lester Culp, Harry Diener, Ed Stalter, Harold Sommerfeld, Allen White, J. P. Duerksen, and I. R. Lind. The pro- gram overlaps with the Rural Life Confer- ence Jan. 30 to Feb. 3. Sister Frances Zook, wife of Bro. Ellrose Zook, underwent an emergency appendec- tomy at Mt. Pleasant, Pa., on Jan. 15. Sisters Katherine Royer and Norma Hostet- ler were at Scottdale the past week in the interests of the graded nursery Sunday-school materials, on which they are putting pioneer labors. Announcements Bible Conference, Crystal Springs, Kans., on the Holy Spirit and Missions. Speakers: Milo Kauffman, Roy D. Roth. Bible Confer- ence, Bethel, West Liberty, Ohio; D. Walter Miller, speaker; Jan. 20-27. Not Charity, but Brotherhood "Bear Ye One Another's Burdens' Hospital expenses Surgical expenses Burial expenses MENNONITE AID, INC. 1413 South Eighth Street Goshen, Indiana C, : . . .... ■■ ' Evangelistic Meetings John C. Wenger, Goshen, Iiid., at Locust Grove, Elkhart, Ind., Jan. 6-12; Roy S. Koch, St. Jacobs, Ont., at E.M.C., Feb. 17-29; George R. Brunk, Harrisonburg, Va., at War- wick River, Denbigh, Va., Dec. 22-30; J. W. Hess, Akron, Pa., at Pinecraft, Sarasota, Fla., closing Jan. 6. Visiting Speakers Dec. 23: Eugene Blosser, Goshen, Ind., at Warwick River, Denbigh, Va. Dec. 30: Josef I. Herschkowitz, Harrison- burg, Va., at Warwick River, Denbigh, Va.; Lester Wyse, Hartville, Ohio, at Bay Shore, Sarasota, Fla.; LeRoy Bechler, Saginaw, Mich., at Fisher, 111.; Bro. and Sister Wilbert Lind and I. R. Lind at Peabody, Kans.; Lloyd Gundy, Pekin, 111., at Pleasant Hill, East Peoria, 111. Jan. 3: Josef I. Herschkowitz, Harrison- burg, Va., at Bay Shore, Sarasota, Fla.; San- ford G. Shetler, Salem, Oreg., at Upland, Calif. . Jan. 6: Ivan Magal, Richmond, Va., at Warwick River, Denbigh, Va.; Rudy Stauffer, Wooster, Ohio, at Pleasant Hill, Sterling, Ohio; R. R. Smucker, Elkhart, Ind., at Fish- er, 111.; Don McCammon, Goshen, Ind., at Olive, Elkhart, Ind.; Carl Kreider and Elno Steiner, Goshen, Ind., at Hopedale, 111.; Roy- den Schweitzer, Merna, Nebr., at Peabody, Kans.; Edd P. Shrock, Odon, Ind., at Yoder, Kans. Jan. 13: Julio Rivera Colon, Barranquitas, P.R., at Peabody, Kans.; Lee J. Miller, Ship- shewana, Ind., at Holdeman, Wakarusa, Ind.; D. W. Miller, Wooster, Ohio, at Pleas- ant Hill, Sterling, Ohio; Dale Nofziger, Cleveland, Ohio, at Fairpoint, Ohio; Ralph Malin, West Chester, Pa., at Wesley Chapel, Newark, Del.; William G. Detweiler, Orr- ville, Ohio, at Oak Grove, West Liberty, Ohio. Jan. 19: Raymond Bucher, Lititz, Pa., at Kinzers, Pa. Jan. 20: EL J. King, Arthur, 111., at Chris- tian Workers’ Band, Fisher, 111.; J. L. Horst, Scottdale, Pa., at Canton, Ohio; Oliver Roth, Milford, Nebr., at Peabody, Kans.; Paul Min- inger, Goshen, Ind., at Olive, Elkhart, Ind. Feb. 4: J. Ross Goodall, Kitchener, Ont., at Olive, Elkhart, Ind. MISSION NEWS (Continued) Puerto Rico was presented through slides at Protection, Kans., Sunday evening, Dec. 30. Sister Florence Nafziger, on furlough from India, spoke concerning the work there at Upland, Calif., on Dec. 16. Bro. Joe Toledo is working among his Mexican people in Los Angeles, with an in- creasing interest. He would appreciate the help of people who could come to Los An- geles to live and make contacts in Mexican homes. Two young people were received into | church by baptism at the Canton Mission on j Jan. 6. j Boys’ and girls’ clubs are proving popu- \ lar in the work in Los Angeles. Enrollment 1 is near the sixty mark, of which only two ( come from Mennonite homes. The chapel f and story hour is a significant teaching op- f portunity for many who never go to church 1 c or Sunday school. c Bro. Levi C. Hartzler showed pictures of 1 voluntary service units to the North Goshen M.Y.F. on Jan. 17. 1 Sister Marie Yoder, on furlough' from Puer- to Rico, spoke concerning the work there at Yellow Creek, near Goshen, on Jan. 6, at Clinton Frame on Jan. 13, and is scheduled to show pictures at the Wakarusa High School on Jan. 23. Bro. John Leatherman, on furlough from | Tanganyika, brought a Christmas message ( to the Youth Fellowship at Mellingers, spoke to Youth Gospel Evangelism at Vine Street, Lancaster, on Jan. 19, and, with Sister Leatherman, is scheduled to speak at the Sunnyside Mission, Lancaster, Sunday eve- ning, Jan. 27. 95 January 22, 195 2 OUR YOUNG PEOPLE (Continued) The experience of the church during Civilian Public Service made her aware of the possibilities that lay in a program of service for her youth. Voluntary serv- ice has proved itself practicable and prof- itable. This type of service has been authorized by General Conference and is being administered by the Relief Com- mittee at this time. All our young people should be chal- lenged with a period of voluntary service of a short or longer duration. Many young men ought to give a number of montiis as workers at our city and rural missions, doing visitation work, canvass- ing territories, distributing literature, repairing building, and doing a multi- tude of other jobs that would increase the effectiveness of our mission work. Be- sides doing many helpful things the young man would also receive training. He would need to find out what he be- lieves and why, in order to meet opposi- tion. He would find out how others live, what their problems are, and so would need to face life realistically. We have had young women as city workers, but we need men as well. We have become acquainted with serv- ice units and the possibilities that such activity provides. This should be greatly enlarged to provide opportunity for every talent and ability in the church. One other activity should be men- tioned. It is an emergency service unit that might be organized in the local con- gregation to serve in case of fire, storm, hood, accident, or disaster. Such a group should meet regularly for practice and training. The personnel might be chang- ing, giving many an opportunity to serve a number of months. Dangers There are dangers everywhere. We find ourselves surrounded by them in mission work, education, publications, as well as in our congregations, and so we are prepared for their consideration here. We can hold up red lights. That is comparatively easy, but we cannot make progress on that color alone. We should not imagine that activity is the only sign of spiritual life, neither should we de- ceive ourselves by thinking deep spir- itual life will not demand expression. We might easily be so consumed by ac- tivities that they become the end instead of the means. No one group will likely be able to engage in all activities suggested above. A variety has been mentioned to provide opportunity for every type of congrega- tion. God never intended that the church by programs should make home life and training unnecessary. The church should teach the importance of home life. This program of activities should never become so intensive that children have no time at home. We should remember, however, that they will not and should not stay at home all the time. GOSPEL HERALD Conclusions The writer does not presume that such a program will solve all our problems. We solve some by making others, and feel the endeavor is profitable. Our pub- lications should provide a corner for suggestive programs of youth activities and for reports from those who have used them. This space should provide suggestive activities for groups of the various ages. May the spiritual and evan- gelistic objectives and ideals be always kept in mindl Hannibal, Mo. DISCIPLES’ CHALLENGE (Continued) to whom all power in heaven and in earth had been given. “Go ye therefore,’’ He said, “and teach all nations . . . and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.” That was the day of the disciples’ graduation from the preparatory school with the great Master. Behind them were the years when as untried and crude peasants they assayed to learn how to be- come “fishers of men.” There were times when they fell into error and had to hear the upbraiding voice of correc- tion. But somehow, all except Judas were on the mount to hear the finai com- mand. The command to go implied ex- periences for the apostles similar to those the Master had endured— Gethsemane, arrest, mockings, scourgings, crucifixion. “Ye shall receive power,” promised the Master, and “ye shall be witnesses unto me . . . unto the uttermost part of the earth.” “The servant is not greater than his lord,” the Master had said on another occasion. All that the Lord had experienced in toil, opposition and suf- fering, and in final victory might well be the lot of each or all of the disciples. Yet, it should be remembered that for every command, there was a faithful promise; for every valley of the shadow, there would be a mountain of vision; for every cross, there might be awaiting a crown; for every life dedicated to the Master for service, there must be a home eternal in the heavens. Harrisonburg, Va. BIRTHS "Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord" (Ps. 127:3a). Beidler. — To Stanley and Ethel (Landis) Beidler, Shelly, Pa., a daughter, Rose Marie, Dec. 25, 1951. Burkholder. — To Paul H. and Eva (Reesor) Burkholder, Markham, Ont., a son, David Ree- sor, Jan. 3, 1952. Carpenter. — To Sidney and Lena (Kurtz) Carpenter, Elverson, Pa., a son, Harold, Dec. 29, 1951. Gerber. — To Dennis and Loretta (Miller) Gerber, Benton, Ohio, a son, Roger Lynn, Nov. 13, 1951. Gerber. — To Peter and Mary (Yoder) Gerber, Mio, Mich., a son, John Herbert, Nov. 24, 1951. Gingerich. — To Alvin and Lydia (Ropp) Gingerich. Iowa City, Iowa, a son, Donald Ray, Dec. 21, 1951, Horst. — To Samuel and Elizabeth (Good) Horst, Oley, Pa., a daughter, Hannah Lois, Dec. 27, 1951. Johnson. — To Elmer and Mildred (Hostetler) Johnson, Bloomfield, Mont., a son, Merlin Duane, Nov. 8, 1951. Kanagy. — To Lee H. and Adella (Brunk) Kanagy, Tokyo. Japan, a daughter, Ruth Adella, Jan. 7, 1952. Kauffman. — To Cliff and Ann (Nissley) Kauffman, Bloomfield, Mont., a daughter, Mar- jorie Rae, Dec. 7, 1951. Kauffman. — To Walter and Leola (Oaks) Kauffman, Fairview, Mich., a son, David Eu- gene, Nov. 20, 1951. Kuhns. — To Harold and Yera (Martin) Kuhns, Greencastle, Pa., a daughter, Brenda Kay, Dec. 22, 1951. Martin. — To Edmund and Ruby (Burkhart) Martin, Bridgeport, Ont., a son, Dennis Ed- mund, Dee. 17, 1951. Moyer. — To Nevin and Margaret (Blank) Moyer. Franconia, Pa., a daughter, Gloria, Jan. 3, 1952. Sauder. — To Isaac L. and Clara (Buchen) Sauder. New Holland, Pa., a son, Jay Wilmer, Dec. 24, 1951. Sensenig.— To Chester B. and Naomi (Mast) Sensenig, New Holland, Pa., a son, Albert Eu- gene, Dec. 9, 1951. Smoker. — To Norman B. and Esther (Stoltz- fus) Smoker, Intercourse, Pa., a son, Carl Low- ell, Nov. 25, 1951. VVidmer. — To J. G- and Helen (Yoder) Wid- mer, Wayland, Iowa, a son, James Clifford, Dec. 15, 1951. Yoder. — To David J. and Marian Mae (Stoltz- fus) Yoder, Lancaster. Pa., a daughter, Jean- etta Faith, Jan. 3. 1952. Yoder. — To J. Robert and Mary (Leete) Yo- der, Hubbard, Oreg., a daughter, Rebecca Lee, Dec. 15, 1951. Yoder. — To Sanford K. and Martha (Good) Yoder. Hubbard, Oreg., a son, Jon Marc, Dec. 4, 1951. ANNIVERSARIES Hardy. — Charles W. and Elizabeth (Farns- worth) Hardy celebrated their golden wedding anniversary on Dec. 23 at their farm home near Brethren, Mich. Bro. Hardy was born in Manistee Co., Mich., and Sister Hardy in St. Lawrence Co., N.Y. They have 5 children (Randall, Flint, Mich. ; Reeva — Airs. Dow Johnson. Brethren, Mich. ; Clyde. Muskegon, Mich. ; Gladys — Mrs. Leonard DeKett, Manton, Mich. ; Dorothy — Airs. Awald Linderman, Stro- nach. Alich.) and 10 grandchildren. A large number of friends called during the day of their anniversary and gave them many useful and lovely gifts. MARRIAGES May the blessings of God be upon the homes established by the marriages here listed. A year's subscription to the Gospel Herald is given to those whose address is supplied by the officiating minister. Bender — Brenneman. — Alaurice Bender, West Union congregation, Wellman, Iowa, and Lola Jean Brenneman, Lower Deer Creek congrega- tion, Kalona, Iowa, by J. Y. Swartzendruber at the Lower Deer Creek Church Jan. 1, 1952. Brenneman — Bear. — Charles Andrew Brenne- man and Alabel Bear, both of the Pike congre- gation, Elida, Ohio, by Paul W. Smith at the home of the bride’s father Dec. 1G, 1951. Good — Stoltzfus.. — George G. Good, Bowmans- ville, Pa., congregation, and Sadie S. Stoltzfus, Conestoga congregation, Alorgantown, Pa., by Ira A. Kurtz at the home of the bride Dec. 1, 1951. Harris — Kurtz. — Ralph Harris, Oley, Pa., congregation, and Janice Kurtz, Bally, Pa., congregation, by E. AV. Kulp, assisted by H. P. Yoder, at the Boyertown Church Dec. 23, 1951. Horning — Petersheim. — Elton Horning, Bow- mansville. Pa., congregation, and Linda Peter- sheim, Conestoga congregation, Alorgantown, Pa., by Ira A. Kurtz at the Conestoga Church Jan. 5, 1952. Martin — Lehman. — Leon Martin and Anna Lehman, both of the Yellow Creek congregation, Goshen, Ind., by William Ramer at the groom’s home Dec. 2, 1951. 94 GOSPEL HERALD January 22, 1952 Nyee — Moyer. — Snmiiel Moyer Nyce. Salford congregation, Ilarleysville, Pa., and Gladys Bower Moyer. Franconia. Pa., congregation, by Stanley Beidler. assisted by Klias Landis, at the Salford Church Now 10. 1051. Plank — Good. — Donald Plank and Doris Good, both of the Turkey Run congregation, Bremen, Ohio, by Abram Kauffman at the home of the bride Aug. 1(1, 10.11. Ranter — Martin.- — Jason L. Ramer and Lor- ene Martin, both of the Yellow Creek congrega- tion, Goshen, Ind.. by the groom's father. Wil- liam Ramer, at the home of the bride Sept. 23, 1951. Troyer — Hostetler. — Arthur Delan Trnyer and Ida Hostetler, both of the Martins Creek congregation, Millersburg, Ohio, by Allen B. Ebersole .Tan. 8. 1052. Weaver — Ketterman. — Herbert Weaver. First Mennonite Church. Johnstown. Pa., and Avinell Ketterman. Weaver congregation. Harrison- burg. Va., by B. Charles Hostetler, assisted by II. C. Blough, at the Weaver Church Dec. 14, 1951. „ . _ Weaver — RatzlofT. - — Robert Leslie Weaver and Ruth Rat'/! off. both of the Winton. Calif- congregation. by Luke E. Weaver, father of the groom, at the Winton Church Dec. 1G, 1951. OBITUARIES May the sustaining grace and comfort of our Lord bless these who are bereaved. Allebach. — David K.. son of the late Abra- ham C. and Sarah II. (Kulp) Allebach. was born Oct. 1. 1S72: died Dec. 1. 1951 ; aged 79 y. 2 m. On Feb. 13, 1S97, he was married to Leanna Clemens, who survives him. Besides his -widow he is survived by a foster daughter, one brother, and one sister. He was born on a farm near Hatfield. Pa., and always lived in a home adjoining his birthplace. For a number of years he spent the winter in Florida. lie departed from this life at Sarasota. Fla., after an illness of five weeks. On March 27. 189S. he was bap- tized and received as a member of the Plain Mennonite Church. Lansdale, Pa. At an early age he demonstrated much interest in Bible study, history, and music. In 1890 he became a S'undav-school song-leader. In 1898 he be- came a church chorister and on some occasions conducted singing classes. For more than thir- ty years he served as a Sunday-school teacher and from 1903 to 1910 as a superintendent. During his lifetime he compiled the data for the history of the Plain congregation recorded in Wenger’s “History of the Mennonites of the Franconia Conference.” He also wrote a “His- tory of Hatfield,” published in 1944. He served as vice-president of the Franconia Mennonite Historical Society from its beginning in 1930 until tlie time of his death. His last accomplish- ment was the compiling of a record of burials in the Plain Mennonite Cemetery from the tombstones still legible. Funeral services were conducted at the Rayshore Church. Sarasota, on Dec. 2 bv Timothy Brenneman and at the Plain Church. Lansdale. Pa., Dec. G. with Wayne N. Kratz and John E. Lapp in charge. Text: I Thess. 4:13. 14. Interment was made in the adjoining cemetery. Hostetler. — George Milton was born Dee. 2, 1883. to David and Elizabeth (Kenagyl Hostet- ler. near Allensville. Pa.: died Dec. 22. 1951, at the Peninsula General Hospital. Salisbury, Md.. of a heart condition: aged 08 y. 20 d. He grew to manhood near West Liberty. Ohio. Oct. 31. 1901. he was converted, in a very clear experience. Sept. 5. 1911. he was united in marriage to Mary Belle Smucker, who was a faithful companion to him for more than forty years. Ten children were horn to them. They spent the first year of their martied life at Hesston Bible School, then a ya:ir and r. half at the Canton Mission in Ohio. J.n July. 19 1 4, he was ordained to the ministry at Oyster Point, Va., where he served the Providence congrega- tion until September, 1922. when he and his family moved to Westover. Md. At M estover he served with Amos Ogburn. A iron Mast, and Roy Pavne. under the oversight of John S. Mast, until Sept. 17. 1933. when he was or- dained bishop of the Holly Grove congregation by Bishop Mast. He took his responsibilities very seriously, loved the Bible and taught it plainly. He was a considerate father and hus- band. All his children and some of his grand- children have chosen to unite with the church of his choice. Surviving are his comi anion. 9 children (Mabel — Mrs. Clarence Overholt, Relle- fontaine. Ohio: Susie. Ransom, Kans. ; Mark, Plain City, Ohio; Marie — Mrs. Kenneth Det- wiler, Pocomoke City. Md. ; Joseph, Elizabeth- town, Pa.: David, Souderton, Pa.; George, Jr., Harrisonburg. Va.; and Sara Grace and Elmer, at home). 13 grandchildren. 2 brothers (Ira and Steve, West Liberty, Ohio), and one sister (Mrs. Archie Ilartzler. also of West Liberty). One son (John) preceded him in death in 1922. Funeral services were in charge of Amos King; Ira Kurtz preached the sermon. Others par- ticipating were Chris Kurtz, Amos Ogburn, David Yoder. Isaac Kennel, Isaac King, Calvin Kennel, and Walter Mahan of the Brethren Church. Interment was made in the Holly Grove Cemetery. Lapp. — Daniel G. Lapp was born near Line Lexington, I’a., April 29. 1SG7 ; passed away in his sleep, at his home in Sterling. III.. Dec. 15, 1951 ; aged 84 y. 7 in. Ifi d. In early youth he professed faith in Jesus Christ as his Saviour, and to this faith he was true until the time of his passing. At the age of twenty-six he was ordained to the ministry. For seven years he served as an evangelist under the Mennonite Evangelizing Board, and for five years under the Kansas-Nebrnska Conference. He was a member of the General Mission Board, and served as vice-president of that board for six- teen years. He was also a member of the Men- nonite Board of Education, and served as its vice-president for ten years. On April G. 1915, he was ordained bishop at large for the Kansas- Nebraskn Conference. He was pastor of the Roseland. Nebr., congregation for forty-eight years. He was united in marriage to Tda M. Good, of Harper, Kalis., Feb. 22. 1S9S. To this union 7 children were born. In December. 1940, he and his wife moved from Roseland, Nebr., to Sterling, 111. For six years he gave valuable service as pastor of West Sterling congregation. Surviving are his widow, G children (Paul, Truman, and James, of Sterling; Mahlon. Dix- on. 111.: Loon. Ilopedale. I!].; and Velma — Mrs. Wilbur Hostetler, Dhnmtari, India). 15 grandchildren, nieces and nephews, and many other relatives and friends. A son (Titus), his parents. 3 brothers, and one sister preceded him in death. Funeral services were conducted Dec. 17 at the funeral home by Robert Keller and at the Science Ridge Church bv S. C. Yoder, of Goshen. Ind.. assisted by A. C. Good. Niissbauin. — Christian A., son of Abraham and Eliza (Neuensch wander) Xussbaum, was born in Berne, Ind.. April 5. 1SSG: passed away as the result of a heart attack suffered at his residence in Ividron. Ohio. Dec. 19, 1951 : aged G5 y. 8 m. 14 d. In 1903 he moved with his parents from Berne. Ind.. to the Kidron com- munity. On Oct. 13. 1910, he was married to Lizzie Lehman, daughter of John and Sarah J. Lehman. One daughter (Gladys) was born to this union. His wife preceded him in death March 11, 1914. He married Metta Wyss on July 3. 1915; they lived on their Kidron farm until his retirement in 1940, after which they rp.sided in their new home adjoining the farm. This marriage was blessed with one daughter (Lillie). In early youth he accepted Christ as his Saviour and was baptized and received into the Mennonite Church, to which he remained faithful all his life. He leaves his companion, 2 daughters (Gladys — Mrs. Paul Kiener and Mrs. Lillie Gerber, both of Kidron, Ohio), G grand- children, 4 brothers (Samuel E., Amos A.. Al- bert A., all of Apple Creek, Ohio; and William A., Dalton, Ohio). 4 sisters (Sarah — Mrs. Si- mon Hofstetter. Ella — Mrs. Frank Wyss, Kid- ron; Saloma — Mrs. David Wyss, Orrville. Ohio; and Bertha — Mrs. Silas Lehman, Apple Creek), and a large number of other relatives and friends. Two brothers and one sister preceded him in death. Two of his grandchildren looked to him in the last several years for paternal guidance. Remaining is his aged father-in-law (John Wyss), who resided with them. Funeral services were held Dec. 22 at the home and at the Ki'iron Church, with Reuben Hofstetter, Isaac Zitercher. and Allen Bixler in charge. Burial was made in the cemetery adjoining the Kidron Church. Weld.v. — Freddie Lee, son of Curtis and Mary Weldy. R. 3. Elkhart. Ind.. was born May 13, 1937 : died Dec. 3. 1951 : aged 14 y. G m. 20 d. He suffered from muscular dyatrophy all his life, having been able to attend school only two years. He was a member of the Church of the Brethren, was always cheerful and had a smile for everyone. For six years he was unable to walk but was bedfast only six days. Surviving are his parents and grandparents (Mr. and Mrs. Nelson Weldy. Wakarusa, Ind.; Mrs. Eliz- abeth Kentner and Noah Fox. of Goshen, Ind.). The funeral was held Dec. G at the Baugo Church of the Brethren, with burial in the Olive Cemetery. Orvin J. Kilmer and Harvey Bowers officiated. THE BOOK SHELF Books reviewed in these columns may be ordered from the Mennonite Publishing House, Scottdale, Pa. The Church in History, by B. K. Kuiper; William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company; 1951; 500 pp.; $4.95. This volume is prepared especially for use in secondary schools as a textbook in church history. This purpose has guided the author’s arrangement of the subject matter, his choice of language and sentence structure, and his selection of type. There are two columns to a page, each line fourteen picas wide. The subject matter is nicely outlined and divided by boldface captions. The volume also is well illustrated with suitable pictures and maps. A complete table of contents with the subdivisions of the chapters and a compre- hensive index make the book very conven- ient for use in a classroom or for reference purposes. There are a total of fifty-six chap- ters, covering the following major divisions: When the Christian Church Was Young The Church in the Middle Ages The Church in the Reformation . The Church in the Post-Reformation Era The Church in the United States While we have no information concerning the author, it is evident that he speaks with authority, and knows his subject matter. While the historical information is given quite impartially, there are evidences of Cal- vinistic leanings and of the Reformed Church emphasis. This is but natural because the book is published by the “National Union of Christian Schools,” with offices at Grand Rapids, Michigan, the official Reformed Church headquarters for promoting their Christian schools. The Anabaptists and Men- nonites receive consideration, but it is to be regretted that they are not given quite the place which they deserve in church history. However, the book is the best we have yet found for use in secondary schools, and we give it a hearty endorsement for such pur- poses. Special price consideration is given to Christian schools by the National Union of Christian Schools through the office of the Educational Agent. — C. F. Yake. The Dagger and the Cross, by Culbert G. Rutenber: Fellowship Publications; 1950; 134 pp.; $1.00. The subtitle of this book is “An Examina- tion of Christian Pacifism.” The large ma- jority of writers on this subject heretofore have fallen into one of two groups. First of all are the religious liberals to whom paci- fism is merely a significant aspect of the social gospel. Because of the growth of neo- orthodoxy the social gospel is currently on the decline in the United States. Because many prominent neo-erthodox writers such as Reinhold Niebuhr, though admitting that the New Testament teaches nonresistance, nevertheless reject it as a personal philosophy, in the future relatively little concrete sup- port for Biblical pacifism can be expected from this ciuarter. The second group of writers on Christian pacifism have been the ■January 22, 1952 GOSPEL HERALD 95 representatives of the historic peace church- es who have arrived at their conclusion through a prayerful study of the Scriptures and especially the teachings of jesus. Un- fortunately, however, the number of people holding this position has been such a small part of Christendom that orthodox Chris- tianity generally has noted that the position is “unique” but has rejected it as a personal ethic. The major significance of this book is that the author does not fall into either of the two categories noted above. Dr. Rutenber is Pro- fessor of the Philosophy of Religion at East- ern Baptist Theological Seminary in Phila- delphia. This seminary is noted for being conservative in theology and it has an en- rollment approaching 300 students. If, there- fore, the point of view which it presents will be accepted by the students of this seminary and ultimately by the other conservative Bap- tist seminaries, the impact upon the congre- gations served by the graduates of these seminaries should be a profound one. The title of the book is taken from a story told by John Addington Symonds in his Renaissance Period in Italy. In a little coun- try town in Lombardy a cross was shown to him. The body of Christ was carved on the front of the cross. On the back of the cross a little knob concealed a scabbard which held a steel dagger. This book is devoted to an attempt to reveal clearly the hypocrisy in- volved in attempting to combine these two incongruous symbols. For the general reader the two most signif- icant chapters will be found in the heart of the book. The first is entitled “The Witness of the New Testament” and the second “But the Old Testament Says — .” With clear logic and with the abundant fortification of Scrip- ture the author indicates clearly that the very essence of the New Testament is destroyed when one rejects its teachings on peace. He does not ignore the passages (such as Jesus cleansing the Temple, and “he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment and buy one”) which are regularly cited by many Christian leaders as supporting Christian par- ticipation in war. He shows, however, how shallow is the line of reasoning by which those instances are used as arguments for military service. Similarly, his analysis of the Old Testament teachings follows rather closely Hershberger’s arguments in War, Peace, and Nonresistance that God permitted participation in war because of the “hard- ness of your hearts” and not because it was what God really wanted. For the specialist, the most significant chapter is the one on “Love, Justice, and the State.” The question raised by the chapter is whether Jesus merely meant His teach- ings in the Sermon on the Mount to apply to the simple face-to-face relations of a per- sonal type and whether the complexities of the modern state make it impossible to ap- ply these teachings today. Rutenber believes that in spite of the fact that the Christian Church, by and large, has not held to these teachings in its relationships with the state, and in spite of the admittedly tremendous problems involved in doing so, the logic of Christianity demands that it be tried. Fur- thermore, Rutenber argues with clarity and conviction against those who on the basis of Romans 13 would demand unflinching loy- alty to the state during wartime but who in other situations would assert the primacy of their loyalty to Christ. This reviewer has high praise for this book. It should not be assumed, however, that the book is wholly in accord with the Mennonite doctrine of nonresistance. Early in the book (p. 19) the author makes it clear that his per- sonal opinion favors nonviolent resistance rather than complete nonresistance. The author is a conscientious objector to war, but he feels that the C.O. position will be more appealing “to the Christian Church if it can be assured that such a pcsition does not leave its loved ones wholly at the mercy of evil.” He feels that nonviolent resistance is “such a notable moral advance over what obtains now that we could well afford to leave till after this first step is taken the argument as to whether the next step should be total non- resistance.” Most readers of this review would likely wish to disagree with these points, even though they would be in es- sential agreement with the great majority of this book. — Carl Kreider. The Way to Power and Poise, by E. Stan- ley Jones; Abingdon-Cokesbury; 1949; 365 pp-; $1-25. The author is a missionary and a preacher who has written several books concerning so- cial issues at home and abroad, as well as several books dealing with personal living and overcoming handicaps. He is well known for his application of modern psychological principles in dealing with spiritual problems. Generally speaking, I feel he does this quite successfully and cleverly. He seems to have a fair understanding of modern psychiatric thought, and it is refreshing to see how he is able to harmonize psychiatric thought and Christian principles in most instances. It is true that at places he oversimplifies what can be done and fails to make a clear distinction between the person who is mentally ill and in need of medical attention, and the person who is disturbed because of the lack of se- curity which only faith in a personal God can supply. It is to this latter group that I feel this little book has most value. The book should prove helpful also to all who have not felt to the fullest the influence of a Christian experience on their everyday lives. He quotes authors in psychiatry who are not generally accepted as authorities in the field of psychiatry and whose ideas are ques- tioned by many, but I do not feel that this detracts seriously from the central theme of the book. I am somewhat confused at several places in the book by the author’s lack of clarity concerning some rather basic theologic prin- ciples. Except for a few instances, the book seems God-centered and evangelical; there are several instances of vagueness which makes me raise questions, but I will leave the ques- tion with more experienced theologians. — N. L. Loux, M.D. God’s Word, not the preacher, is to be the hammer. — Walter Otto. ITEMS and COMMENTS Archbishop Aloysius Stepinac, Roman Catholic Primate of Yugoslavia, has been conditionally released from prison after serv- ing five years of a sixteen-year sentence on political charges. His release is on the con- dition that he reside in his native town, and calls him “the former Archbishop.” The Vatican has emphatically stated that such a condition for the priest’s release will not be acceptable, but that he will be the Archbish- op until the Vatican says otherwise. # # * Streetcar workers in Hamburg, Germany, established a Christian Poster Service in 1948, which has now spread to other West-German cities. To carry the Word of God directly to the public, the transit employees in the three years have put up 20,000 posters and placards bearing Biblical quotations and Christian messages in waiting rooms, hospitals, and prisons as well as in the streetcars they oper- ate. They have hung an additional 600 on the advertising pillars that dot the street corners of Hamburg, a city of 1,000,000 peo- ple. • • • The new tax law makes it easier than ever to save on estate tax problems by giving away substantial funds before one’s death, according to the Washington Religious Re- view. • • • It has been estimated that only six per cent of American families have some sort of fami- ly devotional program. Is your family in that small minority? A neui hind of belieff it&uf, More than a travelog. More than relief work in a Jugo-Slav refugee camp on the Suez sands. A telling comment on a portion of modern his- tory; the power of Christian testi- mony; the first steps toward relief and mission work in Ethiopia— these are a part of Samuel A. Yoder’s sojourn in the Middle east. Coloring the account is the author’s familiarity with literature and Bible history. Ezra Hershberger’s humorous drawings reflect the writer’s sense of humor. And don’t miss Peter J. Dyck’s introduction. Middle-East Sojourn By Samuel A. Yoder $2.75 Mennonite Publishing House, Scottdale, Pa. GOSPEL HERALD Mayor David L. Lawrence of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, endorsed a joint statement by Jewish, Catholic, and Protestant churchmen, calling upon the community to eliminate drinking at Christmas parties. “We see as nothing short of tragic,” the statement said, “the tendencies of Christmas to force drink- ing upon persons who do not drink, or who with great discipline had been fighting to control their tendency to drink, yet who have an obligation as well as the desire to be in- cluded in these group parties. Drinking at these parties encourages excessive liberties . . . which have a disastrous effect not only upon the character and reputation of the employees, but upon the future morals and effectiveness of the entire staff.” * * * The moral and spiritual strength of the United States “is more important than any growth in steel capacity, or in number of miles of roads built, or any other physical thing,” C. L. Austin, executive vice-presi- dent of the Jones and Laughlin Steel Cor- poration, in Pittsburgh, told the American Institute of Mining and Metallurgical En- gineers. He called for holding fast to reli- gious principles. # # # Religion in the public schools was the theme of a three-day national conference of State Teachers’ College representatives at New Haven, Connecticut, December 15-17. The foremost question on the agenda was the place of religion in the professional educa- tion of public school teachers. * * * The Board of Regents, governing body of New York state’s public schools, has formal- ly recommended that every school day begin with the following prayer: “Almighty God, we acknowledge our dependence upon Thee, and we beg Thy blessings upon us, our teach- ers, and our country.” * * * An 800-million-dollar program, under the auspices of the United Nations, to resettle the Palestine-Arab refugees in the Arab states was proposed to the General Assembly of the United Nations on December 19, by 19 distinguished American leaders. Discard- ing the idea that Israel can reabsorb the Arab refugee, the memorandum proposes that 300 million dollars should apply immediately to the resettlement of the Arab refugees and that 500 million dollars should be used to develop the natural resources of the Arab states to make possible the absorption of the Arab refugees and to improve the general standard of living of the native Arab popula- tions. The Arab states, Israel, and the inter- national community are each asked to as- sume and discharge a portion of the respon- sibility for resolving the Arab refugee prob- lem. The Arab states are asked to assign tracts of land which can be developed and used for resettlement. Israel is asked to pay a fair amount into a resettlement fund by way of compensation for abandoned Arab land in Israel. The international community, by subscribing the largest part of the funds required, would do its part in resettlement and development. The report points out that January 22, 1952 Qusi Mtitilten wal the {jisibt ta bead the Sup^^intefudentli Manual The manual gave him the idea of having the congregation elect a summer Bible school planning committee. Last week they asked me to be superintendent for two schools our church is sponsoring this summer. I started to say “No!” Then they handed me one of their copies of the Superintendent’s Manual. “Read that first before you give your answer,” said Brother Jonas. Everything was there— how to organize, advertise, finance, equip, and administer the school. The Superintendent’s Manual showed how ,the whole Herald curriculum adapts Bible truth to the needs of each pupil. It gave teacher— and superintendent— qualifications. And there was a day-by-day procedure for the actual Bible school. I told the committee “Yes.” Now I’m ordering a copy of the Manual for each of my teachers— with the committee’s wholehearted approval! THE SUPERINTENDENT’S MANUAL $1.50 Mennonite Publishing House, Scottdale, Pa. Israel, by accepting refugees from many parts of the world in numbers about equal to the Arab refugees concerned, is not in a position to take care also of the Arab refugees. * * * The American Jewish Committee reports that thousands of Jews in Communist Hun- gary are facing death in a reign of terror now sweeping that country. The pattern of persecution against the Jews includes not on- ly deportation, but economic discrimination, a virtual annihilation of their cultural, reli- gious, and communal institutions, and a sys- tematic elimination of leaders of the Jewish community. There is frequent outright anti- Semitic violence. The Jewish population of Hungary as of January 1, 1951, numbered 140,000 survivors of Nazism. These num- bers have been reduced substantially by the mass deportation of tens of thousands of Hungarian citizens, of whom one third were Jews. * • * Henry R. Luce, prominent American edi- tor, said in a recent speech: “A religion — a church — must be ‘in’ the world but not ‘of’ it. A religion brings to ‘this world’ resources which are not of ‘this world’ — or it brings X nothing. A Christian church must serve so- ciety, adventuring and struggling with it, but a church must also stand apart from so- ciety, judging it, guiding it. And it can neither serve nor judge unless it knows better than society does the path to goodness, and the stern price which must be paid to travel on it. A church cannot bring comfort to anyone unless it stands above as well as within the welter and flux of circumstances » # * # The United States Supreme Court has agreed to rule on the constitutionality of the released time program of religious instruc- tion in New York public schools. Under this program, children are excused from school to attend religious classes off school premises one hour a week. Only children whose par- ents give a written authorization are re- leased. The court will probably reach this case on its docket in late February or early March. The decision, together with one on the New Jersey law requiring daily Bible reading in public school classes, is expected to be the most important on the issue of re- ligion on the schools since the famous Mc- Collum Decision of 1948. Ill 00V0IH0 3 A V MftV’TGOG u\ U9t N ! 1 N 3 >S o V .'A V 1 1 ( ( ( t c t t t ti a e (V o GOSPEL HERALD “In the defence and confirmation of the gospel" "Jdou? beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace volume XLV TUESDAY, JANUARY 29, 1952 number 5 God’s Children Keep His Commandments BY BARNEY OVENSEN Is it possible to be a child of God and not to keep His commandments? Many moderns seem to think so, for they call themselves Christians while they ignore the commandments of the one they call Lord. But if we have ears to hear the Word of the Lord, we know that the way to life is not easy. We can’t live any way we please if we want to get to heaven. We have to live God’s way. Our Lord said, “If you want to enter life, keep the commandments.” God does not want us to pay attention to false prophets who make the gate broad and the way easy. “Beware of false prophets,” Jesus said. And He does not want us to be confused about how to rec- ognize false prophets. He said, “By their fruits you will know them.” The Apostle John taught the same doctrine when he wrote, “He who says ‘I know him’ but disobeys his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him.” Any “Chris- tian” preacher or Bible teacher who does not keep the commandments is a false prophet. The truth is not in him. Many of our great “doctors of divinity” are only hypocrites who do not know the truth. We must beware of them. Is it any wonder that the church of Christ has been corrupted and defiled when false prophets are allowed to lead the sheep astray and many watchmen are dumb dogs that cannot bark? If some man of God calls upon the Lord’s people to beware of phony teachers of religion, ministers and others who are supposed to be teaching the same commandment are often the first to criticize. They teach exactly the opposite. “Tolerance” is popular among modern pagans as well as ancient ones. And false prophets are usually more tolerant of other false prophets than of true prophets. Jesus told us it would be so. “Beware when all men speak well of you,” He said. And “when men reproach you, and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil things about you falsely for my sake, rejoice and be very glad. . . . For that is the way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” If “Christians” refuse to keep our Lord’s commandment about recognizing and bewaring of false prophets, they generally are found among those who speak evil of true prophets of the Lord. Look at the fruits. How many fol- lowers of “all of grace” prophets are lovers of God? “This is the love of God that we keep his commandments.” How many “orthodox” church people keep the commandments? And yet they think they are friends of Jesus, although He plainly told us, “You are my friends if you do what I command you.” They are deceived. They do not love God, but love pleasure, and money, and worldly things. They do not delight in the law of God. They are enemies of God— en- emies of His commandments, which they refuse to keep. Recognize them by their fruits and beware of them. Some modern scribes say that it is im- possible to keep the commandments. And the way they explain it no one can possibly walk in the narrow way of Jesus, the way that leads to life. For unless we keep the commandments perfectly, they say, we do not keep them at all. And only Jesus fulfilled the commandments in the perfect way that God requires. As far as these hypocrites are concerned, it does not matter much if a man tries to keep the commandments of Jesus or not. All that matters is the blood of Jesus and the grace of God. The main object of their preaching, it seems, is to prevent people from entering the kingdom of God by the narrow door. They call mul- titudes to “come to Jesus” by the wide gate that leads to the easy way “Chris- tianity” that leads to destruction. They constantly “study” the Scriptures, but they never seem to notice such passages as: “We can be sure that we know him, if we keep his commandments.” Many modern scribes twist the words of Paul to their own destruction, as scribes have been doing ever since the first Christian century. Jesus is not their one Teacher. Paul, they say, is the great teacher of grace. And they do not shrink from using the words of Paul in order to void the words of our Lord. We must beware of such men. If they do not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ, they know nothing. And when they want to argue about words and base their whole teaching on contro- versial definitions of such words as law, grace, faith, and dispensation, they are doing exactly the opposite of what Paul did and taught. For Paul told us not to argue about words. And he said that those who argue about words only ruin their hearers. False teachers and preachers have nev- er been friends of those who come with the Word of God. They do not like to hear the truth about God’s command- ments. And they have succeeded in con- fusing many earnest lovers of truth so that they hardly know what to think, and are confused about what God wants us to do. Some scribes who love to argue about words define faith, grace, law, and works in such a way that their hearers suppose that God does not want us to do what He commands us to do. When Jesus was asked about the way of salva- tion He said, “Do this and you will be saved.” But these false prophets warn us that doing what Jesus said is not the way of salvation but is “salvation by works.” So they tell their hearers to do part of what Jesus said, or perhaps to do something that Jesus did not com- mand at all, or even to do nothing at all. Jesus they make an Old Testament teach- er of “law” and Paul they make, their great teacher of “grace.” But do they keep the commandments that Paul preached? They would follow Jesus if they followed Paul; but they only say they follow Paul. They actually follow their own feelings and desires, and what- ever is approved by their “Christian” friends. When these false preachers quote Paul in order to void the word of the One who Thy Will Be Done By Mary Alice Holden “It’s hard to say, ‘Thy will be done,’” And leave a cherished pleasure; To find our joy in something new And not the things we treasure; To give our wills unto the Lord And leave our friends and neighbors ; To go forth at His blessed call Without a thought of favors. “It’s hard to say, ‘Thy will be done,’” Thought Jesus in the garden, But He went forth unto the cross To win His slayer’s pardon. Cimarron, Kans. 98 GOSPEL HERALD January 29, 1952 came into the world to bear witness to the truth, they show themselves to be anti-Christian teachers. Paul taught justification by faith. And these ignorant or wicked men suppose that justmcation by faith is a "Paunne” doctrine and not a doctrine of Christ. So they use it to overthrow the sound words of our Lord and the way of salvation that He taught. Is that right? is that Christian? It is as wrong as it can be. Salvation by faith did not begin with Paul or Peter or any other apostle. It did not begin with Pentecost. It did not begin after the cross. It did not even begin with the teaching of Jesus. When Paul illustrated the doctrine of justification by faith, he was so tar from illustrating a new way of salvation that he took Abraham and David as his two typical examples of men who were justified by faith and not by works. David lived under law. He was subject to the law of Moses. Yet Paul proves that he was justified in the same way as we are justified, by faith. And Abraham lived not only before Christ but before the law was ever given. Abra- ham was saved by faith. Paul used the examples of Abraham and David to prove to the Jews that sal- vation is by faith and not by works of the law, such as circumcision and the keeping of “days, months, seasons, and years.” We can also use the example of Abraham and David to show how God's children can and do keep His command- ments. Of course it is possible for scribes to point out something that was wrong in the life of Abraham in order to justify themselves in not keeping the command- ments of God. But it they say that Abra- ham did not keep the commandments they are found to be directly contradict- ing the word of God. For God said that Abraham did keep His commandments. “Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my stat- utes, and my laws.” That is written in the Book of Genesis and should be read by ignorant moderns who say it is im- possible to keep the commandments. Abraham is said to be the father of all who believe. And since Christians are the true sons of Abraham and do the works of Abraham, we do well to see how this man of God kept the commandments of the Lord. Of course we know that we are now under grace, and that it is possible for us to live much better lives than Old Testament saints because of the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the blessings of His new covenant. And yet we have Abraham as an example, a man who pleased God, a man whom we do well to imitate. How did Abraham keep the commandments? In the first place, Abraham obeyed God. When he was called to leave his native country and go to a place that God would show him, he went out in obe- dience to God. He didn’t even know where he was going. He went because God told him to go and because God promised to bless him if he went. That is still the way it is with men of God. We are called to seek an eternal home- land. We are called to repent, to for- sake all that we have and follow Jesus. Christ promised that every one— includ- ing you and me— who loses his life for His sake will find it. And because of God’s promises to those who repent, we repented and turned to God and began to do the tilings that He said we should do. We began to live by faith. And we are the sons of Abraham. Those who are not obeying God do not have the faith of Abraham. Afterward Abraham fell into sin. He told a halt-truth that was not the truth at all. And while Sarah was taken into Pharaoh’s house and was living in adul- tery because of her husband’s lack of faith and moral weakness, Abraham the backslider was getting rich in material things. God saw it all. And God sent sickness to Pharaoh’s house as a means of salvation for Abraham and Sarah. Abra- ham was practically forced to leave his home in the world in order to return to Canaan, the place he should never have left in the first place. Did Abraham give up all hope of salvation because he had fallen? No. He returned to God. He was not ashamed to return to the place where he had met God before. And there, at the altar, he called on the name of the Lord. Does something similar happen to Christians? Abraham left Canaan for Egypt because of his hunger for bread, for there was a famine in Canaan. It happens today that Christians get a hun- ger for “lawful” things of the world be- cause they are not getting enough food in the church. Or because they over- emphasize material things such as food, drinks, and clothes. Or because they are not getting enough “living water” to quench their thirst. All things that are lawful are not expedient. And those who try to satisfy their hunger and thirst with lawful things of this world are apt to get to the place where they do some- thing that is not lawful. Abraham told a lie. What did you do? What was it that caused your spiritual downfall? Whatever the sin may have been, the cure is the same. Abraham repented. He went back to the place where God want- ed him to live. He used the altar of sac- rifice and called on the name of the Lord. We must do the same today. Of course we do not sacrifice rams and lambs upon a carnal altar, as Abraham did. God tells us that the sacrifice has already been offered for us by Jesus. He died on the cross for our sins. His blood was offered on our behalf. And by faith we can come to God by this new and living way, satis- fied that our sacrifice is acceptable to God and that atonement has been made for our sins. If Satan has deceived us and gotten us back into the world we should not despair, but return to the Lord as the prodigal son returned to his father. Abraham, back in the land of Canaan, had business trouble with one of the Lord’s children, his nephew Lot. Did Abraham insist on his rights? Did he value material success above peace and good will? Not the Abraham who had returned to God and to the place where (Continued on page 103) Our Readers Say — As my paper expires in February, please dis- continue it. 1 can’t read much of it any more, but 1 thank God that 1 read the paper over seventy years and always liked it. God bless us all. — Mary M. Conrad, Iowa City, Iowa. * * * * The appearance of the Gospel Herald would be greatly improved with a cover-page picture. It seems to me the main church paper should be as attractive as possible and this would be one way to help. ... There seems to be an overemphasis on Men- nonite history and the faith of our forefathers. There are many other Christian magazines and papers which are not always stressing their particular denomination. After all, the present- ] day emphasis should be on honoring and prais- ing our blessed Lord Jesus Christ and vyinning I souls for Him. There seems to be plenty of i room for good, spiritual sermons and articles, instead of always boasting about Mennonite church history. There is a need of witnessing I for the Lord Jesus Christ and proclaiming His message of salvation rather than promoting the Mennonite way of life. — Mrs. G. L. Brown, [ Freeport, 111. , * * * 1 I wish to express my personal appreciation (i as to the quality of the content the past year, j. The Missions section is excellent and the edi- torials worthy of every reader in the church. I Their comprehensiveness has given me a broad- I er outlook on the question involved and thus led to greater forbearance. The poems and J articles are worthy of mention as well. May God continue to bless your labors in the held of literature, that many may be reached for Christ. s — Martha Baer, Toronto, Ont. , GOSPEL HERALD ESTABLISHED 1008 AS SUCCESSOR TO GOSPEL WITNESS (1005) AND HERALD OF TRUTH (1864) PAUL ERB, EDITOR CATHERINE HERNLEY, EDITORIAL ASSISTANT J. D. GRABER, MISSIONS EDITOR JOHN L. HORST, MILLARD C. LIND, ASSOCIATE EDITORS THE GOSPEL HERALD IS A RELIGIOUS WEEKLY PUBLISHED IN THE INTERESTS OF THE MENNONITE CHURCH BY THE MENNONITE PUBLICATION BOARD, SCOTTDA LE, PA. ENTERED AS SECOND-CLASS MATTER IN 1908 AT THE POST OFFICE AT SCOTT DALE, PA., UNDER ACT OF MARCH 3, 1879. SUBSCRIPTION PRICE, $3.00 PER YEAR, THREE YEARS IN ADVANCE, $8.00, FIVE YEARS IN ADVANCE, $12. BO. SAMPLE COPIES SENT FREE ON REQUEST. SEND ALL MATERIAL FOR PUBLICATION TO GOSPEL HERALD, SCOTTDALE, PA. PRINTED IN U.8.A. January 29, 1992 COSPEL HERALD 99 EDITORIAL Motives for Anonymity One of our exchanges tells of a man who sent a check lor a certain cause, but added this note: "As 1 do not want my name to be used in connection with this gift, I am not signing the check.” An excessive modesty defeated his good in- tentions to be generous and helpful. We all have an urge sometimes to re- main nameless. People who may be a good deal in the public eye like to be nobodies for a change. Those who are able to give in considerable amounts to good causes may find embarrassment in being pointed out as philanthropists. The Christian, ambitious only to bring glory to his Christ, shrinks from any notoriety which brings glory to himself instead. There is probably deep pleasure in seeing someone enjoy a kindness with- out a suspicion that his benefactor is present. These may all be good motives for keeping one’s identity concealed. But not always is it noble to be so re- tiring. It may be cowardice which keeps one from the ranks of those who need to stand up and be counted in the fight against sin. It may be malice which stabs in the dark with an unsigned letter or an anonymous phone call. It may be fear which makes us want to protect our own health and reputation by shouting our protests from the middle of a mob. We can understand why there should be secret believers, but we cannot justify them. Every editor has learned that he must protect himself and his readers from cranks and impostors by insisting that every contributor shall have a bona fide signature. And yet there continue to be writers who want to deliver telling blows, but are unwilling to stand up be- hind them with a name. Maybe they are afraid someone might answer them. (Every editor knows the occasional neces- sity of pseudonyms; of these we are not writing.) Many a preacher has suffered agonies from anonymous criticisms. All these can do is to give a vague sensitiveness be- fore everybody. The Bible tells us to go to our brother to talk over faults and differences; there is not a word about throwing unsigned notes over the back yard fence. Every sensible person respects anyone who speaks his viewpoints with fairness and candor. An honest thinker must often differ from others. But a truly honest man will either keep these dif- ferences to himself or speak them frankly to the person with whom he differs. Either of these courses may be kind and Christian. But the one who lashes out from behind a curtain of namelessness is neither kind nor Christian. The Bible calls his sin backbiting. Let us flee that sin, as we do every other. Delivered from Time “And. the angel which I saw stand upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up his hand to heaven, and sware by him that liveth for ever and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that there- in are, and the sea, and the things which are therein, that there should be time no longer” (Rev. 10:5, 6). Certainly one of the most profound prophecies is this one, that time shall cease to be. Bound as we are to the tyranny of the clock and the calendar, it is quite beyond our comprehension what eternal life will be like, without any sequence of minutes and hours and days. But we are glad to look in on this fact, though through a glass darkly, and we await the full realization of the fact when the angel shall have made his mighty declaration. A great aid to getting hold of the con- cept of timelessness is a consideration of the Lord Jesus. The Scriptures clearly present Him as one who existed before time began. He was in being, not only before Abraham, but before Adam, and before the creative days, and before the primeval chaos. He was the Alpha and the Creator. He is the ageless one, with- out beginning or length of days. His tabernacling among us two thou- sand years ago was just a parenthesis in His eternal being. When He became man, to do a task for humanity. He punched man’s time clock. This one tvho was in the beginning with God, without whom nothing was made, is spoken of as being eight days, twelve years, thirty years old. This was the period of His voluntary imprisonment in time’s cage. Wondrous imprisonment! But while He was here He was con- scious of His dateless past, of the glory which He had with the Father before the world was. His spirit leaped His bonds. He also spoke of His future— of His restoration to the Father’s company, of His future conquest of sin and death, of His coming again to redeem His own from their bondage, of His eternal reign through the ages of the ages. We are in Him. Because His spirit could not be bound by Time’s chains, neither can ours. His eschatological freedom is our own. We follow Him in His triumph over seasons and years. We cannot look back to our own time- lessness, but we can on the basis of Christ’s promise and the inviolable oath of the angel lay hold in faith on the life that is not earthly, but heavenly, not temporal, but eternal. The Christian does not keep his eyes on the ground, but lifts them to the skies. His life here is but a sojourn and a waiting. His eschatology is thus a very important part of his faith. The things that are blend into the things that shall be. The one who was the Alpha shall also be the Omega. We shall be with Him when time shall be no more. No wonder the Christian can laugh at "the whips and scorns of time,” at “the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune.” For he is orienting himself to the timeless land; he is getting ready to throw the almanac overboard. Soon “from out the bourne of time and place the flood shall bear him far.” Till He Come “For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come” (I Cor. 11:26). “Till he come” is the key phrase to sug- gest the attitude of the church in “this period between Easter and the parousia.” It is symbolic of the pilgrim character of the church, not here to abide, but “to wait for his Son from heaven” (I Thess. 1:10). It indicates the realization that the present is but a preparatory moment in the total day of redemption, that the current redemptive activity will find its culmination in the timeless age which follows this one. The preaching of the Gospel, the obervance of the ordinances, the struggle against evil in the world and in our own natures— all these belong to time and shall cease when Christ is com- pletely and finally triumphant. Among its other meanings, then, the 100 GOSPEL HERALD Sam Hoskins Writes XIII Dear Editor, Another little matter come to a head in my mind this week. Cory’s Uncle Si is in Irom the West lor his hrst visit in twenty years. Of course I never knew him. He’s a big talker like Cory’s Pa never was and had a lot of family stories to tell that even Cory never heard. The way he told it Cory’s Grandma must have been quite a woman. She died when Cory was six and about all she re- membered about her was the pepper- mints she carried in her pocket. And like I said her pa never told such stories so all she knew about her Grandma was a couple of things her mother told like the time Grandma was visiting them and got tired waiting for their hired girl to get ready to go to church. So she yelled up the stairs, “Schmeis di kleiter an.” Cory tells our youngsters that some- times. And the time she got so tired hearing the men in church argue how to solve some little matter that she spoke right out in meeting to tell them what to do without considering that women were not supposed to take part. Her name was Matilda, but everybody called her Aunt Til, cause she just seemed to need a title and in them days nobody said “Mrs.” except in a newspaper. I’ve been razzing Cory since about having a lot of Aunt Til in her whenever she gets to giving advice. One saying of hers though that Uncle Si told about sure hit me between the eyes. It was like finding the missing piece of the jigsaw puzzle. He said his mother used to say again and again, “There’s no fool like a Dutch fool.” May- be being’s I’m from the English I oughten to take to it so, but on the whole I think the Dutch suit me better than any other bunch of people I ever had to do with, so you can count me one of them. Communion service is a reminder to us that we are living now only in the corri- dors of Eternity. Our Lord sojourned among us here for a time to accomplish for us a redemption from the sins of our flesh. But He went on to the Eternal Abode to prepare a place for those whom He has thus redeemed. We do well to be often reminded that we are redeemed, not to stay here, but to be someday lifted to the Eternal Kingdom. What an anomaly is a church which has forgotten all this; which has settled down in comfort on the pilgrim path; which has ceased to watch and long for the Coming Again. When He will come, we know not; but that He will come, we are sure. Even so come, Lord Jesus. There’s a number of ways I see this saying could apply. Our people stuck to their horses and buggies a long time and spent a lot of time debating whether cars were right at all. Then they turned in and bought bigger and better cars until now some of them act as if it was a testimony to have the best on the mark- et and trade it in every year because it depreciates so fast. Then the way they drive them! Why, John Weaver says where his wife comes from when some- body goes tearing down the road people say, “It’s either a Mennonite or some- body crazy.” Then there’s the matter of clothes. I’m not one to say just how clothes should be cut and when people should put on “plain” clothes or take them off. But it seems to me Grandma’s saying applies to clothes too. What bothers me is what some Mennonites buy and wear after they decide they don’t need to follow a pattern. Cory’s young cousin stopped to see us a couple of years ago. He had just taken off his plain coat and he told us the reasons— about the work he was going in- to and all. I sympathized with him and thought he had a point. But when we saw him at the family reunion this sum- mer wasn’t he diked out in red pants— and I mean red, red like we paint our barns. Beings he covers considerable ter- ritory he didn’t exactly blend with the landscape. For my part I’m glad I don’t have to wear blue denim for weekdays and blue serge for Sunday all the time like a body almost had to do back a ways, but I ain’t got to the place yet I’d feel very modest in a shirt with palm trees on it, or Mexicans sleeping under cactus stalks. And a lot of the girls are that way too. They buy big floppy skirts and lacy waists and shoes that ain’t nothing but a couple of red or green straps. Their sleeves get shorter and their hair too until you wonder if they ever did believe in modesty like they professed to. It al- ways seemed to me that the most earnest Christian women in any church dress without a lot of fol-de-rol, but turn our Mennonites loose and they are likely to outdo the most of them. It ain’t just the style either. Cory’s been having a time keeping Joan satis- fied because her best girlfriend, who is a Mennonite, has eleven sweaters and about that many skirts. She has it figured out pretty slick by colors and the like that she don’t have to wear the same two together more than every three or four weeks. Of course we can’t afford such extravagance and wouldn’t want to if we could. I don’t reckon any of us sticks to just one coat and gives our cloke away, but it seems to me we can be fools with the amount of our clothes as well as by pulling down barns and building new ones. Talking about modesty and simplicity it seems to me that a lot of preachers don’t care to draw a line or else they are afraid they’ll lose their standing with other preachers if they say what they think, so we don’t hear much about it any more. Don’t you think our young people will grow up without either the pattern or the principle? Seems to me the pattern don’t amount to much if you ain’t got the principle, but the principle don’t amount to much either if it don’t get applied, does it? A body could go on applying this Dutch fool idea to a lot of other things like the houses we used to see and the ones now that have to be just so and how some used to oppose education and now some think nobody that ain’t educated can do anything in the church, and so on and on, but you’ve thought all that out long ago, no doubt. Maybe though you haven’t got around to some of our resorts in the south. I haven’t myself. But I’ve been hearing some things that don’t sound so good. Some of our neighbors went south this winter for the man’s health and we got a letter from his wife telling about con- ditions there. It seems since our people found out about retiring and vacations j and recreation they’ve turned themselves loose right. Since I didn’t see this myself I’ll just copy a little from her letter. “As I am writing this the shuffling and unholy hollering is going on two of I the shuffleboards since early morning and will continue till way into the night regardless of who is tired, sick, or sleepy. It Happened — FIFTY YEARS AGO ( From Herald of Truth, Jan. 15, 1902) The Biennial Conference of the Men- nonite Aid Plan will be held in Elkhart Jan. 29. The congregation in Fulton Co., Ohio, numbering between 460 and 475 members, observed communion on the 29th of December .... The old frame meeting house at Ber- lin, Ont., erected in 1834, on the site of the old log meeting house erected in 1813, is . . . soon to be only a memory . . . it was decided to tear dowm the old building in the spring to make room for a commodious brick building . . . the membership today numbers probably in the neighborhood of 200 souls. Bro. Isaiah Royer ... is on his way to Chicago to enter the mission work. [Married] On the 22nd of Dec. ... in the Martinsburg M.H., Bro. Henry B. Ramer ... to Sister Mary M. Durr, daughter of Bish. J. N. Durr. January 29, 199 2 GOSPEL HERALD 101 Program of the Annual Meeting of the Mennonite Publication Board TO BE HELD AT Sugar Creek Mennonite Church, Wayland, Iowa February 20, 21, 1952 WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1952 Forenoon Session, 10:00 A.M. Devotions held at the beginning of each session 1 I1! || Key Note Message John C. Wenger Reading of Minutes Report of Board Officers Report from the Publishing House Committee Reports Afternoon Session, 1 :30 P.M. My Message to the Board — Three Minute Written Statements by each Board Member Wanted : Hundreds of Christian Writers Elizabeth Showalter Reports and Business continued Evening Session, 7 :00 P.M. How Well Does Our Literature Reach Our People John Gingrich Getting Our Literature into Larger Circulation Ford Berg Goals and Objectives for Mennonite Publishing A. J. Metzler THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21 Forenoon Session, 9:30 A.M. My Message to the Board (Continued) Literature for Foreign Countries H. S. Bender Reports and Business continued Afternoon Session, 1 :30 P.M. Toward a Balanced Publishing Program J. B. Shenk Elections and Appointments Reports and Business continued Evening Session, 7 :00 P.M. Our Message to the General Public Grant Stoltzfus The Task Ahead Harold Zehr Travel Information By Auto: Wayland is located on state highway 78 six and one-half miles west of U.S. highway 218. By Bus Lines: Washington and Mt. Pleasant, located north and south of Wayland, are served by the Burlington Trailways Bus Lines By Railroad: South Washington, located out in the country seven miles north of Wayland, is on the Rock-Island line between Chicago and Kansas City. Mt. Pleasant and Burlington are located on the Burlington line between Chicago and Denver. Kindly plan your route early and notify Simon Gingerich, Wayland, Iowa, of time and place of your arrival if you wish transportation from these near-by towns to Wayland. MENNONITE PUBLICATION BOARD MEMBERS 1952 Officers and Executive Committee District Conference Appointees Ezra Stauffer, Tofield, Alta. Nelson Litwiller, 1711 Prairie St., Elkhart, Ind. J. Silas Graybill, 250 N. Broad St., Doyles- town, Pa. Harold Zehr, R. 1, Rantoul, 111. Russell Krabill, 409 Middlebury St., Goshen, Ind. Homer F. North, Nappanee, Ind. Simon Gingerich, Wayland, Iowa. A. C. Brunk, 1223 N. Weber St., Colorado Springs, Colo. Clarence Lutz, 250 Bainbridge St., Elizabeth- town, Pa. Harvey W. Bauman, R. 1, Lititz, Pa. Amos W. Weaver, R. 1, Ronks, Pa. B. B. King, Sheldon, Wisconsin James Steiner, North Lima, Ohio Harold Bauman, 1615 West Market St., Orr- ville, Ohio John F. Garber, R. 1, Alma, Ont. Samuel Honderich, Filer, Idaho Jess Kauffman, 1802 W. Kiowa St., Colorado Springs, Colo. Irvin Brunk, 590 Fifth Ave., Upland, Calif. Myron J. Livengood, Pinto, Maryland Ernest G. Gehman, E.M.C., Harrisonburg, Va. J. Irvin Lehman, R. 6, Chambersburg, Pa. John C. Wenger, 1410 S. Eighth St., Goshen, Ind. Harold Bauman, 1615 West Market St., Orr- ville, Ohio Harold Zehr, R. 1, Rantoul, 111. L. S. Martin, Park View, Harrisonburg, Va. Harvey W. Bauman, R. 1, Lititz, Pa. Member Ex Officio A. J. Metzler, 801 Walnut Ave., Scottdale, Pa. General Conference Appointees E. C. Bender, Martinsburg, Pa. John E. Gingrich, 1804 Prairie St., Elkhart, Ind. Merle Shantz, R. 1, Hespeler, Ont. Members at Large George W. Cutrell, 1064 Bannock St., Denver 4, Colo. Marcus Clemens, Souderton, Pa. Nelson E. Kauffman, 1417 Broadway, Hanni- bal, Mo. L. S. Martin, Park View, Harrisonburg, Va. John C. Wenger, 1410 S. Eighth St., Goshen, Ind. People can hear this din three and four blocks. No one wants to complain to the police calling it a nuisance but that is what it is. In one court people call them ‘noisy Mennonites.’ ” The way I’d like to hear people talk about Dutch fools would be for all of us to work and save and give until people think we’re fools for giving so much to the Lord and keeping so little for our- selves. I imagine the Lord Himself would rejoice in such foolishness. Cory just called out to know whether there ain’t moderation in writing too. Eleven o’clock is about time for a farmer to get to bed, I guess. Best wishes, Sam Laurelville Church Music Conference August 29 to 29, 1992 Dear Mennonite Church: For over four hundred years your sim- ple, yet most beautiful, form of church music has been a distinct blessing to your adherents; its unaccompanied, four-part character has bound your congregations together in an active, direct form of wor- ship in song. Many, from other religious groups, have listened to your churches sing and lamented that their denomina- tion has given up your style of church music. You are doubtless aware, however, that in many of your congregations this strong, beautiful, native singing is a thing of the past. The singing that re- mains is not as wholehearted as formerly; in fact, many members are not singing at all— they sit mute, irresponsive, and unmoved. Some of your ministers ap- parently have little or no interest in im- proving the music of their churches. I suppose that you have noticed too that many of your song leaders lack the es- sential qualities for effective song lead- ing. There is one other situation which I might call to your attention; I refer to the kind of music that some of your people use. Either they never accepted the good, old, standard hymns of the church or else they have given them up, because now they are using a less worthy type of music which cannot produce the spiritual fruit which we should be able to harvest from good church music wor- ship. Now, my dear church, you must for- give me for speaking so pointedly and so critically. There are many musical fea- tures, situations, and congregations for which we are genuinely thankful. There is still much hope for our present con- dition. You may be interested to know that plans are being made for another church music conference at Laurelville Camp, August 25 to 29. We dedicate this con- ference to the best interests of your con- 102 A Prayer for This Week Kind Father, we thank Thee for the privilege of knowing about Thy good- ness and greatness. We are glad, too, that people of every age have experi- enced and enjoyed the blessings of Thy love. Help us today to more fully ap- preciate Thy blessings. In these days when many are defeated. Lord, teach us the lesson of victory, for we yield too easily to the things that try us. We do not trust Thee enough when the way is hard. Help us to enter into the victory of Jesus Christ, who overcame the world, and in whom we too can be overcomers. Save us from the things that lead us to doubt and cause us the loss of joy and hope. Help us to carry gladness, cheer, inspiration, and hope, so that all those who meet us will be encouraged to walk closer to Thee. Help us each one to walk before Thee in holiness and righteous- ness all our days. Thus we pray and ask in Jesus’ name. Amen. —A. H. Kauffman. gregational music. The staff is being carefully selected; the program is geared to meet present-day needs. We ask that your people pray for this conference. In addition, we sincerely hope and pray that many members will attend this confer- ence. May the Lord bless you. Sincerely, /. Mark Stauffer , Director Our Smaller Churches Cullom, Illinois A hammer is in mid-air. Planks are being forced against the entrance doors of a village meetinghouse. Will you close your ears as steel strikes steel and the nail bites its way deep into the wood? Or will you help keep the doors open? Are you a young person with high ad- venture in your soul? Can you boldly leave the shielding comfort of fair-sized congregation and community for the small and dying? Would you begin life anew in the place that needs your Chris- tian voice and arm? Now, if you feel the call of Christ, Cullom may be the spot for you. Your future home! Cullom needs workers; needs Sunday-school teachers who will make their own classes; needs young people with long-distance eyes and the real pioneering spirit. For, the new fields to conquer and colonize' lie not across distant sands but are right here in the home dirt. GOSPEL HERALD January 29, 1952 There is a farming opportunity for a young couple on a Mennonite-owned 80 near town. The village does not boast one dentist. An interior decorator would have the whole town and area to himself. Think it over. Pray and write. Here God’s candle is dickering. Will you leave the old behind and help fan a little choking wick into full llame in a community darkened these last days by sin, formalism, and ritualism? And for all you leave behind, has not God Him- self said. He will give you vastly more? Theodore Wentland Route 1 Chats worth. 111. Dangers in Revival By George R. Brunk The moving of the Spirit in revival has been preceded by many prayers from burdened Christians across the church. There are anxious souls who have prayed long for revival in our time. Some of these have revealed in tears how they had hoped almost against hope that they might witness mass revival. May the Lord bless and reward all those prayer warriors who are holding on to God for a mighty revival in our time which will sweep the unsaved into the kingdom and restore or renew those whose first love has been lost. But there is need also for caution. It has been rightly said that revivals are dangerous. To deny this is an ex- treme position as also it is to refuse to recognize the good. For example, there is danger that revival will create or in- tensify division. The revivals of the last two hundred years, though great sources of blessing, were divisive. There were the “old side” folks who opposed and the “new side” which favored. The “old lights” and “new lights” were divided over revival. But who would therefore conclude that revivals like these of the past were not needed? The churches at that time were due a mighty shaking. Some were willing for it. Others were not. Division was the result. We can learn something from the past with respect to this by avoiding any un- necessary occasion for offense, though we dare not compromise truth to satisfy carnal men. Then there is the danger of excesses and extremes, both in word and in act. The evangelized individual, however much he may need to be moved out of his lethargy and indifference, must ex- perience the stabilizing effect of the truth of God’s Word to hold and to de- liver him from fanaticism with its un- justified judgments upon others. There is danger too that revivalists may minimize the place and importance of other agencies or offices in the church. We must remember that God has dis- tributed gifts, not all of which are alike. Each is important in relation to the Prayer Requests Pray that foreign missionaries in prison in China on false charges may be de- livered by God’s power, and that God may give their families His keeping in heart and mind, and impart courage and patience and unwavering faith. Pray for the healing of Mrs. M. D. Stutz- man, Kingman, Alta., who is in the hospital with a case of anemia. Our workers with Israel request that “ye that are Jehovah’s remembrancers, take ye no rest, and give Him no rest, till He establish, and till He make Jerusalem a praise in the earth.” Pray that the curse of permanent mili- tarism may not come upon us through Universal Military Training. Pray that the way may be opened for effective witness in alternative service by our 1-0 men. Pray for the Mission and the Church in India as they prepare to operate unit- edly under a new constitution, begin- ning July 1. Pray for our young men of draft age, and their parents, that they may stand for Christian convictions on nonresist- ance, and be willing to make personal sacrifice in the interests of Christian witness. Pray for the Brunk revival campaign in Florida. other, as are the parts of the human body. For example, the pastor who shep- herds and feeds the Hock is filling a place in the church which is second to none. Revival may lead out into an emo- tional stream along which there are no doctrinal moorings. This is not true re- vival. The experiences of men must be rooted in the Word of God. When we come back to the doctrine of the Word we have had revival. The Biblical record confirms this. Perhaps the greatest of all dangers is that of a sleeping church which refuses to be aroused. There is the type of in- dividual who demands that every i shall be dotted and every t crossed. As long as men are connected with revivals there will be imperfections. Wisdom and grace are needed from God that pitfalls may be avoided and dangers overcome. We should pray unitedly that God would send us the kind of revival He sees we need, even if not according to our specifications. It would seem that such a revival would result in uniting the church, not only each to the other but altogether to the Word both written and living. God alone knows what power would be demonstrated among us even yet. Harrisonburg, Va. : ( s 1 I I I t P n ii tl a c U S' 1 ( January 29, 1992 103 GOD’S CHILDREN God wanted him to live. Abraham went the second mile. Abraham let his broth- er have the best of it, all the wonderful pasture in the Jordan Valley. Abraham took what remained, and trusted in the promised blessing of God. And because of this he received another great blessing from the Lord. Is this the attitude you have in your daily business dealings? If it isn’t, you had better examine yourself. Jesus said, “If you were Abraham’s chil- dren, you would do the works of Abra- ham.’’ After Abraham had rescued his broth- er Lot together with the people and goods of bodom and Gomorrah from foreign invaders, he refused to take a reward for himself. But he did give tithes to a priest of the Lord, Melchize- dek. He respected and honored the min- ister of the Lord who came to him with a blessing from God. And he recognized and fulfilled his duty, giving material blessings to this man of God in return for spiritual blessings. Of course we are not commanded to give a tenth under the new covenant of Christ. But we are commanded to honor good ministers of God with our material blessings. And if we recognize that we are not the owners but only the stewards of all our money and property, we will use it in accord- ance with His will and give in accord- ance with His will. The commandments of Christ and the apostles will not seem grievous to us, not even the ones about money and giving. For if we believe Jesus, we believe it is more blessed to give than to receive. Abraham received the covenant of cir- cumcision. God told him to circumcise everyone born in his house or any slave he bought. How long was it before Abraham fulfilled this commandment? Did he put it off from day to day? No. He circumcised everyone in his house on that same day. Of course we no longer practice carnal circumcision. We have a new covenant and only recognize spir- itual circumcision, which is to love the Lord with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. That is the first and great commandment, and is kept by every Christian. What? Does every Christian keep the first commandment? Yes. Jesus said, “If God were your Father you would love me.” And again, “He who has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me.” If anyone has not made a full surrender to God to keep all of His commandments, he is not a lover of God. Instead of carnal circumcision, God has made baptism the physical ordinance for those entering into a life of obedi- ence to the new covenant. The three thousand converts of the first great Pentecostal meeting were baptized the same day. The Philippian jailer was baptized in the middle of the night, just a few hours after he had heard the good news about Jesus. And we read in Paul’s letter to the Colossians, “You also are GOSPEL HERALD circumcised with the circumcision made without hands in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh in the circumcision of Christ, being buried with him in baptism.” Can a Christian sin? Can we break one or more of God’s commandments? We see that Abraham told a lie and was forgiven for it. David committed adul- tery and was forgiven. Both of these men were children of God and kept the com- mandments. Both of them kept the com- mandments imperfectly. But neither of them was a rebel against God. Neither Abraham nor David refused to keep any one of the commandments that God gave them to keep. And after their fall they did not remain in sin but repented. We cannot deliberately choose to disobey one of the commandments of our Lord without at the same time ceasing to keep the commandments. For one who re- fuses to keep a commandment of God is a transgressor of the law even if he keeps all the rest of the law of Christ. He does not love Jesus. He does not re- main in the love of God but has become carnally minded and spiritually dead. Do you doubt this? Don’t you know that you must choose between Christ and sin? If you surrender yourself to sin you be- come a slave of sin. If you surrender yourself to obedience to God you be- come a slave of God. If you are a Chris- tian you are no longer a slave to sin but have surrendered yourself to Christ, to obey His Gospel and the whole will of God, and can say with Paul that you are a slave of Jesus Christ. You were buried with Christ in baptism, having repented and died to sin. And you were raised with Christ after losing your life, so that you are not walking in darkness and sin any more but walking in the light, fol- lowing Jesus, keeping His command- ments, living by faith. Jesus said that everyone who hears His teaching and does what He com- manded is building upon rock. Every- one who does not do what He com- manded is building upon sand. The hypocrite refuses to keep the command- ments and builds his life the easy way without digging down and cleaning out the dirt and building according to the Lord’s directions. The Christian repents and digs dowm and lays his foundation on the rock. Then he builds according to the commands of Christ. The hypo- crite looks at the Christian and says, “You and I are sinners. Neither of us obeys God. Your house is not built ac- cording to His plans, for here you are two inches off and here you have made a wrong joint. No. Our only hope is the grace of God. We are both sinners and can only trust in the finished work of Christ.” But even if the godly man is despised in this world and classed with hypocrites, the day is coming when God will divide the good from the bad. To the hypocrite Jesus will say, “Why did you call me Lord? You didn’t do what I said. Don’t you know that every one who names the name of the Lord without de- parting from iniquity is taking the .Lord’s name in vam?” We can get away with hypocrisy for a while, but not for- ever. It we don’t keep the command- ments we don’t love God. And if we don’t love God we are not among the “called” to whom all things work to- gether for good. The Apostle John wrote, “Let no one deceive you. He who does right is right- eous. He who commits sin is of the devil.” Is it right to keep the command- ments or not? Is it right to do what Jesus said or to do what modern scribes say? Is it possible to do right and not be righteous? The Apostle John says no. Jesus says no. Do scribes say yes? But Jesus said, “Either make the tree good and its fruit good; or else make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for the tree is known by its fruit.” The night before He died, Jesus gave His final instructions to the apostles. He taught them things they were to re- member the rest ot their lives. Did He teach them that His passion on the cross would void ail ot His commandments? Did He teach them that they were to unlearn ail He had been teaching them and learn a different gospel? Of course not. He told them to remain in Him and in His word. He told them to be sure to keep all of His commandments. And He even gave them a new command- ment, “To love one another.” That com- mandment is the one He emphasized the most because He wanted all of His fol- lowers to be together and to be one in heart and soul, joined together by love. And Jesus said that the ones who ful- filled this commandment would be known and recognized as His disciples. “By this shall all men know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” Christ does not want to see His disciples divided into many sects. He wants us to love all His children. How shall we rec- ognize them? “By their fruits you will know them.” The one who says he knows Christ but does not keep His command- ments is known by this to be a liar and a hypocrite. “By this it may be seen who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil; no one who does not do right is of God, nor any one who does not love his brother.” Jesus said, “My brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it.” And when He was asked, on the night before His passion, why He had revealed Him- self to the disciples and not to the world, He said, “If a man loves me he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. He who does not love me does not keep my words.” The ones who do not hold to Jesus’ teaching are no lovers of Christ, no matter what their profession may be. He said, “You are my friends if you do what I command you.” And right after saying that. He bore witness to the fact that His disciples had been and were keeping His com- 104 GOSPEL HERALD January 29, 195 2 mandments when He said, “I have called you friends,” and when He said, “You have loved me.” And in His prayer to the Father He said, “They have kept your word.” Those who hear and keep Jesus’ word have life. Those who keep His commandments are the ones who love Him. Abraham did. David did. The apostles did. And by the grace of God we also love God and keep His commandments. By this we are sure that we know Him. Staten Island, N.Y. through their classwork and study ma- terials are very unusual. Worse, in Ger- many teachers who may have no real personal faith are still required to teach classes in religion in public schools. The same children who do not like their class- es in school, and must certainly sense their emptiness of meaning, enthusiasti- cally crowd in to the Bible classes we have been able to have for them. Through our contact with the Euro- pean Mennonite groups and because of our work in community centers and children’s homes, the last two years have brought increasing openings in M.C.C. projects for work in Christian educa- tion. Children’s homes require daily devotional materials or Sunday-school lessons. Summer Bible camps, joint proj- ects of French Mennonites and M.C.C. children’s homes, will be in their third year this summer. Summer Bible schools in two German M.C.C. centers will be in the second year. The lessons used for all these have been adaptations and translations of American Mennonite summer Bible school or Sunday-school lessons. Weekly Bible classes for chil- dren are also held in the community centers and reports indicate enthusiasm and a growing demand for this sort of work in their program and a need of materials in Germany and France for carrying it out. One might ask. Why translate Ameri- can materials? Have you nothing in Europe? In Germany and in France there is a disconnected supply of ma- terials and lesson plans which are ex- tremely elementary and uninteresting, giving the teacher very little guidance in teaching and the pupils little by way of explanation, illustration, or application of the lessons. Of material for young children there is almost nothing. That is why we have had to prepare our lessons from “scratch,” and to make our own Bible story books with the aid of pictures which are gifts from America, with sackcloth, with much handwork, with the aid of mimeograph or carbon paper. This is difficult and time-consum- ing with no regularly hired translators and with no long-range course plans. There is, however, definite study being made on how to go ahead from here. Although the openings for Christian education we have in connection with M.C.C. work are not large scale, they are definite, and in their small way indicate that there is much more to be done which the Europeans in most cases do not seem at present equipped to develop alone. What we can do through M.C.C. seems to be mainly to encourage in every concrete way possible the inter- est in Christian education which already exists among the European Mennonites, and to continue to carry on and develop our present opportunities in connection with neighborhood centers, children’s homes, and the like. The M.C.C. proj- ects in children’s work could usually not (Continued on page 107) TEACHING THE WORD What Can We Do? By Ruth Carper It is a cold, rainy, winter Sunday at Branchweilerhof, South Germany. The Sunday-school teacher greets the chil- dren, some of whom have walked a num- ber of kilometers. The children hang their wet coats beside the stove of the farmhouse living room in which the Sunday school is to be held. Perhaps the eagerness of the children, their sincerity of prayer and song, their obvious ap- preciation of their Bible lesson and the discussion of it, are the result partly of teacher’s own attitude. One proof of her earnestness is the fact that almost no weather is bad enough to prevent the 24-kilometer bicycle ride weekly to her classes, which she started here several years ago after coming from a refugee camp. In this camp she started her first class as a young teen-age girl. . . . Let us go to the Kaiserslautern community center. It is a hot week in the month of August. Forty little chil- dren of the kindergarten class sit close together on the floor of the bedroom- ofhce. At recess they have to be lifted out the window because the primary class has filled the next room so full that it is impossible to open the door. There are 119 children from about three to fifteen in the crowded barrack during the mornings of children’s week. The first sixty children spread the word, and in a few mornings the crowd gathering before the door is twice as large. Learn- ing about the life and teachings of Jesus, making notebooks, answering questions, singing, and discussing the meaning of the Bible for them in their own terms seem to be a real pleasure to the chil- dren. We five teachers prepare our les- sons thoughtfully and with prayer, using the suggestions of our American ma- terials which had been adapted and translated for use. One teacher says, “If I had understood these things earlier, I should have taught my son differently. When I was a child we were taught only to be good, but not about the love of Jesus.” We find children particularly ready to turn into action what they learn. Theory does not exist for them; so what better time is there to teach the realities of Christian faith and living? After learning the Bible verse a little boy says, “But I don’t know how to show ‘love one to another.’ ” Since he always shouts to be first, his teacher suggests he wait till last. This he immediately and quiet- ly does. ... In France a boy of thirteen writes a letter from his home where he has re- turned after being at Valdoie children’s home, Les Sapins, and attending summer Bible camp there. “When I get home- sick for Les Sapins or when I hear my parents using the name of God in vain, then I read my Bible and my Bible school notebook. After that things go better again.” ... A group of young children, clean and pajama-clad, gather around a moni- trice in Weiler Children’s Home for a bedtime story. It is near Easter, and the story of Jesus’ resurrection is one the children love to hear and repeat again and again. Sometimes they seriously and spontaneously play a part of the story. After Easter they remind each other from time to time, quite naturally, “Je- sus is risen.” Little children can so easily realize that “God is closer to us than breathing, nearer than hands and feet.” Yet few of France’s children will ever grow up to know this. ... In Holland we could enter on a Sunday morning any one of a number of Doopsgezind Sunday schools which are held in neat and beautiful rooms es- pecially for the children, who are di- vided into small groups and given Chris- tian teaching suitable to their age. In these Sunday schools no one helps on Sunday who has not been in a prepara- tion group or training class the week be- fore. These are all pictures of the bright side of Christian education in Europe, and if we should look only at these we might be content. But the actual fact is that these are the very rare exceptions. Materials, training, or experience in teaching, Sunday schools with the vision of the children’s own individual needs and how to meet them, summer Bible schools or camps, these are so rare as to be almost nonexistent. Sunday schools that do exist are usually mass meetings of children of different ages, which hardly bring the children into close contact with a loving Christian teacher, which often miss the children’s real needs and understanding. This is a danger of fur- thering the too-prevalent idea in coun- tries of state church tradition that Chris- tianity is more form and words than reality. Applications, contacts with the homes through the children’s teachers, January 2 9, 1992 GOSPEL HERALD 105 f FAMILY CIRCLE A Lesson in Ornithology By Edna Christophel He was just a tufted titmouse, yet he took me by surprise; I couldn’t believe my ears, let alone my eyes; For I had seen him every day fcrr the past weeks and months Come to our back yard window sill, he and his friends for lunch. A nuthatch stayed close by As they came for their sunflower seed; He was a trifle more shy, Yet he moved with greater speed. They were all friends, one could tell, As they filled their stomachs well On suet and crumbs and seed, All that a bird would need. They chatted and scolded and flew In their coats of grayish blue From lilac bush to board While the children watched and adored. But now he was out in the pin-oak tree Singing as sweetly as could be; There wasn’t another bird around, So surely that was his own sweet sound. But why was he singing out in the rain, I questioned myself again and again. The rain was gentle and warm and mild, Gentle enough to convince a child That is ivasn’t January third: Much less a wide-awake northern bird. Didn’t he know it wasn’t April showers But that there would be many, many hours And days and nights of sleet and snow Until a little bird was ready to know That it was time to sing and build and mate ? But not at such an early date. It was more than four days later That his secret I could share As I read in Matthew’s Gospel, “Behold the fowls of the air—’’ How they live one day at a time With never a worry or care For “He Careth for You—” Little bird, little bird, how true! how true ! Lansdale, Pa. Report on Marriages By Ammon Kaufman A total of 712 weddings were reported in the Gospel Herald during 1951 (an increase of 71 over last year), of which 422 were church, chapel, or school chapel weddings. A total of 308 bishops or min- isters officiated in these weddings. A large number of others assisted. Henry Yantzi, of Ontario, led, with 20 wed- dings; J. Paul Graybill, Elmer G. Martin, and Mahlon Witmer, 16 each; Amos S. Horst, 13; and Henry Lutz, 10. Pennsyl- vania led with 243 weddings; Ohio, 84; Indiana, 76; Illinois, 39; Iowa, 33; Vir- ginia, 25; Ontario, 75. Only one wed- ding was reported from a foreign coun- try. Marriages by Mojiths: January, 32; February, 55; March, 68; April, 45; May, 43; June, 123; July, 35; August, 60; Sep- tember, 72; October, 56; November, 52; December, 70; not given, one. Leading days were June 16, with thirteen; June 24, twelve; June 23, March 25, eleven each; Feb. 3, ten. About 120 days had no weddings reported. Davidsville, Pa. Report on Births By Ammon Kaufman Births reported in the Gospel Herald during the fourth quarter of 1951 total 412, of which 222 were males and 190 females. Two sets of twin sons and two sets of daughters were reported. One set of daughters were born on different days. One adoption was also reported. One set of twins was reported for every 102 single births. Days reported with the highest number of births were Sept. 9, 22, 23, and Oct. 27, with 8 each; Sept. 25, Oct. 3, 5, 11, 16, 20, and Nov. 25, 7 each. Births by Months: March, one; April, one; May, one; June, 4; July, 18; August, 51; September, 112; October, 131; No- vember, 86; December, 7. Births by States, Provinces, and For- eign Countries: Pennsylvania, 141; Ohio, 50; Indiana, 34; Iowa, 23; Illinois, 20; Maryland, 16; Nebraska, 15; Virginia, 14; Kansas, 13; Michigan, 9; Oregon, 8; Missouri, 5; New York, Colorado, and Oklahoma, 4 each; Delaware, 3; West Virginia, Arkansas, Minnesota, Florida, Montana, and South Dakota, 2 each; California, Idaho, North Dakota, Ver- mont, and Wisconsin, one each; Ontario, 23; Alberta, 4; Saskatchewan, one; East Africa, Argentina, Germany, and Puerto Rico, one each. Names: All but two gave the mother’s maiden name. Given names numbered 155 for boys and 153 for girls. Most frequently used were: (male) Lee, 18; David and Eugene, 14 each; Ray, 12; John and Robert, 11 each; Dean, 10; (female) Ann, 26; Elaine and Marie, 16 each; Jean and Mary, 11 each. A total of 240 family names were reported, Yoder leading with 18; Martin, 13; Miller, 12; Hostetler, 9; Schrock, 7; Schwartzen- druber and Witmer, 6 each. Summary for year 1951: The popula- tion of the Mennonite Church was in- creased by the birth of 1,595 children (195 more than 1950), of which 811 were males and 784 females. The average per day was nearly 4.5. No births were reported for Feb. 23, Nov. 29, and Dec. 28. Twenty-six days had only one birth reported. The highest number reported for any one day was July 6, with 12; May 17 and June 19 each had 11; March 14, 27, May 14, June 11, ten each; May 20, Oct. 20, Dec. 9, 17, nine each. Twenty- one sets of twins were reported, an aver- age of one to every 75 single births. (The national average is one to 84.) Births by Months: January, 134; Febru- ary, 108; March, 145; April, 123; May, 144; June, 128; July, 149; August, 149; September, 127; October, 146; Novem- ber, 124; December, 118. Leading names: (male) Lee, 67; David, 57; James, 50; (female) Ann, 95; Marie, 52; Marv, 44; (family) Yoder, 70; Martin, 59; Miller, 52. Davidsville, Pa. Our Departed Loved Ones By Ammon Kaufman During the fourth quarter of 1951, 144 deaths were reported in the Gospel Herald; of these, 82 were males and 62 females. In the group were two minis- ters, three deacons, one bishop’s wife, two ministers’ wives, and one minister’s widow. One man died on his birthday. Nineteen of the deaths were caused by accidents, of which nine were connected with cars or trucks. One child was still- born. The total of ages was 8,773 y. 10 m. 11 d., or an average of 60 y. 11 m. 5 d. Seventy-five, or 52 percent, lived beyond seventy years. Tabulation of Ages: Fourth Quarter Year i95i Under one year 6 30 1-9 9 24 10-19 6 12 20-29 8 23 30-39 5 14 40-49 4 21 50-59 5 43 60-69 26 81 70-79 34 150 80-89 38 124 90-99 3 21 No age given 0 3 Deaths by Months (first figure for fourth quarter; second for year): Janu- ary, 0, 42; February, 0, 42; March, 0, 53; (Continued on page 107) 106 GOSPEL HERALD January 29, 1952 TO BE NEAR TO GOD BASED ON THE DAILY READINGS FOR THE SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSONS Sunday, February 3 A New Person. Ephesians 2:11-22. When we have poured out our heart’s de- votion unto the Master, He will fill us with His love and “build us together for an holy habitation of God through the Spirit.” But we must give Him all we have for time and eternity, for God cannot cleanse and fill a vessel that is partly occupied with self and the things of the flesh. The early Christians loved greatly, if at all, for what was a Christian’s life worth in the pagan Roman Empire? Therefore, God could use them. Even though it may be pop- ular to be a Christian today, God still can not use a halfhearted Christian. Monday, February 4 Riches or Righteousness. Mark 10:23-31. “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle [the small gate in the city wall which must be used when the large gate is closed],” said Jesus, “than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.” Just as a camel had to be helped and entreated to get through the eye of a needle, even so a rich man needs a special lift of the grace of God. A desperately poor person has nothing but himself to give to the Lord, but a rich man is loaded with wealth. A camel had to unload to go through; so does a rich man. Can he leave everything like Abraham and venture out not knowing whither he goes, looking for the city of God? Yes, he can, for with God all things are possible. Tuesday, February 5 Do Not Envy the Rich. Psalm 37:1-11, 16. In these verses we have a definition of the meek — those that wait on the Lord. They do not fret, neither are they envious of the rich who got their gains by wickedness. For they know that the wicked shall be cut down in a short time, like grass or herbs. But the righteous are like a tree. They can dwell openly in the land and put down roots. Tru- ly they inherit the earth. Indeed, “the little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wick- ed.” Wednesday, February 6 Trust God, Not Riches. Psalm 52. The rich man that trusts in his riches shall be uprooted with the wicked, but he who trusts in the Lord shall be like a green olive tree that cannot be moved. This same contrast is shown in the rich young ruler and Zacchaeus. The ruler could not forsake his wealth and follow Christ, but Zacchaeus gladly forsook the treasure he had gained. In a burst of emotion he gave up all to follow Christ, proving that the emotions can be used for God. Let us root down in the Rock of Ages where we can feed and drink from His boundless resources, rather than trust to the drought and the canker that go with trust in riches. Thursday, February 7 Riches Choke Understanding. Luke 8:4-15. What a tragedy to have the wealth of Christ choked out by the riches of the world. Many would like to go to church, but their cares are too many, they must sleep or do business on Sunday. They really think the church is a good institution, but their clubs and lodges take up so much of their strength, that they drain their life away in the second best. If they go to prayer meeting they spend their time considering how to make the east forty produce more or figure out a menu for Sunday dinner, instead of testifying to the grace of God in their heart and life. Not be- ing faithful to witness before the godly, God cannot give them the power to testify for Him before the ungodly. Lord, keep us from being choked to death by the second best. Friday, February 8 Be Rich in Good Deeds. I Timothy 6:17-19; Mat- thew 19:16-22. Even moral integrity is not enough to lay a foundation for future happiness, but we must use what wealth we have to do good deeds for others. Wealth may consist of strength, money, time, or any number of things, but it is a gift of God which must be shared with others less fortunate. Anyone around us who has a need has a call on our resources. “None of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself.” Many times en- couragement or a kind word is just what some one needs. Our giving always enriches us most of all, for we store up for eternity what we give to those whom we give to in Christ’s name. “Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; “That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; “Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.” Saturday, February 9 The Generosity of the Poor. Mark 12:41-44. Here comes the poor widow to give her offering. Watching her is the Son of God, who knows what is in man. He says she has cast in all she had. Perhaps she has a daily job and before leaving in the morning she called her children together. (Continued on next page) TWO MEN WITH MONEY Sunday School Lesson for February 10 (Luke 18:18-30; 19:1-10) Both men wanted to see Jesus. Both some- way felt a need of Him. Jesus loved both men, and looked right down into the heart of each. There is where the man is. “As . . . fa man] thinketh in his heart, so is he.” “Man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.” “With the heart man believeth unto . . . salvation.” What did Jesus see in the heart of each? Read together Matt. 19:16; Mark 10:17, and Luke 18:18. Let the class uncover the heart of this rich, righteous, young ruler. Here was a man trying to get power, joy, and peace by good works. He had evidently failed to achieve. He had lived in his good- ness for years. What part of the law had he not observed? What god was he worshiping above the true God? What proof do you see that he did not love his neighbor as him- self? Did Jesus tell him that some deed, selling his property and giving the money to the poor, would give him eternal life? This man loved the world, and therefore could not love the Father. He was sincere and no doubt a prominent churchman. But he could not become a follower of Jesus and get eternal life until he made an absolute sur- render of self. It seems that he could not learn from Jesus, for he couldn’t bring him- self to change his thinking. Why is it so difficult for rich people to follow Jesus? Read Zacchaeus’ story, and look into his heart. What proof do we have that he loved money? He cared more for it than patriot- ism, or religion, or popular approval. He had to hold the publican position to get wealth. He would sacrifice anything for riches. But he too found no joy and peace in his possessions. Curiously and humbly he climbed a tree that he might not miss seeing Jesus. Did Zacchaeus consider himself a sinner? Had he heard of Jesus’ attitude to- ward sinners? Why could this man so easily, freely, and gladly give up his money, even beyond all law requirement? Did Jesus love him more than He loved the rich young ruler? No, Jesus sought all lost men to save them. Nothing was too great for this man to sacrifice for Jesus. He showed his faith by his works. Salvation came when Zac- cbaeus let go of self and sin, and received Jesus. It is not the fact that we have money that keeps us from following Christ; He needs followers who can honestly and honorably make money, but it must be used by good j stewards. Most people cannot serve God with money, and we cannot serve God and money. What one does with his money is a very defi- nite measure of his faith in Christ. — Alta Mae Erb. Lesson based on "International Sunday School Les- sons: the International Bible Lessons for Christian Teaching," copyrighted 1951 by the Division of Chris- , tian Education National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. It is better to lay a brick than to blow up a city. w January 29, 1992 GOSPEL HERALD OUR SCHOOLS THE HESSTON COLLEGE REVIVAL “When they had prayed, the place in which they were assembled shook, and they were, one and all, filled with the Holy Spirit, and spoke God’s word with boldness” (Act 4:31. Weymouth). GOD DID IT AGAIN. From academy to college, the revival fire has swept over the entire campus of Hesston College and Bible School. A week before we would have said it were highly improbable if not entirely im- possible. Now we can say, Praise the Lord, truly He “hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad.” The Spirit of God certainly moved in and through the lives of the students, staff, and friends of Hesston College during the recent revival campaign Jan. 6-13. Through the ministry of Bro. Joseph Neuhouser, Ft. Wayne, Ind., 101 public conversions and re- consecrations were evidenced during the week’s program of chapel messages and eve- ning services. The power of God was felt at the begin- ning of the week but the manifestations of the power increased as the week went on. Night after night the Spirit’s presence seemed more real than the night before. Souls found victory, peace, assurance. No doubt, how- ever, Sunday evening God’s power came down with the most dynamic impetus of any time. Hess Hall didn’t literally shake dur- ing that concluding service; but certainly in- dividuals were shaken by the Holy Spirit as they confessed past sin in their lives and testi- fied of the abiding peace which was flood- ing their souls. During the testimony meet- ing it was not unusual to see from five to seven people standing, waiting to give ex- pression of their new-found victory. Most testimony meetings are hard to get started; this one was difficult to stop. Spirit-filled in- dividuals spoke the Word of God with bold- ness. Climaxing the final service was the con- secration altar. It has been conservatively es- timated that some seventy young people, who had never before made a commitment of life dedication to Christ and His cause, respond- ed. What accounts for this revolutionary proc- ess which made such a drastic change on the campus? Was it the early morning pray- er band? Was it the personal work carried on so faithfully by those who had a blazing passion for the eternal salvation of the souls of fellow students? Was it the nearly 100 per cent participation in class prayer meetings each evening at seven? Was it the special numbers of music which prepared hearts for the message of God? Was it the dynamic presentation of the Gospel of truth by a con- secrated, God-empowered evangelist? Was it solely the power of the Holy Spirit? Doubt- less each of these factors played an important part (some more and some less) in the ulti- mate results. Can it continue? Will it continue? If the present testimony, action, and attitude of in- dividual students is any indication, surely the results will be lasting. More is being done than just talking. Letters are being written. Restitution is being made. Changed lives are evidenced by countenance and conversation. Through the power of prayer and faith in Jesus Christ it can continue. By accepting the promises of the Word this present atmosphere will continue. “May the hope-inspiring God so fill you with perfect joy and peace through your con- tinuing faith, that you may bubble over with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Rom. 15:13. Williams.) Willard E. Roth. Testimonies by Hesston Students “Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place” (II Cor. 2:14). I can certain- ly say thanks be to God for the wonderful manifestation of His power and Spirit on our campus and in our hearts. He has certainly blessed us far above anything we deserve. I have to tremble when I think of what God could do if we really had faith to believe that whatsoever we ask of the Father in His name He would give us. My faith has been tested and greatly strengthened in these meetings. “What He’s done for others, He did for us.” Praise His name! # # * I am happy that Christ will not take only certain ones for I’m afraid that I would not be one of these that He would choose if it was for our money, talents, intelligence, or the like. I’m happy that Christ will take any- one who will believe on Him. I am happy to say from the bottom of my heart that Christ has saved me and that He has given me the peace that I was wanting. D. L. Moody once made the statement, af- ter he had accepted Christ in Boston and had made a trip to Chicago, that “God is the same here as He was in Boston. ...” I give thanks that He is still the same today and that He will always be. * * • Truly these meetings we have been experi- encing have been inspirational to anyone whose greatest desire is to have a victorious Christian life. The devil is standing ready to strike in the lives of those who have found joyous assurance. Doubt creeps in after in- dividual failures. In simple faith and humbleness of mind, I accept God’s gift of salvation, trusting Him for complete forgiveness. I know the only way for victory over Satan’s snares is through Christ. 107 TEACHING THE WORD (Continued) be carried on without the help of Euro- pean Mennonite young people, who, like us, are gaining from the work in experi- ence, training, enthusiasm for further development of such work, and perhaps a missionary vision for the needs of those outside their own congregations. There is a need that has opened to us in Europe without our own seeking for it; with your interest, prayers, contri- butions, the small start in answering it can be continued. When we pray, “Thy kingdom come,” let us remember the children of Europe who are still young enough to be part of it. We have seen many times the agnosticism, doubt, and disinterest which come from a mere teaching of form and words. We have heard the testimony of it from people who were children years ago and whose ministers, parents, teachers filled them. The children are most ready to meet life, and when they come so eagerly to Chris- tian sources to find it, as they do, we certainly may not fail them .—European Relief Notes. FAMILY CIRCLE (Continued) April, one, 57; May, 2, 43; June, 0, 37; July, 11, 44; August, 25, 49; September, 49, 51; October, 38, 45; November, 15, 33; December, 3, 50. Deaths by States and Provinces: Penn- sylvania, 43; Ohio, 30; Indiana, 11; Mich- igan, 7; Virginia, 5; Illinois and Kansas, 4 each; Iowa, Maryland, Oregon, Colo- rado, Oklahoma, West Virginia, 3 each; New York, Nebraska, Montana, 2 each; Missouri, Idaho, Florida, Arizona, one each; Ontario, 11; Alberta, one. Summary for year 19^1: 546 deaths re- ported (291 males and 255 females), 42 less than 1950. Among them were 4 bishops, 8 ministers, 9 deacons. Six were stillborn: 52 died as the result of acci- dents. The average age was 62 y. 3 d. Nearly 54 per cent, 295 persons, lived beyond seventy years. Davidsville, Pa. TO BE NEAR TO GOD (Continued) “Children, you know how your father liked to give gifts into the Lord’s treasury, even above his tithes. Don’t you think we could give this day’s wages to the Lord’s work? See, here you have bread and fruit for your lunch. You be good children and do your work, and we will go out in the fields this evening for a walk.” The poor widow comes home that eve- ning empty-handed, but her face is all aglow. “As I gave my gift to the treasury, it seemed the Lord was so near I could hear Him say to me, ‘Blessed art thou, daughter of Abra- ham. Be thou like the widow who fed Elijah.’” Proverbs 11:24, 25. — Mary Alice Holden. 108 GOSPEL HERALD January 29, 75)52 FIELD NOTES Items to appear In this column for any Issue. ot the following Tuesday must reach Scottdale by Wednesday morning. No services are being held at Manson, Iowa, during the period including Jan. 20 and 27 because of redecoration of the in- terior of the church. Sister Catherine Hernley, editorial assist- ant of the Gospel Herald, will be taking work in Goshen College Biblical Seminary during the second semester. Margaret Jantzi, Clarence, N.Y., formerly a worker here, will be assisting in the office in her absence. Bro. C. F. Derstine announces the follow- ing addresses: Feb. 15, Columbia, S. Car., Bible College; Feb. 16-19, Tampa, Fla.; Feb. 20-29, Sarasota, Fla.; March 1, 2, Bible Con- ference, Chapel of Pines, Orlando, Fla.; March 4, Bob Jones University, Greenville, S. Car.; March 10, Eastern Mennonite Col- lege, Harrisonburg, Va. Bro. T. E. Schrock took the voice of the church at Pigeon, Mich., on Jan. 13 relative to an ordination of a deacon. He was ac- companied by a group from the Fairview Bible School. A recent analysis of circulation figures shows that the Gospel Herald subscriptions have increased 511 during the past year, an increase of 2.8 per cent. The Way has in- creased 12.4 per cent, to reach a new high of 246,860. A number of the Worksheets for first quarter of this year were printed by mistake with one side upside down. Any Sunday school having received those printed the Table of Contents 97 — God's Children Keep His Commandments Thy Will Be Done (Poem) 98 — Our Readers Say 99 — Motives for Anonymity Delivered from Time Till He Come 100 — Sam Hoskins Writes XIII It Happened 101 — Program of the Annual Meeting of the Mennon- ite Publication Board Laurelville Church Music Conference 102 — A Prayer for This Week Our Smaller Churches: Cullom, Illinois Dangers in Revival Prayer Requests 104— What Can We Do? 105 — A Lesson in Ornithology (Poem) Report on Marriages Report on Births Our Departed Loved Ones 106 — To Be Near to God Sunday School Lesson for February 10 107 — The Hesston College Revival 108 — Field Notes 109 — Mission News 110 — There's No Place Like Home — in the Chaco The Missionary Children's School in Tanganyika 111 — The Work of a Hospital Chaplain 112 — A1 Instituto Biblica 113 — Who Fell Among Thieves What Is the Relation Between Hands and Hearts? 114 — The Kingdom to the South II Women's Activities M.C.C. Weekly Notes 115 — Church Correspondence 1 1 8 — Anniversaries Births Marriages 119 — Obituaries The Book Shelf wrong way should report and correctly print- ed sheets will be sent instead. — E.Z. Eighteen corrections for the “Mennonite Community Cookbook” appear in the Men- nonite Community for February. Most of these corrections had already been made in the fourth printing. Those who bought books earlier will want to note them. The Tract Committee at Eastern Mennon- ite College, Harrisonburg, Va., has on hand a large number of copies of Youth’s Chris- tian Companion and The Way. Anyone in- terested in securing some, please write to the committee. Bro. John D. Risser, veteran minister of the Hagerstown, Md., area, and widely known in other sections of the church, passed to his reward after a brief illness on Jan. 19. His funeral was held Jan. 22. Obituary later. Bro. B. B. Shantz, Preston, Ont., preached at Scottdale the morning of Jan. 18. He and his wife are spending a few weeks visiting their daughter in Puerto Rico. They are ac- companied by Bro. and Sister Edward Sny- der, Hespeler, Ont. Vernon and Evangeline Neuschwander gave an illustrated talk on relief work in Paraguay and Europe to the Friendly Liter- ary Society of the Albany, Oreg., congrega- tion. Bro. Elmer Kolb, Pottstown, Pa., was or- dained to the office of bishop at the Vincent Church, near Spring City, Pa., on Jan. 17. He was ordained to fill the vacancy left by Bro. Paul M. Lederach, who will soon be moving to Scottdale, and who had charge of the service. Four brethren shared the lot. The sermon was preached by Joseph Gross. Bro. Kolb is an associate editor of the Chris- tian Ministry. Bro. Ford Berg, in charge of advertising at Scottdale, went to the hospital on Jan. 23 for a major operation. Teen-age for Christ, a youth group from the Holmes County, Ohio, Mennonite and Conservative churches, met recently in a regular Wednesday evening meeting. Nearly 130 young people were present. Bro. Paul Hummel led in a discussion on Personal Evangelism. A period was then devoted to testimonies and confessions. Pray that this group may continue to grow in Christian experience and service. Menno Travel Service has opened a brancli office at Goshen, Ind., with Bro. Harold L. Swartzendruber in charge. Bro. Swartzen- druber will serve M.T.S. on a part-time basis, continuing as assistant to Bro. C. L. Graber in the Mennonite Mutual Aid office. The address is 1413 South Eighth Street, Goshen, Ind. The Zion congregation, Broadway, Va., has begun to meet for a prayer meeting each Thursday evening at the home of Bro. J. Ward Shank. Over 1100 chickens were processed and canned for foreign relief by the churches of Wayne and Medina counties in Ohio on Jan. 15 under the direction of area relief com- mittee chairman, Walter Schmidt. The Wooster M.Y.F. in Ohio is furnishing money to buy drapes for the new church basement windows. The central Illinois ministers’ prayer fel- lowship was held at Peoria on Jan. 22. Sister Ada Blosser, wife of Bro. Perry Blosser, South English, Iowa, suffered a stroke on their fiftieth wedding anniversary and died the next day. Obituary later. May God comfort the bereaved. A carload of young people from La Junta, Colo., help to distribute The Way the first Sunday of each month, in Pueblo. A tape recorder has been purchased by the La Junta, Colo., congregation and has al- ready brought blessings to those not able to attend the services. The Crystal Springs, Kans., congregation has four couples who have been married over fifty years. They have a total of 33 chil- dren, 75 grandchildren, and 16 great-grand- children. The second printing of “Separated unto God,” by Bro. J. C. Wenger, is off the press. A pamphlet by the same author, “Clear Thinking About Courtship,” the first of a series on home life, is ready for the press. The Scottdale M.Y.F. is enjoying a study of Mennonite History, under Edgar Metzler. The Gospel Fellowship radio program formerly heard on WCRO, Johnstown, Pa., now gives a half-hour broadcast beginning at 8:30 each Sunday morning over WJAC, Johnstown. Bro. Harold E. Thomas is the speaker and the youth chorus under the di- rection of Romaine Sala furnishes the music. Ten persons were received into church fellowship at Blooming Glen, Pa., on Dec. 30. A bishop ordination will be held, D.V., at the Hess Church, Lititz, Pa., at 9:30 a.m. on Jan. 31. (Continued on page 116) Calendar Annual Christian Day School Meeting, New Danville, Pa., Feb. 16 Mennonite Publication Board, Annual Meeting, Way- land, Iowa, Feb. 20, 21 Annual Ministers' Meeting, South Central Conference, Greensburg, Kans., March 11-13 Southwestern Pennsylvania Conference, Ministers' Meeting, Place Undecided, March 21, 22 Conference on Christian Community Relations, Tis- kilwa. 111., March 27-29 Lay Evangelism Conference, Goshen College, Go- shen, Ind., April 5-7 Mennonite Youth Fellowship Workshop, Iowa Men- nonite School, Kalona, Iowa, June 9-12 Mennonite Youth Fellowship Annual Meeting, Lower Deer Creek Church, Kalona, Iowa, June 13, 14 Mennonite Board of Missions and Charities, Annual Meeting, Lower Deer Creek Church, Kalona, Iowa, June 14-17 Laurelville Mennonite Camp, Mt. Pleasant, Pa. Boys' Camp (ages 9-12), June 28 to July 4 Girls' Camp (ages 9-12), July 5-11 Junior High Camp (boys and girls, ages 13-15), July 12-18 Missionary Bible Conference, July 19-25 First Family Week, July 26 to Aug. 1 First Young People's Institute, Aug. 2-8 Second Young People's Institute, Aug. 9-15 Second Family Week, Aug. 16-22 Victorious Life Conference, Aug. 23-24 Music Week, Aug. 25-29 Southwestern Pennsylvania Conference, Springs, Pa., July 20-23 Illinois Mennonite Conference, Flanagan, 111., Aug. 19-21 Mennonite General Conference, Place Undecided Aug. 26-30, 1953 January 29, 199 2 GOSPEL HERALD 109 Go, Preach • MISSIONS • Give, Pray The General Board Headquarters for Missions, Relief and Service: 1711 Prairie Street, Elkhart, Indiana. Telephone, Elkhart 2-2786. Mission News Bro. Dave Shank, missionary in Belgium, recently attended a conference of Protestant churchmen where the “Church Between the East and West” was the main subject of dis- cussion, the churches in the East being those behind the iron curtain, the churches of the West those dominated by the American ec- onomic pattern, and the church “between” referring to that of western Europe. Watch for a more complete report of this conference. A believer in an M.P., India, community who has not yet been baptized has offered a building if a primary school teacher will be provided by the Mission. He desires Chris- tian companionship. Pray that a suitable family may be located there. John and Mary Litwiller, pastor and ma- tron of the Mexican Mennonite Mission in Chicago, announce the arrival of a son, Nel- son Edward, on Jan. 17. Nearly fifty persons attended the personal workers’ class at the Wooster, Ohio, Men- nonite Mission on Wednesday evening, Jan. 16. The discussion centered on helping the Jew, Roman Catholic, and Christian Scientist through personal work. The owner of Bagdai village in India (Cen- tral Provinces) who is very warm toward Christianity, needs Christian teaching and fellowship. Pray that these may be provided for him. In a recent letter Bro. Ralph Buckwalter, missionary in Japan, gives a brief resume of their present work. He says: “Our work in- cludes the regular English Bible classes in four schools and Bible study groups at Tsuru- gadai No. 13 and at Tottori paper mill vil- lage. Sunday is full, beginning with Sunday school at 8:30, worship service at 10:00, and evening instruction class at 6:30 for earnest seekers. We are in our second month of Sun- day school and the children overwhelmed us, averaging 180 each Sunday and coming 220 strong on Christmas Sunday !” The mission study slides on India have re- cently been revised with some of the oldest slides removed and about forty new ones add- ed. These slides are available to any inter- ested group: M.Y.F., Young People’s Bible Meeting, youth missionary societies, and lit- eraries. Slides are also available on Argen- tina, Voluntary Service, Puerto Rico, Japan, and China. A son, George Daniel, was born to Bro. and Sister B. Nortell Troyer, missionaries in Puerto Rico, Jan. 12. A boy who lives two and one-half miles from Balodgahan, India, who attended the middle school there and who finishes high school this year is very much interested in Christianity. His father has said that if the boy, Sukalu, wishes to “improve his religion” that he will not oppose him. Pray for Sukalu and for the people of his village, that a Chris- tian church may be established there. Bro. John Mellinger, veteran mission board administrator of Lancaster, Pa., commem- orated his ninety-third anniversary on Dec. 7. Bro. Mellinger still takes a keen interest in mission affairs. Bro. Paul Sieber, superintendent of the West Liberty, Ohio, children’s home, called at Board headquarters on some matters of business on Jan. 16. On Thursday evening, Jan. 11, 100 friends of the D. Walter Miller family, pastor of the Wooster, Ohio, Mission, gathered at the Mil- ler parsonage to surprise them in celebration of the remodeling of the former mission Your Treasurer Reports May we quote: “The finger of God is pointing toward Ja- pan now. A fifty-year reaction against the Gospel message has come to an end. Espe- cially is young Japan eager to find an ideology with which to replace the old militaristic con- cepts which held their fathers captive for half a century. Faith in Shintoism went with the confession of its deity that he was mere man. Nature abhors a vacuum. Japan’s va- cancy will be filled. MacArthur’s plea, ‘You must send us 1,000 missionaries at once,’ is now history. Returning missionaries are im- pressed with the same fact. Wrote William Axling of the American Baptist Foreign Mis- sionary Society: “ ‘To say that the present hour is an hour of unparalleled opportunity is not juggling with words .... [In forty-six years] I have seen nothing like it. The heart of young Ja- pan is wide open and hungry for the Gos- pel .... They are on a quest for a new philosophy of life for themselves and for the nation. And they are intent on finding it in the Christian teachings. It is almost pathetic to witness their eagerness and the hunger of their hearts.’ The Yumoto Conference of August, 1947, found that ‘the Christian Church in Japan is facing a day of unprece- dented opportunity and tremendous difficul- ty .. . the hearts of the people are more open to the Christian message than ever before. In city and countryside, the opportunities for Christian witness are almost unlimited.’ ” — From We Enter Japan. May we urge continued contributions for our expanding mission program in Japan. Mennonite Board of Missions and Charities H. Ernest Bennett, Treasurer Elkhart, Indiana MENNONITE RELIEF COMMITTEE (M.R.C.) Timothy Bergey Brenneman was born to Dr. and Mrs. Paul Brenneman, members of the La Plata Mennonite Project Service Unit, Puerto Rico, on Dec. 22, 1951. One or two women are urgently needed im- mediately to help in the Rittman, Ohio, Home for the Aged due to the illness of Sis- ter Peachey. Workers should be able to serve for about six weeks, beginning Feb. 15. If you enjoy serving where there is need, con- tact the Relief and Service office at Elkhart or Bro. Aaron Peachey, superintendent of the Home. Several women will be needed soon as vol- untary service replacements at the Mennon- ite Home for the Aged, Eureka, 111.: one on April 1 and one on May 1. Write the Secre- tary for Service and Relief. Reports from Mathis, Texas, indicate that the service unit there is getting off to a good start. The Mathis Lumber Company is do- nating materials for furnishing the kinder- garten. The unit is making tables and chairs for the children. A survey is being made to determine the number of children who will come. The sewing circles at Harrisonburg, Va., are assisting in the purchase of sewing machines so that the unit can open a sewing room for Mexican mothers. Pray that the con- tacts established through the service program will bring more souls into the church. chapel which will now be used as a living room and study. From India comes a request for prayer for revival in the M.P. Mennonite Church. A report from Anna Lois Rohrer, mission- ary nurse at Ghatula, India, says: “I am fairly well settled here at Ghatula, but just got my freight a week ago. I am studying Hindi and have taken over the dispensary work and ad- ministration from Miss Erb (Elizabeth) who is out touring with the evangelists and Bible women. I am looking forward to the time when I can do this too. I hope next year.” Under date of Jan. 8 Bro. Lester Hershey writes from Puerto Rico: “You will be inter- ested to know that soon we shall be broad- casting La Hora del Calvario into Spain from Radio Internationale, Tangiers. The hour is set for Wednesday afternoons at 16:00 to 16: 30 o’clock, Spanish time. Will you pray for this entrance into Spain, and ask others to do so also? As you know, Spain surely needs the Gospel, and urgently.” Bro. Paul Stoltzfus from the Louis Road Chapel, Cleveland, Ohio, was the guest speaker at the Lima, Ohio, Mennonite Mis- sion on Sunday afternoon, Jan. 6. (Continued on page 116) 110 GOSPEL HERALD January 29, 1952 There’s No Place Like Home- in the Chaco By Una Cressman Many sleep huddled together in their poorly ventilated, crowded, one- or two- room huts where the rays of the sun never enter except through the occasional hole in the roof through which the rain also comes. Lescano, a young baptized member of our church at League 15, was lying very ill in his home. “We want you to go and have a look at him,” came the request from Petizzo, the chief, and others of our Indian members. “He has had a high fever for many days. You must go and see him after the meeting be- fore you return home. Maybe you can leave him some medicine,” came the demands. Night shades were already creeping upon us by the time the medical needs of the other Indians were attended to after the services. We did not know the way to the home of the sick man, but there were at least six or more Indians ready to accompany us to show the way. Without losing time, all got into the back of the jeep truck. Slowly we wended through the bushes following a trail which at times was lost sight of because of the untrod- den weeds. “Tranqueros,” a crude form of a gate, had to be opened here and there in order to let us pass through. We went as far as the trail would allow the jeep to go, then we dismounted and walked the other short distance to the house, creeping below barbed wire fences, always on the alert for snakes, and chasing mosquitoes while walk- ing through the long grass. When we were approaching Lescano’s squalid mud hut there came to meet us not only one dog, but four or five of them and each one looking more sickly than the next one. Some were barking fiercely and others just sniffed around. However, just as many Indians were right there on deck to protect us from them. We now started the usual custom of shaking the outstretched hands of the whole company of men, women, children, and babies, for there are many living there all in a huddle. Greeting them in turn and speaking a few words in their native lan- guage was enough to wipe away the strange- ness and bring out the smiles on their faces. MISSIONS SECTION It was already dusk. With medicine bag in hand, I was led into the dingy hut which has no windows and no furniture except a crudely made bed of tree branches. Upon this were strewn clothing and rags not in use at the moment. Although several people were sitting on it, I also found a spot upon which to put my medicine bag. Stooping down to observe the patient lying on the mud floor and hidden under a mosquito netting in one corner of the room, I found him to be quite sick. With only a flashlight in the dark room and only a few moments to make observa- tions, and his attendants speaking a very broken Spanish, it was difficult to make the diagnosis. However, I left him with some medicine, hoping to return again the next morning with the Buckwalters for the regu- lar Sunday services when I could see him better and see what effect the pills that I left should have upon him, before leaving a more drastic treatment in unskilled hands. Be- fore leaving, we offered a word of prayer in behalf of the sick one, instilling into all pres- ent a hope and a confidence as we commend- ed all into the hand of God. Following our freshly made trail with little difficulty, we found our way back to the road which led us home. On our return in the morning I found Lescano to be a very sick person. Giving what treatment I could for the moment, I left the rest in the hands of the most skilled one among them with the confidence that he understood the instructions since he re- ceived more or less the same treatment him- “We want you to go and have a look at him, came the request From Petizzo, the chief, and others of our Indian members. Petizzo is the man on the left. I stressed so much the need of forcing water, but when I saw how muddy it looked when brought I almost repented for having said it. After leaving him on this trip, we were able to make only one more visit until the heavy rains came so that we couldn’t get through for two weeks which was yesterday. How- ever, we found him on the way to recovery at that time and yesterday he was at the serv- ices, appearing to be quite himself for which we thank the Lord. During the year we have been called into homes just like the one described above. Very few Indians in the reservations have any other bed than a place on the floor which is of dirt, except in the summertime when most of them sleep out in the open, protected from insects by keeping alive a smoking, smoldering fire. Many of them, covering themselves with a canopy made of material, sleep huddled together in their poorly venti- lated, crowded, one- or two-room huts where the rays of the sun never enter except through the occasional hole in the roof through which the rain also comes. For some reason or other the saliva glands of these people seem to be overactive. The entire floor, no matter whether at home or in church, serves as a spittoon. One has to wonder how under such conditions any could escape from that dread disease, tuberculosis, so common among them. Our hearts are burdened for these people. There is so much to be done for them and to be taught them, but with their limited un- derstanding and limited means, where can one begin to help the most? This truly is a problem. We need your prayers that the Lord might grant us wisdom to deal with them wisely and in the Spirit of Christ. Chaco, Argentina. The Missionary Children’s School in Tanganyika By Noah Mack A doctor visiting our children’s school in the interests of student health frequently finds himself under examination and not always able to answer the questions. A uni- versity degree is no guarantee that he will be able to pass the cross-examination. The school scientist is likely ready with his micro- scope. This is his opportunity to get a good blood slide. The question arises, Why are white cells blue and red cells white? That one is not too difficult, but sometimes the doctors must do like some modernists that use big words to hide their ignorance. Some- times it is best to say, “I don’t know.” A school in the tropics faces all the prob- lems of epidemics that occur in America. There are measles, mumps, chicken pox, colds, sore throats, etc. In addition malaria must be controlled. The school at Bukiroba is in temporary quarters. The children must go from the Flurst house to other houses to go to bed at night. This increases the oppor- tunity of being bitten by mosquitoes. There were too many absences from school last year because of illness and we are trying to cor- January 29, 1952 111 rect this. Medicines to prevent malaria are taken daily. These are helpful, but not com- pletely effective. Gammoxene will be sprayed regularly every three months on the walls. This should prove fairly effective in dormi- tories such as we are building at Nyabasi. It will not prove so effective where the children must walk about outside the buildings at night. Isolation quarters in the new building should also be helpful in preventing the spread of disease. The school buildings at Nyabasi are prog- ressing unusually well for Africa although materials are sometimes not immediately available. We as parents appreciate the help of the home church in this project. The rafters are now being placed on the dormi- tory. The school building is already built. I had hoped that I might have the privilege of being intimately associated with the school here. Bukiroba is too distant for a physician to analyze properly the causes of absence from school. What was diagnosed as malaria by those not medically trained was not “Just what do you do around here?” an old skeptic asked me one day as the chaplain visited his bedside. This question has, no doubt, entered the minds of many people both inside and outside the church. Hos- pital chaplaincy work is a new field of serv- ice within the Mennonite Church. In fact, it is relatively new in most Protestant and public institutions for the sick. Only in re- cent years have Protestant hospitals or public institutions appointed someone to care for the spiritual needs of their patients. Even today many hospitals have no provision to meet the spiritual needs of the people who come to them for treatment. The skeptic’s question was a fair one and deserves an honest answer. In his thinking a I hospital is a place where one comes when he needs medical help to cure illness. What does religion have to do with a stomach ache? One comes to a hospital to receive treatment through medicine, pills, the surgeon’s scal- pel, or some electrical or mechanical gadgets. Unlike the skeptic, most people believe that man consists of more than flesh and blood and bones. The physical is merely one aspect of the individual. There is a mental, emotional, and spiritual side of the human personality. Feelings of guilt, fear, worry, loneliness, hate, and anxiety are also diseases which cause people pain. “Life is more than food and the body than clothing,” were the words of Jesus. Just what does the chaplain do? Let us go to his files and see. Here is the record of a young wife which reads, “possible fractured vertebra and shoulder. Jumped from second- story window — marital problems.” A similar record of another young wife reads, “lysol poisoning — attempted suicide — family diffi- culties.” Treatment calls for plaster cast and lavage — and a number of visits by the chap- lain. GOSPEL HERALD necessarily malaria. Were there relapses? Were there household infections? -Solving these two problems alone might go a long way in producing an answer to the malaria problem. Our furlough time will soon be due; so we will have to turn this over to someone else. Fortunately the high altitude of Nyabasi with its low temperature will mean that the school will not be troubled by the more severe and dangerous type of malaria. The children have been producing good programs with a Christian message. The standards of the school are high and should satisfactorily prepare our children for school in America. The teacher is to be congratu- lated. It must have been difficult to maintain good standards with the children missing so many days of school. Moving the school to Nyabasi will have many advantages. The children will miss their weekly swimming class at the lake. They have greatly enjoyed this diversion from school routine. Musoma, T.T., E. Africa. Another case record reads, “Age 75; reli- gion, none; diagnosis, cardiac.” A number of visits by the chaplain are noted. “Remarks — bitter toward life; not responsive.” Nota- tion of a later visit reads, “patient began to weep and said he is too great a sinner to be forgiven. Helped him find forgiveness through Christ. He kept saying, ‘It’s too good to be true.’ ” A later notation states, “con- fessed faith and was baptized.” The follow- ing visit reads, “seems to be enjoying his new experience in Christ.” A case which again illustrates the patient’s need for the help of the chaplain as well as the physician. Two similar case records: The first is that of a businessman, age 49, suffering severe pains in abdomen. When interviewed by the chaplain, it became apparent he was suffer- ing physically and mentally from hatred and resentment. The problem — another man had become involved with his wife. The chaplain tried to help him see the harm his hatred and resentment were bringing on himself and at a later date counseled with husband and wife to help them find the solution to their prob- lem. The second case was that of a young wife suffering from a highly nervous condition. When interviewed by the chaplain, she con- fessed that while her husband was away she had attended a party, became intoxicated, and was involved in illicit relations with another man. She was continually haunted by a feel- ing of guilt and fear from which she could find no release. She was first helped to find reconciliation with God and at a later time to be reconciled with her husband. Again, the physician gave treatment for ulcers and nervousness, but it was the chaplain’s re- sponsibility to help solve the spiritual prob- lems. The next record is that of a middle-aged man whose diagnosis is stomach ulcers. When visited by the chaplain, he explained that he was the proprietor of a tavern and is addicted to the use of alcohol. Later visits revealed other problems which have con- tributed to the alcohol habit. Again the chaplain’s work is to help him face and solve his deeper problems which in turn will help to cure the alcohol and ulcers. This patient has now found a real experience with God that is helping him to overcome his difficul- ties both physical and spiritual. Two more case records of a similar nature: The first is a young wife and mother of two small children who had undergone major surgery. Her husband called to visit her and shortly after leaving the hospital was in- volved in an auto accident in which he was instantly killed. The chaplain was called up- on to minister to her in her hour of need and to bring comfort and spiritual resources to help her bear her sorrow, to recover from shock, and to face the added burdens and problems confronting her. A week later a similar case was that of an elderly man who was involved in an auto accident in which he and two others were injured and his wife killed. While he was a believer, the shock and loss of his companion seemed to be an insurmountable problem. The chaplain was able to strengthen his faith and bring reas- surance in that difficult experience. And so the records go on — cases of un- married mothers, patients facing death, per- sons having amputation of limbs, or suffering from severe burns and other situations which necessitate facing life with physical or social handicaps. A hospital is indeed a place where men face life, death, and God. Much of the chaplain’s work, however, is not the unusual, but the everyday routine of ministering to the ordinary people who are admitted to the hospital. Many of these are Christian folk who need their faith strength- ened. It is a common occurrence for Chris- tians when stricken ill to question the good- ness of God and often they may harbor im- pressions that their illness has come as a punishment from God. The chaplain merely offers a guiding hand to lead them in the way of faith. Other routine duties include visiting pa- tients before they go to surgery. Many times there are fears, or lack of assurance, or sins that need to be confessed. Again there are new mothers who need to be encouraged to dedicate their children to the Lord, to see their responsibility in providing a Christian home and training for the child. There are other patients too, who have grown cold in their Christian experience and who have backslidden, who need to renew their fellow- ship. In such cases the chaplain’s task is to help them find forgiveness, to make a new commitment, and to arrange with their min- ister to have them reinstated. Perhaps the greatest part of the chaplain’s work is direct evangelism. All types of peo- ple within a radius of seventy miles come to the hospital for treatment. Men and women who never enter a church are confronted with MISSIONS SECTION The Work of a Hospital Chaplain By Clyde Mosemann, Chaplain at La Junta [Colo.] Mennonite Hospital 112 GOSPEL HERALD ■ January 29, 1952 LEFT: Cooking “arroz” (rice) for those at tending Bible Institute at Palo Hincado. Two converts of the church are assisting Sister 1 Grace Nachtigall. The picture does not do justice to the delicious flavor. RIGHT: A “guagua” (bus) arriving at the Palo Hincado church for the second week end of Bible Institute, 1951. One of the pastors, Bro. John Driver, is seen to the right. the Gospel at a time when they are more re- ceptive to spiritual things. In periods of suffering and crisis the conscience is sensitive and human helplessness becomes very evi- dent to the heart of the afflicted. One is thrilled again and again as he sees the power of the Gospel grip the hearts of people who have been previously ignorant or indifferent. How many folks respond when they are dealt with in a loving and sympathetic manner. Many times tears trickle down the face of those who are shown the love of Christ after their prejudices against hypocritical church members and divided churches have been swept away. Repeatedly Christ’s claims are verified. As He is lifted up, He does draw men unto Himself. As men hear the call of the Good Shepherd, many of them do hear His voice and follow Him. It is the chaplain’s responsibility and desire to bring the healing power of the Gospel to every patient entering the hospital. As was the ministry of Jesus, so the chaplain seeks to heal the brokenhearted, to bring vision to the spiritually blind, and to help those who are victims of sin to find liberation and de- liverance. Chaplaincy work is a new field of evan- gelism. Here is a field of service for which young men of the Mennonite Church should be preparing themselves. This type of per- sonal evangelism presents a multitude of op- portunities to share in Christ’s ministry of preaching, teaching, and healing. La Junta, Colo. Mr. Kingsley, Agent General of the United Nations Korean Reconstruction Agency, says that the war has inflicted damage amount- ing to approximately $2,000,000,000 on Ko- rea. He said that in Seoul, one of the most modern cities in the Far East, 85 per cent of industrial facilities, 75 per cent of office space, and 50 to 60 per cent of living space had been destroyed. He estimated that of the 9.000. 000 north Koreans before the war, 1,- 000,000 were dead and between 3,500,000 and 4.000. 000 now were in South Korea. — Asia Calling. A1 Institute) Biblica (To Bible Institute) “. . . give my gratitude for the teachings . . . were taught to search the Scriptures more.” — Isidoro Rivera Colen, Palo Hincado. “It was a privilege to attend the Institute because I learned many things . . . many blessings ... for days to come also.” — Gladys Marrero, Palo Hincado. “. . . learned that through the Bible and prayer we are better able to cast of! those things disagreeable to God.” — Daniel Oyola, Rabanal. “The Institute has meant much to me.” — Jesus Espada, Pulguillas. “. . . I will try to put in practice what they taught me.” — Ruben Fuentes, Palo Hincado. “It was a wonderful experience to study the Book of Acts. . . . Paul at first a persecutor of Christians, later became their brother.” — Lucas River, Rabanal. “. . . received new things which I had not known before.” — Edie Elsa Gutierrez, Penon. “. . . learned much that was lacking in my life.” — Lydia Rodriguez, Pulguillas. “It has been a great blessing for my spir- itual life . . . and growth . . . Christian fel- lowship with others.” — Angel Luis Miranda, Palo Hincado. “. . . have learned that the principles of the Christian life are very important.” — Juana Ortiz, Rabanal. “. . . received the incentive to search the Scriptures more.” — Samuel Rolon, La Plata. “. . . grateful for the class . . . learned that a home with the Holy Spirit is one of joy and happiness.” — Angelica Alvarado, Coamo Arriba. Expressions like these could be multiplied in the one hundred and eight young people, including those young in Christ even though older in years, who registered for the fourth Bible Institute in Puerto Rico, held on the three week ends of October 19 and 20, Octo- ber 26 and 27, and November 2 and 3. Eight were Sunday-school officers, eight were teach- ers, and seven were conscientious objectors. The twelve sessions, held each Friday eve- ning and all day Saturday, gave ample op- portunity to cover the five subjects offered, each student being enrolled for two classes: “Christian Family,” “Principles of the Chris- tian Life,” “Youth Faces Love and Matri- mony,” “Catholic Doctrine and the Bible,” “Book of Acts.” Bro. T. H. Brenneman, Sara- sota, Florida, and the pastors taught these classes. Filled trucks, guaguas, or cars gave oppor- tunity for all from the various churches — La Plata, Rabanal, Pulguillas, Palo Hincado, Cuchilla, Coamo Arriba, Penon — to attend the sessions which were held the first week end at Pulguillas, then at Palo Hincado, and the last at La Plata. It is interesting to note that expenses for travel and food were met by the churches themselves. For the last session the pupils were given the opportunity to respond in the form of ex- amination. Seventy-one took these and sixty- three passed them. At the close, recognition was given to three persons who had completed the four-year course. These were given diplomas of ac- knowledgment. The strains of the theme song, “There Is a New Name Written in Glory,” could be heard as they were leaving the church for j their various homes in the mountains, much the richer for having had this opportunity of ! Christian growth offered by the Institute. — : From “Rio La Plata.” January 29, 1952 GOSPEL HERALD 113 Who Fell Among Thieves By Waldemar Schroeder The M.C.C. is carrying on a relief program among the Arab refugees in the Hashemite kingdom of Jordan. Your contributions for relief are shared with these needy people. I wish one could say something cheerful about this situation in Jericho, but the more one thinks about the desperate plight of these people, the more hopeless it seems. Not only the refugees are in great need; there are many non-refugees who did not actually lose their homes, but lost their means of support. They are destitute because they do not qualify for rations, since technically they are not refu- gees. They live in dark and crowded rooms that are cold and drafty in winter. Their clothes and bedding are faded and worn out with no replacements in sight. Food is a real problem. Another tragic aspect of the whole situa- tion is the mental outlook of the people. For more than three years they have been living in camps on the plain of Jericho under the blistering summer sun without work, won- dering what the future holds for them. You ask the neatest one what he would like to do, and he will tell you that he wants to go back to the home he lost. Receiving has become part of them; if there are people who could help themselves, they are reluctant to do so now, for they have come to rely on their monthly ration. They seem to be waiting for those world powers that plunged them into this soul-destroying plight to do something to restore them to their lost homes. Today I’m going to tell about some of the people with whom we come in almost daily contact. There are the thirty boys who come to the shoemaking school which is located in a tent in Am Sultan refugee camp on the very outskirts of Jericho. The boys gather early in the morning at the tent and work until noon under the supervision of a mas- ter shoemaker. Having come from various backgrounds, they now live in the camp. Some have had six years of schooling; a num- ber of them never attended school. Their ages range from twelve to sixteen years. Their clothes are torn and patched; most of them walk barefoot. All of them are eager to do something. There is El Obseh who lives with his mar- ried brother. His brother’s wife thinks of him as an extra burden taking up room in the small mud hut. His father is dead; his mother is married again to a man who will not have him around. In all his fifteen years El Obseh has never been to school; he can neither read nor write. His lisp is quite noticeable and at times they make fun of him and he has to take it, because he is small for his age. For a few months he attended shoe- making classes quite regularly and made fairly good progress. When summer came his brother trekked to the eastern plateau and El Obseh went along to glean in the harvest fields. Due to scarcity of rain the harvest was very meager this year and the gleaning did not last very long. El Obseh came back to the Jordan Valley, walking a distance of over fifty miles and begging along the way. Early one morning he showed up at the shoemaking tent, tired and hungry, and too scared to say anything about his adventures. But the gnawing hunger finally drove him to tell that he had not eaten much on the way. Hastily the guard produced a piece of bread from some- where and together with some water El Obseh made a meal of it. But he had no place to stay. The guard offered him a place to sleep. For two days El Obseh stayed, but resdessness seemed to take hold of film and he was gone again without telling anyone. Some weeks later he showed up at ttie school, but stayed only a day. Where he is now no one knows. Like thousands of others, dis- placed from their homes, he is drifting about without security. Twelve-year-old Dawas is a likable little fellow. He is the oldest of five children. His father is blind; his mother manages the meager rations somehow so that the iamiiy has something to eat. Their home is a mud hut in a relugee camp of seven thousand people. Dawas attends classes in shoemakmg quite regularly. Dawas oiten seems tired and iisdess. Although he likes to play football, he doesn’t seem to be able to join with the same vigor as the other boys because he tires easily. At times he gets attacks of malaria, forcing him to stay in bed. This is only a mattress and a blanket on the mud floor. Mahmoud is sixteen and tall for his age. He has had seven years of school and speaxs some English. He is quiet and industrious and tries to do the work as directed. In time he may become skilled enough to join a shoe- maker master as an apprentice and earn a few piasters. But to find a job is a problem, for thousands are out of work and live on rations distributed by UNRWA. Abdul, the guard at the shoemaking cen- ter, is trying to support a family of nine peo- ple. With his monthly radon of sugar, flour, lentils, and fats, supplemented by the small salary he receives, he tries to keep the wolf from the tent door. His other big problem is to provide clothing; the growing children wear them out quickly. The family did re- ceive some clothing, but sun, dust, and per- spiradon play havoc with their garments which are washed in the most primitive fashion by rubbing them on stones. Abdul’s eighteen-year-old son tried to find work in Syria, but was jailed for two months for crossing the boundary and then returned to his family. At one ume Abdul and his family had their own home. When the fighting drew dan- gerously near to their village, they all fled with only the clothes they could carry. For more than three years they have existed in this valley through summer’s heat and win- ter’s dust storms and rains. Thousands of others about them are in a similar plight with no relief in sight. People come daily to our door with their problems. There is the poor one-legged boy who wants to know if we can help his or- phaned sisters. Their grandmother had looked after them, but now has become an invalid. The policeman wants to know if we can find a school for his children; the schools in the village are overcrowded and do not admit any more pupils. The wizened little fellow has a large family and not enough to clothe them. Da’ud can find no work and begs for money. What can be done to bring relief and a solution to the problem of these homeless people? The Christian Church and the world should know about the injustice of the situation so that immediate relief could be brought in food and clothing; a long-range program of rehabilitation to provide homes for these people should be planned; and lastly, let each one search himself and rec- ognize where he has failed, and pray to the Almighty that heart and hands may be made willing to help these people “who fell among thieves.” — Services Bulletin. What Is the Relation Between Hands and Hearts? In the twenty-fourth Psalm, the writer in- quires who it is that shall ascend into the hill of the Lord and who will be able to stand in God’s holy place. In seeking to give an answer to this question, the psalmist suggests that, if one wished to do these things, he must have a pure heart and clean hands. The psalmist seems to believe that these two things are related to each other. He would imply that one cannot easily achieve pureness of heart without at the same time having cleanness of hands. Moreover, both of them are essential if one is to dwell close to God. The psalmist was right. As one worships in the tabernacles of Jehovah and seeks for pureness of heart, this closer walk with God will manifest itself in his daily living. After he has known God intimately, the things which his hands do will be clean things. He will no longer despoil his hands by taking that which does not belong to him, by ap- portioning to himself more than his share, or by withholding from others that which rightfully belongs to them. His hands will share all of God’s blessings with others. Likewise, if one would seek to do right- eous acts and have his hands engaged in worthy community activities, these actions can be effective only when they flow from a worshipful and loving heart. To seek to do either one of these things, worship or work, without the other is to go against the natural order of things. To have holy, worshipful lives express themselves in clean, Christian community and world-wide activities is the way God would have it. Clean hands and pure hearts belong to- gether.— Desmond W. Bittinger, in “The Rural Church at Worship.” MISSIONS SECTION 114 January 29, 1952 THE KINGDOM TO THE SOUTH By J. D. Graber II Montevideo, the capital city of Uruguay, is just across Rio de La Plata from Buenos Aires. Why is it, then, that you board a steamer at 10:00 p.m. in Buenos Aires, keep traveling all night, and do not arrive at the Uruguay capital before 7:00 in the morning? The reason is in part that Uruguay is farther east and so the boat travels some distance down the river, but the main reason for the long journey lies in the fact that the Rio de La Plata, or “The River Plate,” as it is called in English, is an ever widening estuary as it approaches the open sea, being nearly one hundred miles wide at its mouth. The overnight trip on New Year’s Eve and return on January 2, was very comfortable. Our General Mission Board made a deci- sion to open work in Uruguay several years ago. Due mainly to the urgent need that existed for workers in Argentina, the deci- sion has not so far been implemented. The Board, however, still accepts its plans for work in Uruguay as valid as we take actual steps for the current year. My brief trip across the border is just one of the steps which we hope will lead to the establish- ment of a permanent witness there. Particularly, Uruguay is perhaps the most democratic of Latin-American republics. Last year they adopted the system of government by a committee, doing away altogether with the office of president, so fearful are they of any development toward a dictatorship. There has been a great dread of anti-cleri- calism in their history until today we have there a truly secular state. This is good, polit- ically, but secularism is never a friend of Christianity and it is this very atheism and materialism that has made hard going for the living Gospel of Christ in Uruguay. I spoke to a number of church leaders in Montevideo, both national and foreign. All expressed appreciation for the religious liber- ty and freedom they enjoyed in that country. Without exception they welcomed the com- ing of the Mennonite Church into their midst. Anything that strengthens the evan- gelical witness and anything that increases the evangelical community, even numerically, is desirable. There is little danger of coming into com- petition with existing evangelical churches. (In Latin America “Evangelical Church” means about the same as “Protestant Church” in North America.) In Montevideo, we were told, where there are quite a number of churches already, is the largest field. Here we could find a number of wards of the city and outlying suburban areas totally without a Gospel witness. In one area it was pointed out that there are perhaps 100,000 people without a single church or Sunday school. But in the outlying hinterland the needs are still greater. There are a few large pro- vincial capitals with either no evangelical MISSIONS SECTION GOSPEL HERALD church at all or with a mere weak struggling mission point. Of smaller towns there are many without a Christian worker and with- out a Gospel witness. Certainly we have here an open door. Shall we not enter in this year? — via Elkhart, Indiana. Women’s Activities You have read the January “Missionary Sewing Circle Monthly.” Many fine person- alities have come to mind in addition to those whose names are printed. May the good in- fluence of all our forerunners continue to be a blessing. Words of appreciation are due Mrs. Alma Roth, Mrs. Esther S. Meyer, Miss Ruth A. Yoder, and others for furnishing and help- ing to locate materials for this historical num- ber. Thank you. * * * Sister Cora Buzzard, one of our pioneer sewing circle sisters, who has served in a number of offices, and is still active in the work, says of this work: “It is one avenue of service that woman is particularly adapted to carry on. It is distinctly a missionary effort, a work that has come to stay, one that the Mission Board and the church look to for help. Through it the pastor and the minister are enabled to do more effective work, for the supplying of temporal needs is often an ave- nue for presenting Christ.” Sister Buzzard further challenges us not to forget our re- sponsibility through intercession, something to which all can contribute even when unable to attend the meetings. * * * While visiting in the archives, the cus- todian, Bro. Nelson Springer, called my at- tention to a neat little pamphlet entitled, “She Hath Done What She Could.” It is the story of Sister Lizzie Brubaker who gave her life in the service of collecting and sending money to the orphanage in India during the great famine of 1897. Sister Brubaker en- tered into this work so wholeheartedly that she went without food for days that she might more keenly feel the sufferings of the starving millions and thus be able to speak from the heart for them. At the time of her passing in 1928 she had names of donors on her records not only from the Mennonite Church, but from nearly all the other church denominations. May God bless us with the same zeal to bring relief to His children who are spiritually and physically hungry. * * * During the South Pacific district confer- ence of Nov. 22-24, the sisters held two meet- ings between sessions with Viola Wenger, Alice Classen, Stanley Weaver, Leonard Gar- ber, and Ada King as their speakers. The presidents of the sewing circles told of their activities of the past year. Besides sewing for the needy, there were sunshine boxes pre- pared for the sick, new babies were remem- bered with gifts. After drawing names, suit- able gifts were purchased and given in the name of the circle. There were those also who did laundry for the sick. Some helped at the Reedley mental hospital, others at the clothing center, and still others placed Gideon New Testaments in Christmas baskets. All helped to send Christmas bundles either to M.C.C. or to the Navajos. At the close of the conference when oppor- tunity was given for testimony, a brother who has done relief in Europe, spoke words of appreciation for the work of the sewing circles which he had witnessed in Europe. Quilts and all our gifts of love mean so much to the needy over there. — Mrs. C. L. Shank. M.C.C. WEEKLY NOTES News from Paraguay During November and December in Para- guay (a southern hemisphere country) activi- ties taking place corresponded to those of May and June here. A large class of young people graduated from the teacher training course, and closing exercises at the Central Schule (high school) were held. Plowing and planting have been in prog- ress in various places. Most of the planting has been completed at the M.C.C. experi- mental farm in Colony Fernheim, and weather has been favorable for growth of the crops. In Colony Fernheim, Nov. 25 is observed as a special thanksgiving day, commemorat- ing the time when in about 1930 a group of the people were able to leave Russia. Youth Rehabilitation Ten young people from Canada, Germany, Holland, and the United States are continu- ing the Saltzgitter project opened by a sum- mer service team last year. This city lies in the eastern portion of the British zone of Germany, near the border of the Russian zone. This industrial area was used for munitions production during the war, and after the war was almost totally dismantled. When the German people of Poland, East and. West Prussia, and Danzig were expelled, many of them settled in this “ghost city” area, and among them were many Mennon- ites. The work here consisted at first in erecting a building to be used as a youth activity cen- ter. As the construction neared completion, it became evident that a significant service could be rendered by continuing work there in actually directing a youth rehabilitation program. The building is called the Haus fuer Alle or “house for all.” Here many of these refugee Mennonites, along with the unit members, enjoy fellowship in religious meetings for the first time. Menno Travel Service Expands Much interest is being expressed in the Fifth Mennonite World Conference, to be held at Basel, Switzerland, Aug. 10-15, 1952. A large number of visitors and delegates are planning to attend. Menno Travel Service is making transportation and tour arrangements for many of these travelers. Anyone inter- ested who has not yet made travel plans should do so promptly. The main office of Menno Travel Service is at Akron, Pa. Menno Travel Service has opened a branch office in Goshen, Ind., in order to serve in a January 29, 1952 GOSPEL HERALD 115 more personal and effective way to meet travel needs of that area. Harold L. Swartzen- druber will be devoting such portion of his time to this work as may be required. This Goshen office, in conjunction with the Akron office, is prepared to give service in all phases of travel arrangements, including air and ship SARASOTA, FLORIDA (Bay Shore Congregation) Dear Gospel Herald Readers: As we look back on the past few months, we must indeed give thanks and praise to our heavenly Fa- ther, who has blessed us so richly and an- swered many prayers. It was with thankful and happy hearts that the evening service of Aug. 5 was ap- proached— a service of farewill and consecra- tion for Sister Carol Glick of this place who has been sent as a missionary to Puerto Rico. Sister Carol is the first of our congregation to go into active missionary work on the field and her going brings the mission field closer to all of us. We hope that all who know her will join with us in daily prayers that she may have strength to be a faithful worker for the Lord. With Bro. Elam Hollinger of Brewton, Ala., as the speaker, revival meetings were held Oct. 5-14, during which seven young people made a decision for Christ and are now receiving instructions from our pastor before being taken into church fellowship by baptism. We think of the words in Luke: “. . . joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth. . . Following Bro. Brenneman’s return from a visit to the Puerto Rico missions we ob- served the communion service, on Nov. 11. A junior girls’ sewing circle has now been organized for all girls in the age group of seven to sixteen, and they are having regular monthly meetings. The winter and holiday season has again brought us many visitors, some for only a short visit and others for the winter months. We are always happy to fellowship with these friends and we invite any of our Gospel Herald readers who may be coming to Flori- da to visit and worship with us. With a new year ahead, we pray that our church here may be a brighter light than be- fore and that the work of the Lord will go forward. Mrs. N. F. Yutzy. KIDRON, OHIO Greetings from the Kidron Church. Dur- ing this happy Christmas season we have all been reminded again of our Lord’s mercies to us, and with Jeremiah would say, “It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.” Our bishop, Reuben Hofstetter, reminded us that just two of the 470 members were passage, information on baggage, inocula- tions, visas, and other related questions. The address is Menno Travel Service, 1413 South Eighth Street, Goshen, Ind. Released January 18, 1952 Via Mennonite Central Committee Akron, Pennsylvania visited by the hand of death the past year. At present twenty-three are under instruc- tion for baptism. The working of the Holy Spirit was mani- fest in answer to prayer as the churches co- operated with the Brunk brothers in bring- ing about revival in the community. Oct. 14 was an impressive installation serv- ice for our fifty Sunday-school workers. Ralph Beechy and Clayton Hofstetter are the adult and junior superintendents respectively. Our summer Bible school and Dillonvale both had record attendance; a school was held for the colored at Emerson again. The Dillonvale children were enthusiastic for another summer Bible camp; this was held at Kamp Kidron Aug. 28-30. We were happy to have Ellis Gerbers with us before they leave for the foreign field. They spoke in the consecration service held for the seventy-five babies enrolled in the cradle roll department. The teachers’ meetings and Bible study meetings were combined for several months in an extensive study of city missions, led by Ira Amstutz. The group visited the neigh- boring missions to learn their history. The Ellis Zuercher family is leaving to serve at Hannibal, Mo. Our Missionary Day speaker was Paul Lauver, on furlough from Puerto Rico. Gideon Yoder of Goshen, Ind., conducted inspiring Bible studies Thanksgiving week end. The E.M.C. mixed octet, Midway, and our own chorus favored us with Christmas music. The M.Y.F. group used part of the returns from their project to supply church bulletins, which are much appreciated. One Sunday thirty-four of the tract band distributed 750 papers in Brewster, Wilmot, Apple Creek, and Beach City. Mrs. Anna Eash, Chicago, 111., was a guest speaker at our sewing. Others at Y.P.B.M. and church services were the Camp Ebenezer workers; Paul Stoltzfus, of Bedford; Frank Sturpe, Toledo; Paul Yoder, Columbiana; Ray Bair, Louis- ville, Ohio; Aldus Wingard, Hollsopple, Pa.; Ford Berg, Scottdale, Pa.; Roy Umble, Go- shen, Ind.; Elno Steiner, Elkhart, Ind.; J. Ross Goodall, Kitchener, Ont.; Lawrence Brunk, Newport News, Va.; and Marta Quiroga, Argentina. We had our first watch-night service. We were challenged to go into the new year, into the unknown, with One who knows. Esther Gerber. STRYKER, OHIO (Lockport Congregation) Dear Gospel Herald Readers: Greetings in our Saviour’s name. We have been en- joying many spiritual blessings. Our evan- gelistic meetings were held Nov. 25 through Dec. 2, with Bro. John R. Mumaw of Harri- sonburg, Va., in charge. The messages were inspirational and eddying and the meetings well attended. Three young souls confessed the Lord as their Saviour. We are looking forward to baptismal services in the near future. Bro. D. W. Graber was ordained to the ministry Sunday, Dec. 30, having served as deacon for a number of years. In the same service Bro. Maynard Wyse was ordained by lot to the office of deacon. Our bishop, Wal- ter Stuckey, officiated, assisted by Bishops E. B. Frey, Menno Troyer, and Henry Wyse. God bless our brethren in their callings; and may God bless you all. Jan. 10, 1952. Mrs. Glen Roth. ARCHBOLD, OHIO (Central Mennonite Church) Dear Christian Friends: We appreciate having visitors. The following have wor- shiped with us in the last number of months: Ivan Magal, a group from the Louis Road Chapel at Cleveland, Ohio, Elias Kulp, Ray- mond Richer, Detroit student-in-industry unit, E. S. Hallman, young people’s group from Nappanee, Ind., Freeman Aschliman, Neil Buskirk, James Lark, and Allen Eber- sole. Twenty-five young people have been add- ed to our church fellowship by water bap- tism in the last six months. Milo Kauffman, Hesston, Kans., was the evangelist at our revival meetings Oct. 5-14. An all-day missionary service was held on Nov. 11. Guest speakers were J. D. Gra- ber, Elkhart, Ind., and Marie Yoder, on fur- lough from Puerto Rico. May God bless each of you through this new year. Jan. 11, 1952. Anna Rose Nafziger. ALBANY, OREGON Bro. Sanford Shetler, who is teaching at the Western Mennonite School, gave us some very interesting and inspiring thoughts in a series of talks over the week end of Nov. 29 to Dec. 2. These were very much appreciated. We also enjoyed a nice Christmas service the Sunday before Christmas, with a chil- dren’s program followed by a chorus pro- gram given by the Ladies’, Men’s, and Mixed choruses, interspersed with quartet numbers. We are looking forward to a series of re- vival meetings with Bro. John C. Wenger as our evangelist, early in April. Pray for Bro. Wenger, that his messages may be attended by the Holy Spirit, and that they may find their way into the hearts and lives of boys and girls, men and women, bringing strength and courage to the saints, and salvation to the sinners. Above all, pray that the whole pro- gram may bring honor and glory to the name of Him who gave Himself on Calvary. Jan. 12, 1952. M. R. Martin. CHURCH CORRESPONDENCE (Continued on next page) 116 GOSPEL HERALD January 29, 1952 MISSION NEWS (Continued) The sailing date for Bro. and Sister Alvin Hostetlers, under appointment to India, has been set for Feb. 15, leaving New York for Bombay on the “City of Perth.” The Quintus Leatherman family, under ap- pointment for London, England, are sched- uled to sail on Aug. 6, on the “Queen Eliza- beth” from New York to Southampton. Copies of the proceedings of the Child Welfare Conference held at West Liberty, Ohio, in April of last year are available for 50^ and may be ordered from the Mennonite Board of Missions and Charities, Elkhart, Ind. Sister Dorothy Brunk, missionary at Pehua- jo, Argentina, says: “To help combat the summer slump in Sunday-school attendance, we have opened our patio to all interested children each Wednesday afternoon for two hours of directed play. Three young men from the Trenque Lau- quen church in Argentina are contributing their time for the installation of a new electric wiring system in the church campgrounds located near there. Perhaps inspired by Marta Quiroga’s ac- count of voluntary service activities in the States, a group of young people turned out the Saturday before Christmas to help clean and polish the church at Pehuajo, Argentina. Pray that this idea of service will continue to grow among the Argentine youth. Oddvar Berg, a Norwegian missionary on furlough from Africa, spoke at Morton, 111., on Jan. 25. J. J. Hostetler, Canton, Ohio, spoke at the Martins Church near Orrville on Jan. 20 in the interests of the Ohio Mission Board. Two Sunday-school girls confessed Christ .t Canton, Ohio, on Jan. 13. Bro. E. E. Miller showed his pictures taken in the Far East and spoke on M.C.C. work at Orrville, Ohio, on Jan. 19. Bro. John Leatherman, on furlough from Tanganyika, spoke at the Monterey Church, Bird-in-Hand, Pa., on Jan. 6, and at Landis- ville, Pa., on Jan. 20. Bro. Paul Lauver, on furlough from Puer- to Rico, spoke at East Goshen, Ind., evening of Jan. 6. An India mission study class at Elmira, Ont., heard Leona Cressman, General Con- ference Mennonite missionary, speak in the final session on Jan. 21. Maynard Good showed pictures taken while he was an M.C.C. worker in Puerto Rico, at Denver, Colo., on Jan. 9. FIELD NOTES (Continued) An illustrated lecture on Palestine was given at the Hartville school in Ohio on Jan. 25 by Paul Myers, Massillon, Ohio, a Breth- ren minister. A favorable vote has been taken looking toward the ordination of a minister at the Howard-Miami Church, Kokomo, Ind. Bro. O. N. Johns is holding a number of ■ meetings in Ohio churches to explain de- tails and implications of alternative service. Sister Margaret Bechtel, a senior student in the La Junta Mennonite School of Nurs- ing, died at Goshen, Ind., on Jan. 17. Ambassadors for Christ, Goshen, Ind., gave a program at the Salem Church, Elida, Ohio, Sunday evening, Jan. 20. Announcements Bro. Abner Stoltzfus, Gap, Pa., on Observa- tions in Palestine and the Spiritual Need of Israel, at Twelfth and Windsor Streets, Read- ing, Pa., Feb. 20. Christian Service for Peace, with O. N. Johns and L. C. Hartzler speak- ing, Orrville, Ohio, Jan. 31, and Kidron, Ohio, Feb. 1; sponsored by Mennonite Min- isters’ Fellowship. Sunday School Normal, Johnstown Bible School, with E. C. Bender, Martinsburg, Pa., as visiting speaker, Feb. 12-14. Youth Fellowship meeting at Millers- ville, Pa., with Frank Enck speaking on “Living Honestly with Oneself,” Feb. 2. Willow Springs Men’s Fellowship, Tiskilwa, 111., with E. E. Miller speaker, March 14. The Christian and the Holy Spirit at Y.P.M., Lititz, Pa., on Feb. 3. Christian Life Con- ference with Phil Frey and C. F. Derstine speakers, Bay Shore, Sarasota, Fla., Feb. 22-24. Evangelistic Meetings John E. Lapp, Lansdale, Pa., at Scottdale, Pa., Jan. 28 to Feb. 3. Noah L. Hershey, Parkesburg, Pa., at Strasburg, Pa., beginning Feb. 10. John C. Wenger, Goshen, Ind., at Albany, Oreg., April 6-13. Oscar Burkholder, Loans available to members of the Mennonite Church to meet emergencies or to establish homes or means of livelihood. (Not designed to replace satisfactory local credit.) Write to: MENNONITE MUTUAL AID, INC. 1413 South Eighth Street Goshen, Indiana Breslau, Ont., at Olive, Elkhart, Ind., March 23 to April 2. B. Charles Hostetter, Harri- sonburg, Va., at Pleasant Hill, Sterling, Ohio, March 14-23, also at Blooming Glen, Pa., the week of April 4. Visiting Speakers Dec. 30: Norman Kraus, Goshen, Ind., at East Goshen. Jan. 6: Harry Y. Saulnier, Chicago, 111., at East Goshen, Ind.; Sam Oswald, Lyons, Nebr., at Manson, Iowa; James Millen, Quakertown, Pa., at Blough, Hollsopple, Pa.; David Derstine, Jr., Telford, Pa., at Trevose Heights and Doylestown, Pa.; C. I. Kropf, Woodburn, Oreg., at Albany, Oreg. Jan. 13: J. M. Nissley, Sarasota, Fla., at Ybor City, Fla.; Wesley Jantz and male quar- tet, La Junta, Colo., at Kim, Colo.; Roy Sauder, Archbold, Ohio, at Trevose Heights, Pa.; Abner Zook, Larned, Kans., at Hutchin- son Mission, Kans.; Walter E. Yoder, Go- shen, Ind., at Prairie Street, Elkhart, Ind.; Paul M. Lederach, Lederach, Pa., at Norris- town and Salford; Melvin Bishop, Blooming Glen, Pa., at Easton, Pa. Jan. 20: John E. Lapp, Lansdale, Pa., at Belleville, Pa.; A. J. Metzler, Scottdale, Pa., at Rocky Ridge, Sellersville, Pa.; Ray Bair, Louisville, Ohio, at Lockport, Stryker, Ohio; Wilbur Yoder, Middlebury, Ind., at Johns- town, Pa.; Gerald C. Studer, Smithville, Ohio, at Lockport, Stryker, Ohio; M. L. Troyer, Elida, Ohio, at Salem, Elida; D. J. Fisher, Kalona, Iowa, at Iowa City; E. E. Miller, Goshen, Ind., at Orrville, Ohio; Harold Bauman and Canton Bible School group at Farmerstown, Ohio; J. F. Garber, Alma, Ont., at St. Jacobs, Ont., Roy Koch, St. Jacobs, Ont., at Alma, Ont.; Roy Bucher, East Peoria, 111., at Hopedale, 111. Jan. 27: Howard J. Zehr, Peoria, 111., at Flanagan, 111.; Wilbur Yoder, Middlebury, Ind., at Altoona, Pa.; A. J. Metzler, Scottdale, Pa., at Salem, Elida, Ohio; John Friesen, Eureka, 111., on China relief work, at Pleas- ant Hill, East Peoria, 111. Feb. 3: Abner Stoltzfus, Gap, Pa., at Wes- ley Chapel, Newark, Del. CORRESPONDENCE (Continued) GLEN FLORA, WISCONSIN (South Laurence Congregation) Dear Colaborers in Christ: We as a con- gregation are very grateful for new benches in the church, a gift from the Amish people in southeastern Iowa. Walter Beachy direct- ed the work. Willis E. Miller and Irvin Ging- erich brought the benches up on a truck. Quintus Miller, Harley Shetler, Jess Beachy, Edna Bontrager, Amelia Miller, and Emma Mast came to assemble, varnish, and install them. These benches make the interior of the church seem much larger and are great- ly appreciated by all of us. It was a real 1 pleasure to have these young people with us. They went caroling with the young people j of the community. Prayer meeting is held in the homes during j 1 the winter. Bro. Milford Keepers is leader 1 this month. A fair crowd attended the Christmas pro- a gram in spite of sub-zero weather. Eight l Christmas boxes were given out; these were l gladly received. Sister Martha Kalaus is attending Bible I) school in Loman, Minn. n Bro. Arthur Helmuth is working in New tl York. » The Ezra Good family moved to Kentucky in September. f Bro. Martin E. Weaver of Annville, Pa., held revival meetings Oct. 28 to Nov. 4. In- terest and attendance were good. One young girl reconsecrated her life to the Lord. Leroy Schrock’s family from Kansas were here the same week and the Schrock brothers fur- nished special music during the meetings. Bro. Elmer Hershberger was here the fore- part of December for counsel meeting and communion. Bro. Roger Jones of Phoenixville, Pa., is making plans to join our group in the work here. He spent nearly six months here two years ago in a service unit. We surely wel- come him back. Average attendance the past year was forty- six; average offering, $7.32. Mrs. Leroy E. Schrock. January 29, 1952 GOSPEL HERALD 117 KANSAS CITY, KANSAS (Argentine Church) Dear Herald Readers: God has blessed us here in this city during the year 1951. One of these blessings is the privilege of having so many visitors stop with us. The presence of Bro. and Sister Clayton Diener is much appreciated. Bro. Clayton, who is the son of H. A. Diener of Hutchin- son, Kans., is in medical school here. The evening of Sept. 30 a dedication serv- ice was held for all the babies in our con- gregation who were born within the last year. Bro. Rufus Horst was in charge. Sept. 27 the sisters met to give the church basement a thorough cleaning in preparation for our weekday Bible school, which opened Oct. 3. We started with 144 enrolled. The The present enrollment is 210. We are al- ways happy to teach the Bible to the chil- dren in the city. The evangelism workshop was held at the Mennonite Gospel Center, 1238 Washington, the first week in October. Our counsel meeting was held on the eve- ning of Oct. 7, communion on the evening of Oct. 21. Bro. Raymond Hershberger, our bishop, had charge of both services. The morning of Oct. 7 Bro. Clayton Beyler from Hesston, Kans., favored us with a message. Our fall revival meetings were held by Bro. B. B. King from Nov. 28 to Dec. 2. There were a number of confessions; some were not willing to go all the way. May we pray for them, that God will give them grace to go all the way with Him. The Sunday-school teachers, with the Sun- day-school superintendent, Bro. Alvin Wea- ver, have enjoyed a number of meetings to- gether in the interest of making our Sunday school more profitable. These meetings are a blessing and an encouragement to all who attend. The M.Y.F. spent the evening of Nov. 5 at the Chancey Home in honor of Blanche’s birthday. Blanche is the oldest of the three blind sisters in that home. Nov. 11 John Troyer from Milford, Nebr., brought the morning message. On the eve- ning of the same day Bro. George Miller filled the pulpit. Both messages were very profit- able. Mary Byler, from the Children’s Home in France, favored us with a very interesting talk concerning her work there. We were very happy to know that the parents of the children are reached through this work. May God bless Sister Byler as she returns to her work there. Bro. and Sister Paul Erb and their son Delbert and wife were with us Wednesday evening, Nov. 21, and also Thanksgiving morning. Sister Erb gave a talk Wednesday evening. Delbert and his wife spoke briefly about sailing to their mission field in South America. Bro. Erb brought a message Wednesday evening and also on Thanksgiv- ing morning. Their presence was a blessing to all. Sunday evening, Nov. 26, Arlene Sitler was with us in the interest of the La Junta Men- nonite School of Nursing. She showed slides and gave a very interesting talk concerning her work. Nov. 18 our annual dinner and fellowship was held at the home of Bro. Claude Wise. Nov. 27 Marie Yoder, a former worker at the children’s home here, was with us in the interest of her work in Puerto Rico, where she has been laboring for three and one-half years. The Christmas program was held at the Argentine Church Wednesday evening, Dec. 19, and at Quindaro Sunday morning, Dec. 23. Sunday, Dec. 16, was the day we all gath- ered at the church and made up twelve groups to go caroling and present calendars and gifts to our shut-ins. Bibles were also presented to the shut-ins who had lost theirs during the flood. These Bibles are very much appreciated by the ones who received them. One lady who is almost blind held hers very close and tight; the giver received a great blessing in presenting it. Sunday, Dec. 23, the group went to the county home and sang carols in the wards for the elderly people. Sunday, Dec. 30, a meeting was held at the rest home for elderly ladies in charge of Lester Horst and at the jail later the same day. Mabel Guengerich, who spent Christmas vacation with her parents, returned to her school work in Goshen Jan. 1. Sister Horst, wife of our pastor, Rufus Horst, was ill with virus pneumonia. We are happy to have her fellowship with us again after her brief absence. At present Sister Stella Kieffaber is in the hospital, where she underwent surgery early Sunday morning. We pray for her recovery, that she may be able to return home to her family. We thank you all for your gifts, visits, and prayers during the past year, and wish you a happy new year. Jan. 1, 1952. Katie Saltzman. NAPPANEE, INDIANA (North Main Street) Dear Herald Readers: Our women’s mis- sionary meetings have been well attended. We were favored recently by talks given by the following guest speakers: Christine Wea- ver, Mrs. E. E. Miller, and Marie Yoder. In the October meeting Sister Christine Weaver spoke about her work and the experiences of the missionaries on the China field. Sister Miller was here in November and told about her visit to India. In December Sister Marie Yoder gave a message about the work and the people of Puerto Rico. Our pastor, Bro. Homer North, spent near- ly a week during the holidays in the Motley, Minn., district in Bible study and meetings. In his absence Bro. Warren Shaum brought us the Sunday morning message Dec. 30. Sister Marie Yoder was the guest speaker in the evening service. The same day Arcadio Natal, a Puerto Rican student at Hesston, Kans., gave his personal testimony during the Sunday-school period. The annual business meeting of the church was held Thursday evening, Jan. 3. The fol- lowing officers were elected: Trustee, Lester Miller; Chor., Wayne North; Mission Board Members, Mitchell McCloud and Eli Schmucker; Insurance Dir., Alvin Yoder; Cor., Anna Bollman; Ushers, Elton Miller and Nathan Yoder; Asst. Ushers, Paul Leh- man and Ervin Schwartz. The reorganization of the Y.P.M. was as follows: Mod., Paul Yo- der; Asst., Edw. Miller; Secy., Esther Weldy; Chor., Treva Yoder; Asst., Miriam Hochstet- ler; Program Member, Eli Schmucker. Our congregation recently opened a mis- sion Sunday school at Osceola, Ind. Bro. Maurice Long is superintendent. Jan. 8, 1952. Cor. HIGH RIVER, ALBERTA (Mount View Congregation) Dear Herald readers: On Oct. 22 Mrs. Miller and daughter, Myrtle, left by train to spend the winter in Ontario. Their absence is keenly felt by the congregation. We were privileged to hear Daniel Kauff- man from Hesston, Kans., on Oct. 30. He conducted a very interesting meeting. On Nov. 11 Bro. John Hochstetler was with us for communion services. Our young- est member, Sanford, was in the hospital re- covering from an appendicitis operation at the time. We had services on Christmas morning, and also enjoyed a clear, calm day. Most of the young folks from here plan to attend a six-week Bible term at Duchess, starting Jan. 7. Visitors are always welcome at this con- gregation. Pray for us as we enter the new year. Mary E. Guengerich. MIDLAND, MICHIGAN Greetings of love in Christ Jesus. As a group we have appreciated having a num- ber of guest speakers with us in the last three months. On the evening of Oct. 19 Sister Marie A. Yoder gave a very interesting talk on the work in Puerto Rico. Bro. Ora Wyse, Naubinway, Mich., brought the Sunday morning message on Oct. 27. Bro. Clarence Yoder worshiped with the Detroit congrega- tion and Bro. Floyd Bontrager with the group at Fairview, Mich., that day. On the eve- ning of Oct. 26 Bro. and Sister Ernest Bon- trager of Canby, Oreg., worshiped with the brotherhood in our preparatory services. Bro. T. E. Schrock, Clarksville, Mich., stopped with us on Nov. 11 on his way home from Pigeon, Mich., and spoke in our young peo- ple’s meeting. Bro. Llewellyn Groff, of Minnesota, was with us on Nov. 15 and 16 in the interest of the Lord’s work in that field. Bro. and Sister J. Ross Goodall from the House of Friendship in Kitchener, Ont., gave a very interesting message concerning their work among the Jews and rescue mis- sion work on Nov. 20. Bro. Emanuel Hostetler and four Sisters from Kokomo, Ind., who were on their way to the Michigan Mennonite Bible School, worshiped with us in our Sunday evening services Jan. 6. Bro. Hostetler gave us a chal- lenging message from Prov. 29:1. Bro. Wayne Wenger of Dryden, Mich., worshiped with our group in Wednesday 118 GOSPEL HERALD January 29, 1992 evening prayer service a few weeks ago. The interest and attendance at out prayer service has been increasing. At present we have three separate groups. Bro. Floyd Bontrager has a class of five converts for instruction, the young people are in charge of Clarence Yo- der, and the adult group is in charge of a lay brother. Both the young people and adults are studying Personal Work. A number of our young people are attend- ing Bible school at Fairview, Mich. Mrs. Floyd Bontrager. MILLBANK, ONTARIO (Riverdale A.M. Congregation) Greetings: The Lord indeed has been gracious to us this past year. Satan also has hindered us, causing much unnecessary dis- cord by his cunning devices and craftiness. We have been encouraged by many visitors from the east and west, from the United States as well as from our own A.M. Confer- ence and our neighboring Mennonite con- ference. In August Bro. Ivan J. Miller, of Grants- ville, Md., favored us with a short series of meetings prior to communion. On Missionary Day Bro. and Sister lesse Yoder, of Flint, Mich., were with us for an all-day meeting. Six young people were re- ceived into our fellowship by water baptism, and a number by letter, this past year. The Ontario A.M. Winter Bible School be- gins Jan. 7, at Kennels Hall in Wellesley, Ont.. continuing for six weeks. This is a boarding school. The instructors are Joel Schwartzentruber. Tavistock, Ont., Amos Gingerich, Parnell, Iowa: Orlan Gingerich, Baden, Ont.; Valentine Nafziger, Milverton, Ont. We welcome visitors. And we covet your prayers. Jan. 4, 1952. Mrs. Valentine Nafziger. BRETHREN, MICHIGAN (Pleasantview Congregation) We can truly testify to the faithfulness of the Lord in His dealings with the congrega- tion here. Since our last correspondence the follow- ing have filled the pulpit: Glenn Martin of Lima, Ohio; Etril Leinbach, Moorepark, Mich., who conducted our revivals; F. F. Bontrager, Midland; and Bro. Llewellyn Groff, of Minnesota, who was our guest speaker in the Missionary Day Conference. On Nov. 25 the Michigan M.Y.F. con- vened here, with at least eleven congregations represented. The program was exceptional- ly spiritual and there were a large number of consecrations in the evening service. The presence of the Holy Spirit was plainly in evidence in this that the speaker of the eve- ning, Bro. Ora C. Wyse, of Naubinway, Mich., was moved not to talk on his assigned subiect, but to make a plea for consecration. We had a number of other visitors in our church services in the past year, for which we are grateful. May the Lord bless and guide us all as we enter another year, and may we be true and faithful in discharging our duties. C. C. Culp. ANNIVERSARIES Zook. — Enoch J. and Mary E. (Spiker) Z>ok, New Wilmington, I*a., observed their fiftieth anniversary on Jan. 14, 1952. Both have spent all their lives in Lawrence Co. and have always attended the Mapie Grove Mennonite Church. Bro. Zook was called to the ministry May 23, 192U, and on Nov. 5. 1922. to the office of bishop, in which capacity he has served faithfully ever since. To this union were born G children: Ethel, now serving as a nurse at the La Plata Mennonite Hospital in Puerto Rico; Sara, wife of Dr. Merle Eshleman, now serving a second term on the Africa mission field: Irvin, who died at the age of eight months; Orren, of Girard, Ohio; Ilomer, West Middlesex, Pa.; and Mary Emma — Airs. Cnester Shank. Scott- dale. Pa. There are G grandchildren. Many folks traveling through the northwestern part of Pennsylvania have enjoyed the hospitality of the Zook home. BIRTHS "Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord" (Ps. 127:3a). Bamgardner. — To Victor and Anna (Slmey) Bamgardner, Annville. l*a.. twin daughters, Darleen Gail and Eileen Gay, Dec. IS. 1951. Beechy. — To Ralph and Olive (Mast) Beechy, Apple Creek. Ohio, a daughter, Deborah Jean, Oct. 25, 1951. Bontrager. — To Emery and Maxine (Mast) Bontrager. Kokomo, lad., a daughter, Peggy Marlene. Dec. 15. 1951. Buckwaher. — To Jacob and Fannie (Eberly) Buckwalter. Lititz, l’a., a sou, Benjamin Rich- ard, Jan. 7, 1952. Cleininer. — To Norman C. and Ruth (Det- wiler) Clemmer. Souderton, Pa., a sou, Norman Lee, Nov. 24. 1951. Cressman. — To Clarence and Margaret (Cressman) Cressman. Plattsville, Ont., a son, John Clarence. Nov. 24. 1951. Dise. — To Warren and Marian (Smoker) Dise, Lancaster, Pa., a daughter, Doris Eluiue, Dec. 19. 1851. Eby. — To Lloyd M. and Martha (Leaman) Eb.v, Ronks, l'a., a sou, Lloyd Marlin, Dec. 21, 1951. Garber. — To Leroy and Laura June (Yoder) Garber, Goshen, lud., a sou, Gerald Lavon, Dec. 30. 1951. Gehtnan. — To Paul and Sallie (Kulp) Geh- man, Souderton, Pa., a daughter, Sallie Elaine, Jan. 3. 1952. Gingrich. — To Virgil and Wilda (Garber) Gingrich. Roanoke. 111., a daughter, Joyce Elaine, Jan. 2. 1952. Good. — To Mervin A. and Nora (Gehman) Good, Molintou, Pa., a son, David Lee, Jan. 9, 1952. Histand. — To Claude II. and Arlene (Alder- fer) Histand, Perkasie, Pa., a sou, Ivan Gerald, Jan. 9. 1952. Hjelmstad. — To Lester and Lois (Tschetter) Hjelmstad. Denver. Colo., a daughter, Karen Louise. Sept. 30. 1951. Horner. — To Joseph and Miriam (Mast) Horner. Kokomo, Ind., a son, Lynn Dale, Dec. 14. 1951. Hostetler. — To Merritt and Loleta (Miller) Hostetler, Topeka. Ind.. a son. Mvrr.. Dean (born Oct. 17, 1951), by adoption, Dec. 12, 1951. Hostetter. — To B. Charles and Grace (Brack- bill) Hostetter, Harrisonburg, Va., u son, Dar- rel Mark. Jan. 14, 1952. Ka-ffinan. — To Menuo and Mabel Marie (Yo- der) Kauffman. Lagrange, Ind., a son, Robert Lee. Nov. 10. 1951. Knepp. — To Clair and Flossie fStanffer) Knepp. Orwille, Ohio, a daughter. Elaine Beth, J a a . 15. 1952. Lehman. — To Adin L. and Helen (Meyers) Lehman. Chambersburg. Pa., a son, Eugene M., Dee 11. 1951. LPengood. — To Paul IT. and Elvn (Weaver) Livengood. Lancaster. Pa., a son. Jay Paul, Dec. 25. 1951. Martin. — To Ira E. and Martha (Weaver) Martin. Columbiana, Ohio, a sou, Lawrence Lee, Dec. 1, 1951. Mast. — To Kenneth and Vera (Hostetter) Mast, Parkesburg, Pa., a daughter, Carol Jean, Dec. 19, 1951. Mast. — To Milford and Ruth (Landes) Mast, Ole.v, Pa., a daughter, Carol Ann. Dec. 11. 1951. Miller. — To Cletus S. and Dorothy (Hersh- berger) Miller, Kalona, Iowa, a sou Liuwood La moat, Dec. 24, 1951. Miller. — To J. Claude and Maxine (Yoder) Miller, Wellman, Iowa, a daughter, Janice Claudiue. Oct. 23. 1951. Miller. — To John Ray and Darlene (Miller) Miller, Lagrange, lud., a son, James Phillip, Dec. 31, 1951. Miller. — -To Leo and Darlene (Brenneman) Miller, Kalona, Iowa, a son, Wendell Edwin, Dec. 20. 1951. Nisley. — To Ivan and Esther (BPkey) Nis- ley. Seward, Nebr., a son, Robert Lynn, Nov. 11, 1951. Nussbauin. — To Irvin and Arleue (Steiner) Nussbaum, Hesstou, Ivans., u son, Larry Ray, Jan. 13. 1952. Nyce. — To Harold C. and Lorene (Detwiler) Nyce, Ilarleysville, l'a., a son, Philip Ray, Nov. 10. 1951. Nyce. — To Robert W. and Ruth O. (Yoder) Nyce, Doylestowu, Pa., a daughter, Karen Sue, Nov. 10. 1951. Rainer. — To Sidney and Viola (Gingerich) Rainer. Zurich, (Jut., a sou, James Elviu, Aug. 29. 1951. Redcay. — To Amos and Ruth (Mast) Redeny, El verson, l’u., a daughter, Mary Ann, Dec. 27, 1951. Reitz. — To Paul and Margaret (Renner) Reitz. Lancaster, Pa., a sou, Kenneth Paul, Dec. 2. 1951. Reynolds. — To Cecil and Arlene (Hershberg- er) Reynolds. Union City. Pa., a daughter, Cou- stance Lee, Jan. 5. 1952. Ross. — To Richard and Elizabeth 'Brenne- mnu) Ross. Elida, Ohio, a son. Gene Maurice. Nov. 19. 1952. Roth. — To Silvin L. and Isabel (Davidson) Roth, New Hamburg, Out., a daughter, Sharon Elizabeth, Dee. 27, 1951. Schweitzer. — To Gerald and Lois (Stutzman) Schweitzer. Beaver Crossing, Nebr., a daughter, Donna Kay, Nov. 13. 1951. Shirk. — To Carl L. and Audrey (Wine) Shirk, Myerstown. Pa., a daughter, Cheryl Faye. Jan. 11, 1952. Stamm. — To Denver and Jeanne (Faust) Stamm. Archbold, Ohio, a son, Mark William, Jan. 5. 1952. Stoltzfus. — To Edward and Edna (Good) Stoltzfus. Parkesburg, Pa., a daughter, Linda Jean. Dec. IS. 1951. Stoner. — To Clyde B. and Elizabeth (Shenf- fer) Stoner, Lancaster, Pa., u son, David Eu- gene. Dec. 1(5. 1951. Weaver. — To Ammon and Frances (Rutt) Weaver, East Earl, Pa., a son, Ervin, Oct. 11, 1951. Weaver. — To Elam and Anna (Eberly) Wea- ver. Ephratn. Pa., a son. Lester. Nov. 12. 1951. Weaver. — To Raymond and Ada (Rutt) Weaver. Sheridan, Pa., a sou, Raymond, Jr., Dee. 11. 1951. Yoder. — To Maynard D. and Marvel (Kin- singer) Yoder. Parnell. Iowa, a daughter, Mar- cella Ruth, Dec. 19, 1951. MARRIAGES May the blessings of God be upon the homes established by the marriages here listed. A year’s subscription to the Gospel Herald is given to those whose address is supplied by the oificiating minister. Beiler — Yotmdt. — Eugene K. B?iler, Cones- toga congregation. Morgantown. Pa., and Erla I. Youndt. Gehman congregation, Reinholds, l’a., by J. Paul Graybill, assisted by Luke L. Horst, at the Twelfth and Windsor Street Church. Rending. Pa.. Jan. 5. 1952. Cable — Harshberger. — James Aldus Cable, Kaufman congregation, Hollsopple, Pa., and Lois Irene Ilarshherger, Sfahl congregation, Johnstown. Pa., by Aldus Wiugard at the Stahl Church Dee. 22. 1951. Hnrs* — Martin. — John B. Hurst, Bowmnns- ville. Pa., congregation, and Cathryn L. Martin, Liehty's congregation. East Earl. Pa., by J. Paul 'Graybill at the bride’s home near East Earl Dec. 22. 1951. Kuhns — Coblentz. — Jake Kuhns. Sharon con- gregation, Plain City, Ohio, and Doris L. Cob- January 29, 1952 GOSPEL HERALD 119 lentz, Pinecraft cnnjrrogaMnn. Sarasota, Fla., by Alenuo M. Coblentz Dee. 10. 1951. Nafziger — Kratzer. — Loren Nafziger, Cen- tral eoiigregalioii, Archbold. Ohio, and (Jildn Kratzer, Kidrun congregation, Dalton. Ohio, by Reuben llofstetler at the Kidrun Church Jan. 12. 11)52. Pankoke — Roth. — Richard Pankoke, Beaver Crossing. Nebr.. and .Josephine Roth. Cairo, Nebr., by William R. Either at the West Fnir- view Church. Beaver Crossing. Dec. 3d. Idol. Roth — Krueger. — Nelson Roth and Helen Krueger, now of the East Z >rrn A.M. congre- gation. Tavistock, Out., by Wilfred Ulrich April 14, 11)51. Schrock — Hooley. — Harry Sebrock, Calvary congregation. Los Angeles, Calif., and Joy lloo- ley, Maple Drove congregation, Topeka. I ml., by John D. Zehr at the home of the_groom's brother in. Upland. Calif., Dec. 19, 1951. Sheets — Howe. — Leroy Sheets, Providence congregation. Yerkes, Pa., and Kota llowe, Vin- cent congregation. Spring City. l*a.. by Matthew Kolb at the Vincent Church Jan. 1. 1952. Yoder — Miller. — William Yoder and Gertrude Miller, both of the Burton, Ohio, congregation, by Eugeue Yoder, assisted by Noah Miller, Dec. 29, 1951. OBITUARIES May the sustaining grace and comfort of our Lord bless these who are bereaved. Craig. — John E., son of David T. and Eliza- beth ulumpheries) Craig, was born in Augusta Jo., Va., March 18. 18(11; departed from this ife at his home in Madrid, Waynesboro, Va., Yug. 31, 1951 ; agetl 87 y. 5 m. 13 d. He was inited in marriage to Mary Kennedy, who pre- teded him in death June 23. 1939. He was a aithful member of the Hildebrand Mennonite Jhurch. Surviving are 4 sons (Walter D., Roanoke, Va. ; Ernest E., Charlie P.. Newport \ews, Va. ; Arthur A., Staunton, Va.), 4 (laugh- ers (Mrs. Fannie Blosser. Crimpra, Va. ; Mrs. Sverette Frazier, Waynesboro, Va. ; Mrs. Clyde Smiley, Staunton, Va. ; Mrs. John Martin, iVayuesboro, Va.), one brother (Thomas Craig, iVaynesboro), 22 grandchildren, and 9 great- grandchildren. Funeral services were conducted it the home Sept. 2 by Perry Burkholder and it the Hildebrand Church by Silas Brydge and loseph Weaver. Burial was made in the cerne- ery adjoining the church. Cressman. — Alson Cressman was born in IVoohvich Twp., Ont., April 5. 1S85 ; died in the jressman Mennonite Dhurch, Breslau, Ont.. ihortly after the close of the service on ChrNt- nas Day, 1951 : aged GO y. S m. 20 d. Dec. 5, .900. he was married to Barbara Randall, who iredeceased him Dec. 27, 1920. He leaves nis on (Horace. Waterloo, Ont.), his mother (Mrs. laeob Cressman, Bloomingdale, Out.). 4 broth- irs (Herbert, Breslau, Out.; Jacob. Kitchener, 5nt. ; Ivan. Bloomingdale; and Samuel,. Preston, )nt.), 4 sisters (Mrs. Leslie Witmer, of Pres- on ; Mrs. Eugene Brubacher, Kitchener; Mrs. Ioward Stevanus. Bloomingdale: and Viola, ilso of Bloomingdale). and 4 grandchildren. Two listers predeceased him. In his youth he acc- epted Christ as his Saviour. March 11, 19.34, te was ordained deacon for the Cressman con- ;regation and served faithfully the rest of his ife. The funeral was held Dec. 28 at his late lome near Waterloo, Ont., and at the Cress- nan Church. Burial was made in the adjoining cmeter.v. B. B. Shantz and Oscar Burkholder ifficiated. Text : II Cor. 8 :12. Dupler. — Daniel C. Dupler was born in Conoy Twp.. Lancaster Co.. Pa., Aug. 21. 1S07 ; died lee. 3, 1951 ; aged 84 y. 3 m. 9 d. He had lerved faithfully as deacon in the Columbia Mission since 1935. The following children sur- ■ive: Nathaniel, York, Pa.; llarrv. Elizabeth- own, Pa.; Bertha — Mrs. David Kohr. Grant* •ille. l’a.: Ezra. Maytown. Pa.: Margaret — Mrs. Samuel Ebersole, Anna, at home. Two children preceded hint in death, lie had 21 ;randchildren and 21 great-grandchildren. He Ivas n man of few words, and was much con- cerned about the church as well ns the unsaved. The ftinernl was held Dec. 7 at the Columbia Mission by Frank K. Garman, Christ Lehman, md James Bucher. Ills body was laid to rest in the Good Cemetery. Kauffman. — Sarah Ann. daughter of Joseph ami Kathryn Oesch, was born in Hickory Co., Mo., May 23, 1880; died Dec. 14. 1951, at the Doctors llospitul in llarrisonville, Mo., where she hud been a patient since Sept. 3, 1951 ; aged 71 y. 0 m. 21 d. She united with the Sycamore Grove Mennonite Church in her youth, continu- ing faithful until death. She was united in marriage to Christian J. Kauffman Feb. 0, 1910, near Garden City, Mo. They started house- keeping near Guyinon, Okla., where they lived until December, 1914, when they moved to a farm near Garden City. Mo. There they lived until August, 1949, when they moved to East Lynne, Mo., to live with her brother ( W. J. Oesch). Having 110 children of their own, they adopted a son (Kenneth). She leaves her com- panion and son. 2 brothers (W. J. Oesch. East Lynne, Mo.; and Simon, Kansas City, Kaiis.), 4 sisters (Airs. Emma Lehman, East Lynne; Airs. Ida Smith, Garden City, AIo. ; Airs. Alary Yoder, llarrisonville, Alo. ; and Barbara Ilariz- ler. East Lynne), and other relatives and friends. Funeral services were held at the Syca- more Grove Church Dec. 10, in charge of the home ministers. Text: Rev. 14:13. Burial was made in the Clearfork Cemetery. Mennypenny. — Kate, widow of the late George Alennypenny. of White Earth. Alinn.. was born at Gull Luke, Brainerd, Alinn.; died Dec. 0, 1951, at tue White Earth Hospital; aged 03 y. 5 m. 3 d. She was a member of the second Indian band moving from Brainerd to White Earth. April 10, 1945. she united with the Strawberry Lake congregation. Survivors in- clude her mother (Alary Roy), 3 brotners (Jo- seph, James and David), 3 sons (Lewis. Rich- ard, and George), 2 daughters (Frances Parker, Chicago. 111.; Christine Batey, White Earth, Alinn.), 12 grandchildren, and one great-grand- child. Her husband (George). 3 sous (Isaac, John, William), and one daughter (Louise) preceded her in death. The funeral was held at the Strawberry Lake Church Dec. 9. Inter- ment was made in the adjoining cemetery. Myers. — Wilma Kay. (lnughter of Virgil and Imogene Alyers, Cloverdale. Ohio, was born in Lima, Ohio, Sept. 22. 1949 ; departed from this life in St. Beta's Hospital in luma at the age of 2 y. 3 m. 3 d. She had suffered a heart ailment for over a year. During tier short stay here her presence spread love and sunshine to all who knew her. She leaves her parents and a brother (Charles). Funeral services were held Dec. 28 at the Alt. Pleasant Church, in charge of AI. L. Troyer and Norman Smith. "7/ten aren't an accident Much careful, prayerful planning is behind the successful Bible schools. Today you superintendents and teach- ers are especially fortunate. With the Superintendent’s Manual you can plan more wisely than ever for every part of the coming summer’s teaching program. Everything is there— begin- ning a Bible school where none has been before to evaluating the results afterward. Send for your copy of the manual today. SUPERINTENDENT’S MANUAL By C. F. Yake $1.50 Mennonite Publishing House SCOTTDALE, Pa. THE BOOK SHELF Books reviewed in these columns may be ordered from the Mennonite Publishing House, Scottdale, Pa. Quotes from the Quiet Hour, by Robert Parsons, Compiler; Moody; 1949; 96 pp.; $1.00. This book is a collection of poetry and prose used by Robert Parsons in his radio broadcast, “The Quiet Hour.” Quoting from the preface of the book, “The large volume of requests from the radio listeners in the Middle West has prompted this compilation of poetry and prose. From the mass of mate- rial which has been used on the Quiet Hour broadcasts through the year, these items have been chosen largely because of the interest and inquiries which they have created. Judg- ing by listener-reaction, they comprise the cream of the material in our files.” The Quiet Hour is not meant to substitute for the quiet time of private communion with God that is so essential to the Christian’s spiritual growth. 1 quote again, “The pur- pose of the Quiet Hour program is to en- courage quietness of heart and tranquillity of mind in a world characterized by noise, hurry, confusion, and distress. The Lord has been pleased to use them widely to that end.” The book serves this same purpose, having as its theme Isaiah 30:15: “In quiet- ness and in confidence shall be your strength.” I have often heard and enjoyed the Quiet Hour, from the theme song, “Blessed Quiet- ness,” on through the program. I am glad to have so many of the good selections 1 have heard over the air in book form, where 1 can read them when 1 want them. I always en- joy the writings of Safed the Sage — there are three of them in this book. There are also other good messages in prose — “Why Wor- ry?” “A Lesson in Walking,” “Where Do You Live?” and “Partakers of Grace,” for example. There are poems of comfort and assurance — also a few of secular nature, but all good reading. Let me give you a sample by quoting bits of the selection, “Where Do You Live?” “This question springs from the little preposition ‘at’ in the first verse of Philippians: ‘Paul and Timotheus, the serv- ants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi’ (Phil. 1:1). Notice the way these saints are addressed — ‘to all the saints in Christ Jesus at Philippi.’ They lived at Philippi, not in Philippi. Their manner of life was manifest as being in Christ Jesus.” The writer goes on to tell that if we are saved, we are in Christ. But do our lives reveal that we are in Christ? Are we living where God can bless and use us? Some live in doubt, some in defeat; Satan tries to get us to sin; some live in lethargy. “If you are in Christ, live accordingly. Don’t live in Chicago or Philadelphia or wherever your home is located. Live IN Christ Jesus. AT Chicago or Philadelphia.” I can heartily recommend this book. I think it would be much appreciated as a Christmas gift — especially by those who lis- ten to WMBI, and have enjoyed the Quiet Hour program. — Thersa Hosteder. What is the answer to the deadly catastrophe of war? Should Christians support war? or, should war be left to others? “Answer to War” gives God’s answer, Christ’s answer. It compares that answer with man’s answer. It clarifies, particularly for youth, the many facets of life which border so closely on strife. It speaks boldly on the responsibility of Christians. Here is the book for youth, for Bible study groups, and for inquiring parents. War is a global thing; we cannot escape it. We need to take a “for” or “against” position. We can no longer be neutral. Obtain a copy of “Answer to War” today! $1.75. Mennonite Publishing House, Scottdale, Pa. X 111 £l OOVDIHO 3AV N ‘‘VIGO 0 M f 19* N I JLN3M8VM V % AV VN ! W3S 1 V 0 I 1 E I S 31 I NO U M 3 W GOSPEL HERALD “On the defence and confirmation of the gospel" "How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace' volume XLV TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 1952 The Place of Women in the Work of the Church BY NELSON E. KAUFFMAN No women in the world have enjoyed the blessings of recognition, opportunity, freedom, and honor, as have those women who have lived in countries where the Gospel of Christ has been re- ceived. However, in the years since the American people have adopted the Woman Suffrage Amendment to our national constitution, womankind in our country has not profited morally or spir- itually. The experiment of giving wom- en equal rights and privileges with men has been disappointing. The promise that woman’s vote would curb the liquor traffic and prevent wars has not been fulfilled, but on the contrary woman- hood as a whole has been demoralized and has adopted the vices of men, using liquor and tobacco as excessively as men, and has also adopted the extensive use of filthy and abusive language. Women have left their God-given position of submission and have attempted to se- cure a position of equality with and even of superiority over men. This has been most unwholesome in our national as well as in our domestic life. The rise of women to power and in- fluence in government, education, indus- try, professions, and business has also affected our church women. The govern- ment will no doubt, according to Selec- tive Service plans, be conscripting wom- en along with men, and the problem of a Scriptural position for Christian wom- en will be further intensified. Women in the Mennonite Church have expanding opportunities for serv- ice. Our boards and committees are us- ing them in teaching, writing, evangel- ism, and many other phases of church work. In local congregations they often serve as choristers, primary and junior department superintendents, summer Bible school superintendents, and lead- ers of sewing circles; also as members of various church committees. In our schools they are used as faculty members, deans of women, members of standing and special committees, principals of smaller schools, directors of nursing schools, and are given equal voting priv- ileges with men in faculty meetings. In mission work, women have been and are being used as matrons of charitable homes, directors of women’s work, super- visors in hospitals, membership as well as chairmanship on certain committees. In our congregations women have equal voting privileges with men in congregational matters, such as reor- ganizations and choosing ministers. They give talks, teach classes, and serve as correspondents. In our publication work, women serve as writers, editors, and artists. In this way they have a great opportunity to influence the life of the church, even though their service may be largely limited to writing for children, juniors, and young people. Occasionally leading articles in our church periodicals are written by women. We may ask these questions: Is this large service open for women in line with New Testament principles? If wom- en may do all these things, may they not also preach, and be pastors of churches? Should we possibly establish limits to the work of our sisters? May this practice of the use of women in all sections of the church constitute a threat to the leadership of the men of the church? It is the purpose of this article to seek for answers to these questions. We should first notice the Scriptural teaching on the equality of men and women. The New Testament makes no difference in the guilt, depravity, and need of both men and women for salva- tion. Rom. 3:10-12; John 3:16. Both have access equally to the privileges of the Christian in Christ. John 4; Rom. 5; Col. 1:1,2; Matt. 15:28. There is no evidence in Scripture that the woman has less prayer privileges. Acts 1:14; 12: 12; 16:13, 14; I Pet. 3:7; nor that the Holy Spirit discriminates against her in prophesying power and privileges. Acts 2:4, 17, 18; 21:9; I Cor. 11:1-16. Paul teaches that in Christ there is neither male nor female (Gal. 3:28), and that all are baptized by one Spirit into one body. I Cor. 12:13. This is in harmony with the teaching of Jesus that sex is a temporary, physical distinction that does number 6 not pertain in the spiritual and eternal world. It is just as clear, however, that the New Testament teaches the headship of the man. It is clear from the creation story in Genesis as well as the Apostle Paul’s teaching in I Cor. 11:1-16, that woman was created for the benefit of man, and therefore he has, by creation right, the headship of the woman. This Paul further teaches in Eph. 5:22-24 by using the husband-wife relation to ex- plain Christ’s headship of the church. For this reason woman is to be subject to man in all her worship and in her ap- proach to God in prayer. I Cor. 11:1-16; 14:34, 35; I Tim. 2:12. She is required to wear a veil in times of praying and prophesying to indicate that she is con- scious of and exercising herself in line with the implications of the man’s head- ship. 1’he outworking of this principle in New Testament times is evident, by the The Time Is Short By Tillie Yoder 0 Lord, my heart is beating out the minutes Until I can do great things for Thee. 1 wish to throw a thousand lives, in- stead of one, Behind the wheels which move Thy work along And hasten the pace of time. Yet, Lord, the time is short and Thy work is left undone. How can I give more of myself to Thee ? I cannot give a thousand lives— I have but one, Yet to Thee I bring this little loaf of bread and two small fish To bless, and break, and feed again the thronging multitude. Lord, the time is very short— it staggers me; I have just one scarred lump of clay to give! But I exult that Thou canst make of earthly dust A pitcher clean and useful And from it pour living streams of water To soothe and quench eternally the thirst of men. Elkhart, Ind. 122 GOSPEL HERALD February 5, 1952 leadership of the church being always in the hands of men. The words “bishop,” “elder,” “deacon,” “apostle,” “prophet,” “evangelist,” “pastor,” and teacher” are always in masculine gender. From this one may be assured that these positions were never held by women. There are, however, evidences of the place women did fill in the New Testa- ment church. Women were among the 120 in the upper room on the day of Pentecost. They also received the Holy Spirit and witnessed by prophesying. Acts 1:14; 2:1-4, 17, 18. They were active in the prayer services of the church. Acts 12:12; 16:13, 14. They engaged in prophesying as well as in praying along with the men. I Cor. 11:5; Acts 21:9. Priscilla assisted her husband Aquila in enlightening Apollos. Acts 18:2. Women were commanded to teach wom- en. Tit. 2:4. Paul recognized women as his helpers in the Gospel work. Rom. 16; Phil. 4:2, 3. Women served as deacon- esses and servants to the ministers and poor of the church. Acts 9:36, 39; Rom. 16:1, 2. Women were present and no doubt participated in the selection of a successor to Judas. Acts 1:15-26. It is very clear, however, that women were not used as evangelists, pastors, or in any administrative offices of the church. It remains yet for us to explain, in the light of the above-mentioned activities of women, just what Paul meant by his statements in I Cor. 14:34, 35: “Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law. And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church.” Also in I Tim. 2:11-15: “Let the women learn in silence with all sub- jection. But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. For Adam was first formed, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being de- ceived was in the transgression.” We who believe in inspiration know there is no conflict of teaching here. No passage of Scripture will contradict any other passage. There are certain under- lying principles and facts that we should call to mind again. God created man first. Woman was later made from a rib of Adam. He was to be her head. Satan did not attempt to deceive Adam. Eve was deceived, possibly while Adam was away. Women have often been used of Satan ever since to lead men astray. False doctrines have arisen through women. The Fox Sisters brought Spir- itualism, Mrs. White brought Seventh- Day Adventism, Mrs. Eddy brought Christian Science, Mrs. Fillmore brought Unity, and Aimee McPherson the so- called Foursquare Pentecostalism. Many good men in the past as well as in the present have been ruined, or suffered severely by neurotic, psychic delusions of women. The great whore and Jezebel of the Apocalypse typify the great power of evil assaulting the saints of God. The interpretation of these two pas- sages quoted above may be summed up in the following general statements: 1. Paul could not mean that women of the church could never do what he commanded and what the veiling gives them the right to do. 2. The two passages teach the same principle. For all time, the woman should not have authority over men in Christian worship, nor exercise herself in any way contrary to the principle of the headship of man. 3. The Christian husband is obligated by God to be the spiritual head of his household, and to lead out in its spir- itual activities. 4. Women should never be asked to serve in the church in a capacity which requires them to assume authority over mature men. 5. Sisters may and should teach other women and children, but this also should be done under the direction and super- vision of brethren. 6. We should encourage our sisters to serve in every opportunity of church work which does not conflict with these principles. 7. Women should not be asked to par- ticipate in any form of church work which conflicts with their own con- science. 8. It is impossible for anyone to devel- op a set of rules governing every detail of service our sisters may perform in the church. The principle must be applied by persons responsible in each particu- lar situation. 9. The leadership of the church is responsible to plan for and use the abili- ties of every member of the church in line with the principles given in the Scripture. 10. The principle and practice of sis- ters wearing the prayer veil will be a safeguard for women’s service in and through the church, enabling them to serve with divine sanction and without condemnation. Hannibal, Mo. GOSPEL. HERALD ESTABLISHED 1908 AS SUCCESSOR TO GOSPEL WITNESS (1905) AND HERALl PAUL ERB, EDITOR CATHERINE HERNLEY, editoriai J. D. GRABER, MISSIONS EDITOR JOHN L. HORST, MILLARD C. THE GOSPEL HERALD IS A RELIGIOUS WEEKLY PUBLISHED IN THE INTERESTS OF THE MENNONITE CHURCH BY Tl ENTERED AS SECOND-CLASS MATTER IN 1908 AT THE POST OFFICE AT 9COTTDALE, PA., UNDER ACT OF MARCH 3, 187: IN ADVANCE, $8.00, FIVE YEARS IN ADVANCE, $12.50. SAMPLE COPIES SENT FREE ON REQUEST. SEND ALL MATERIAI Our Readers Say — ... I can’t forget your editorial on “The Weakness of Isolationism” .... Now I would like to see one as well done on “The Strength of Separation.” God’s people have been warned of the danger of mingling with those who are ungodly and it seems to me that one place where we ought to be careful is in exposing our young people to influences that are detrimental. We have the example of Lot, Samson, and the chil- dren of Israel in general of influence of sinful companions. There is much room for improve- ment among the more conservative groups, but it seems they also have something to teach us ... . — David Yoder, Knoxville, Tenn. Concerning the book, My Visit to Heaven, I wish further to say that there are several points in the vision, which, I believe, are capable of doing harm if not properly understood. Be- cause of a lack of space I was unable to give these explanations, as I see them, in my other article. In the vision we notice Christ offering to give Mrs. Bossert whatever she chose of a list of modern luxuries. Lest we should get a wrong impression and take this to suggest that Christ’s approval is upon such things and that He is will- ing to give them to us at our request, let us consider the matter a little more carefully. It is to those who are abiding in Christ, and His words abiding in them, that He promises to give whatever they ask, and not to the carnal- ly minded whose hearts are set on wealth and luxury and fame. He has told us in His Word that when we ask for the things that we may consume upon our lusts He doesn’t grant the petition. But those who are abiding in Him and His words abiding in them, have had their affections purified and will be asking for things that are to the glory of God and not to please the lusts of the flesh ; and it is to those He grants whatever they ask. I am confident Jesus knew beforehand that Mrs. Bossert wouldn’t ask for any of those worldly things. In considering Jesus’ admonition to Mrs. Bos- sert in regard to some of the young people’s problems of today, which she did not have to face when she was young, we will indeed do well to remember under what conditions and to whom He gave this admonition. If we will only do this we will not be so easily confused into thinking that Jesus was in any way condoning worldly mindedness, or fleshly indulgences, or any compromising with sin in our present gen- eration. We still have all the Scriptures against these things that we ever had, and they, to be sure, have not lost any of their authority. In II Tim. 2:22 we read, “Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.” See also I Tim. 2:12 and I John 2:15. Mrs. Bossert in her sincere and wholehearted desire to be out-and-out for God and to give no compromise to sin (I know this to be true of this woman) may have some times forgotten to make some allowances or considerations which really could and should have been made, and hence Jesus’ admonition; but let us remember that He also included in this the admonition to hold up the Word to the young people and pray for them. — Pauline Burkholder, Harrisonburg, Va. ) OF TRUTH (1864) - ASSISTANT LIND, ASSOCIATE EDITORS HE MENNONITE PUBLICATION BOARD, SCOTTDALE, PA. >. SUBSCRIPTION PRICE: $3.00 PER YEAR, THREE YEARS cOR PUBLICATION TO GOSPEL HERALD, SCOTTDALE, PA. PRINTED IN U.S.A. February 5, 1952 GOSPEL HERALD 123 EDITORIAL The Occasional Gambler We are rightly horrified at the extent to which gambling has become “big business,” and the way in which its pro- moters are able to defy and circumvent the law. But big-time gambling could not go on if it were not for the hundreds of thousands of occasional gamblers. The professionals count on the amateurs to keep their game going. A Gallup Poll reveals that 57 per cent of the American population gamble, whether with cards, bingo, punchboards, slot machines, numbers, or betting on horse racing, sporting events, or elections. Six out of ten men, five out of ten women gamble at times, we are told. Between the Lines says that the average race track customer is a church member who bets on a race about once a year. An occasional flurry of investigation and law enforcement will have little ef- fect if the average citizen really likes to have these gambling facilities around for his now-and-then indulgence. Dur- ing an investigation the gambling inter- ests just lie low, knowing that the de- mands of the multitude will soon put them back into operation. The chief cause of the gambling racket is the lack of moral conviction that gambling is wrong. A person who thinks it is harm- less fun to buy a lottery ticket occasion- ally, or to draw for an automobile or a turkey, is giving his support to a nefari- ous business that has fastened its tenta- cles on the country. The principle involved here applies not only to gambling. The occasional drinker feels justified because he keeps from forming a habit. The occasional smoker boasts that he doesn’t have to smoke. One may take satisfaction in knowing that only the most extreme emotion provokes him to profanity. Some of us may be satisfied that we lose our tempers only rarely, that we indulge in gossip only when we visit in a certain home. But the sum total of all these oc- casional mounts up to the volume of un- christian conduct of many sorts which cancels out much of our Christian testi- mony and helps to make our professed Christian land a morass of vice and sin. The occasional sin is as wicked as the habitual one. The occasional sinners, because there are so many of them, may be more responsible for the totality of evil in the world than are the moral derelicts. The Strength of Separation The point of our recent editorial on the weakness of isolationism was that people who keep to a certain course of action only because they have not known anything else are likely to be swept off their feet whenever they are exposed to different ideas and influences. There- fore, we should rely, in making our young people strong, more on positive teaching than on negative safeguards. There is, of course, another side to the question. One’s environment and associates are bound to have a certain influence upon him, no matter how strong he is. Even a convinced teetotaler would be in grave danger hanging around a tavern. A fundamentalist had better not spend all his time reading modernist literature. If the Christian wants to be strong, he will be wise to give himself every advantage. He will live as much as possible in a Christian atmos- phere and among Christian associates. It is a simple sociological fact that a cer- tain way of life and thought is made more stable by social support. Anything that serves to hold people together as a social unity, such as language, vocation, customs, and culture, strengthens each individual of the group in the beliefs and convictions of the group. As a peo- ple we should be foolish indeed to dis- count the power of distinctive dress and other marks of separation in holding us together and keeping us mindful of a clear principle of Christian living. But that is not the strongest argument for separation from the world, what- ever form that separation may take. The world is evil, and we need to keep sepa- rate from it not so much for our own sake as for the world’s sake. Evil must be protested against. Unassuming cloth- ing is a constant protest against frivol- ity, luxury, and immodesty. Temperate habits are a testimony against fleshly indulgence. Scrupulous honesty con- demns shady dealing and advantage- taking. Quiet contentment speaks to the world against the mad whirl of pleasure and ambition. Valuable, then, as a separated life is in protecting the believer and giving co- hesion to the church, it is still more val- uable in witnessing to a sinful world concerning the standard of holy living which God has given in His Word. The Christian should so live that people may take knowledge of him, that he has been with Jesus. Accepting Oneself Twentieth-century man has lost his complacency. One hundred years ago Western civilization was rather opti- mistic about man’s ability through evo- lution and progress to solve his problems and to redeem himself through educa- tion and knowledge. Poets wrote about a world federation which would bring peace, and “forward-looking” theolo- gians had no use for any worn-out doc trine of human depravity. But two world wars and the current “police-action” and disintegration of em- pire have been a tremendous disillusion- ment. Even liberal theologians speak vehemently now concerning man’s sin- fulness and hopelessness. It is freely ad- mitted that while modern man has im- proved his living conditions, he has not improved himself. Emptiness and spirit- ual disintegration is the chief theme of modern literature. Pessimism and de- spair is the chief fact in twentieth-cen- tury life. No world statesman can be proud of the shambles which is Korea, or of the futility of an Arab refugee camp. Self-respect must be achieved for us today, if at all, by some other method than self-effort. Today we cry, “O wretched man that I am, who shall de- liver me?” If that cry is genuine, if at long last we have got to the end of our defiant self-sufficiency, then God can do something for us. Only God by His cre- ative grace can make something out of our failure of which we need not be ashamed. Only as He forgives us can we forgive ourselves; only as He accepts us through Christ can we accept our- selves. Modern man’s self-loathing and self-depreciation can lead only to self- destruction unless he finds a way, God’s way, to character and self-respect. His self-reliance has led him to despair. His reliance upon God will enable him again to lift his head. 124 GOSPEL HERALD How to Keep the BY BARNEY 1 Matthew’s Gospel closes with the Great Commission that our Lord gave to His disciples: “All authority has been given to me. Go therefore and make dis- ciples of all nations, baptizing them, and teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.” This is to be the work of the church, each member of the body working together with the other mem- bers in order to fulfill the Lord’s pur- pose. We are commanded to make disciples of all nations. Some fail to take account of the command to go to all nations. Whatever the cause may be, they neglect to take up this work of the Lord. Of course, we are not commanded to skip over “Jerusalem and Samaria” in order to send out missionaries to the “utter- most parts.” That is not what Jesus meant. But we are to begin where we are and do what we can to make dis- ciples. Jesus commanded us to make disciples and to baptize them. The whole re- sponsibility does not rest on the convert to ask for baptism. The Lord placed the responsibility on those who are al- ready His disciples to get all disciples baptized. The early Christians did this. The three thousand converts of the twelve apostles on the day of Pentecost were baptized that day. They were not told to wait for an experience or a feel- ing or an emotion. They were told to repent and be baptized. And repentance does not mean “godly sorrow,” as some people suppose. For Paul in one of his let- ters showed that godly sorrow often leads to repentance; so it obviously is not the same as repentance. Repentance is the surrender of our wills and hearts to God. If any man wants to be a follower of Jesus, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow. If we repent, it means that we are “crucified with Christ and “lose our lives” and “forsake all that we have” and “die to sin” and “turn from darkness to light and from the pow- er of Satan to God.” And baptism saves us— not the mere outward washing apart from repentance, but the appeal to God for a clear conscience which comes to everyone who surrenders all opposition to God and begins to obey Him. After the disciples have been made and baptized they are to be taught to keep all of Jesus’ commandments. The teaching is to follow baptism. Yet many insist on their converts waiting weeks and months before they are baptized. Why? Probably because they are not making disciples of Jesus. They are not making their converts followers of Jesus’ teaching but of the teaching of their par- ticular sect. And they want to make sure that the disciples they make will February 5, 1952 Commandments OVENSEN not doubt any of the “doctrines” of their man-made organization. Of course many of these are making disciples of Jesus also. But they would do better if they got back to the way of the early Chris- tians, which is obviously the way that Jesus taught. But how about the things they teach? What do you and' I tell new converts to do? Let us not defend human methods at the expense of God’s commandments. Jesus told us what to teach to new converts and to all dis- ciples. He was not talking to people who were ignorant of His Gospel. He was talking to apostles who had followed Him for years and learned His teaching so well that they had already been teach- ing others. He wanted to make sure that they taught the same thing that He already had taught them. That is why He said they should teach Christians to keep and observe all that He had com- manded them. And Jesus’ command- ments are recorded in the four Gospels so that we also may teach the same doc- trine. In keeping and teaching the Lord’s commandments, where are we to begin? There are so very many commandments in the Gospel. Shall we begin with the Sermon on the Mount? Or shall we begin with the commandments about witnessing and making disciples? Or shall we begin with things that are not commanded but which we believe need to be taught even more than the com- mandments? We are not left in doubt if we imitate Jesus and teach as He taught. For He made it plain where we are to begin. A rich young ruler asked Jesus, “What shall I do to inherit eternal life?” He wanted to be sure of salvation. He came to the One who not only knows the way but is the Way. And Jesus said, “If you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.” The young man was not sure what Jesus meant by that; so Christ told him: “You know the com- mandments. Do not kill. Do not commit adultery. Do not steal. Do not bear false witness. Do not defraud. Honor your father and mother.” It is clear that Jesus was referring to the eternal law of God, the moral law of right and wrong. And He was telling this young man to live right if he wanted to be saved. But he said to Jesus, “Teacher, I have ob- served all these from my youth up. What do I still lack?” He needed to do some- thing more in order to be saved. And Jesus told him what to do. He didn't say that he should be satisfied with the faith he had or the works he was doing. He didn’t say that there was nothing more to do, as so many moderns would have said to this young man. Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect, go and sell all that you have and give money to the poor; and you will have treasure in heaven. And come, follow me.” If that is the way of salvation, who can be saved? Is it that hard? Is it that narrow? Zacchaeus was converted after that and promised to give half of his money to the poor, which satis- fied Jesus that he also was a son of Abraham. But this young ruler was told to sell all his worldly property and investments and savings. He went away sorrowful because he had his treasures on earth. Peter saw why Jesus had spok- en to this man in this way. He said to Jesus, “We have left everything and fol- lowed you.” Was it money that Peter had left? Maybe. But most likely not. He had been a fisherman; now he was a Christian apostle. Perhaps he may have been a little poorer in money with Jesus than before. But not much. Not enough to talk about. What was it Peter had left? Well, he had left his home. He had left his old life, his old friends, his old habits— whatever did not fit in with his 1 new life as a follower of Christ. He had | left “all,” even if that all amounted to very little in comparison with the riches 1 that the young ruler was asked to give I away. _ ‘ We see that Jesus’ command to this { young man was not any different in prin- 1 ciple from the commands He gave to 1 others. To the multitudes He used to I say, “If any man wants to come after 1 me, let him deny himself and take up 1 his cross and follow me. He who wants t to save his life will lose it. But anyone t who loses his life for my sake will find a it.” Anyone who does not renounce all r that he has cannot be a disciple of Jesus. 1 A certain doctor of divinity asked Je- t sus, “What shall I do to inherit eternal si life?” Jesus answered, “What is written 0 in the law? How do you read?” The way 0 ii It Happened — TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO l ( From Gospel Herald, Feb. 5, *927) (j Bro. J. D. Risser, Hagerstown, Md., wishes to acknowledge the many mes- l‘ sages of comfort that he has received * during his recent illness. On Dec. 5 . . . Bro. Henry Wolfer was ^ ordained as bishop of the congregation (] at this place [Hopewell, Hubbard, Ore.], g ( From Mission Supplement, Feb., 1927) [< The great mass of the people of China and especially those in country districts, ^ are still quite friendly to the missionary “ and the foreigner. How long this con dition will continue, no one can tell. Bro. Silas Weldy of Wakarusa, Ind., i; . . . conducting a series of meetings ai this place [Detroit Mission]. February 5, 1952 GOSPEL HERALD 125 of salvation taught in the Old Testa- ment was not contrary to the Gospel of Jesus. Eor they were saved by faith just as we are, as Paul shows in his letter to the Romans. This lawyer was not igno- rant of the truth. He answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.” He saw more in the law than the carnal ordinances and commandments which the carnal Jews used to emphasize. He saw the eternal will of God to which the law and the prophets bore witness. Je- sus answered him, “You have answered right. Do this and you will live.” Another time a scribe asked Jesus, “What commandment is the first of all?” Jesus answered, “The first is: ‘Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as your- self.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” The teaching of Christ and the apos- tles shows us that we must begin with the first and great commandment. We who are under the new covenant do not be- gin with the Ten Commandments writ- ten on tablets of stone; but we begin with the law written on our hearts, the law of love. You shall love the Lord with all your heart. The first command- ment is to make a full surrender to God, the same sort of surrender that a pure virgin makes to a man whom she loves and wishes to marry. Until this sur- render is made to Christ, we are not keeping His commandments, no matter how hard we may try to improve our- selves inwardly and outwardly. The first commandment must come first. There is no other way of salvation than by “los- ing our lives” and “taking up the cross.” If we do this, the rest is possible. For all things are possible with God. If we die with Him we will live with Him. If we follow Him by repentance into death and are buried with Him in baptism we will certainly have a share in His resur- rection. “I have been crucified with Christ,” Paul wrote to the Galatians. “It is no longer I who live; but Christ lives in me.” And to the Philippians he wrote, “To me to live is Christ.” And to the Galatians he also wrote, “Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.” Chris- tians glory in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been cru- cified to us and we to the world. It is good for us to begin every new day with a new consecration to the will of God. “If any man would come after me,” said Christ, “let him deny him- self and take up his cross daily.” The first commandment is not only the first commandment for the new convert; it is the first commandment for every one who believes in Jesus and follows Him. We must consider ourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. We must remember that we were baptized into His death, and are dead to sin. And we must come to God in order to receive the grace and help we need for each day. Our inner man is renewed every day; and if not, we quickly lose what we have. Remember the true words of the one who came into the world to bear witness to the truth: “Do this and you will be saved.” Do you believe God loves you? Do you believe Jesus loves people? Do you think that He who knows what is best for us would command us to do things that hurt us and destroy us? If He loves us as much as He says He does? Never! We love Him. We love because He first loved us. Most of us are not yet made perfect in love. Our love is imperfect just as our faith is imperfect. But we do not love the world, nor the things that are in the world. “If any man loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the pride and vain glory of life, is not of the Father but of the world. And the world is passing away .... But he who does the will of God remains for- ever.” We love God. And “this is the love of God, that we keep his command- ments; and his commandments are not grievous.” His yoke is easy. His burden is light. If ye love Him .... Staten Island, N.Y. The Work of the Mennonite Research Foundation By Melvin Gingerich Director of Research The Mennonite Research Foundation, organized in 1947 as a chartered agency under the Mennonite Board of Educa- tion, exists to serve the Mennonite Church. It is a fact-finding, problem- studying agency, attempting to gather many different kinds of information needed by the boards and committees of the church. With the growth of the Men- nonite Church and the multiplying of her activities and areas of service, it has become increasingly apparent that the brethren serving on committees and in positions of leadership in the conferences do not have the time necessary to gather all of the facts and statistics needed in their work. Just as every successful large business organization finds it necessary to have a research department in order that its planning be not based on unin- formed speculation or guesses, so the church must have reliable information and carefully evaluated data for intel- ligent interpretation and sound plan- ning. The Research Foundation was or- ganized to furnish this kind of infor- mation. Twenty-six major assignments as well as many smaller ones have been given to the Reasearch Foundation in the four years during which it has been in opera- tion. These assignments, approved by the M.R.F. Board of Directors, have come from the Peace Problems Com- mittee, the Mennonite Relief Committee, the Mennonite Board of Missions and Charities, the Mennonite Board of Edu- cation, and the Mennonite Publishing House, as well as from special commit- tees of the General Conference and the General Council. Among the projects are several that have resulted in the writing of books. Such studies are The Mennonite Church in the Second World War, by G. F. Hershberger; Youth and Christian Citi- zenship, by Melvin Gingerich; and What of Noncombatant Service ? by Melvin Gingerich. In preparation are Heroes of Nonresistance, by Elizabeth Bauman, and the Relief Work of the Mennonite Church, by G. F. Hershberger. Also in preparation is a history of the sisters’ sewing circles and missionary societies. Most of the studies, however, do not result in publication but rather in re- ports, tables of statistics, findings, and articles. Such, for example, was the Men- nonite Income study, as well as the one on Mennonite giving, which were pre- sented in several church publications and in the annual meeting of the Men- nonite Board of Missions and Charities. One of the most helpful studies under- taken was the compilation of an index of conference resolutions adopted by the general and district conferences of the Mennonite Church for the years covered by manuscript and printed records. This index is on file in the Menonite Publish- ing House library and in the Goshen College Mennonite Historical Library. Another helpful study was the analysis of the contents of the Gospel Herald from its beginning in order to see what subjects were emphasized, which ones negfected, and what approach was used. A study of Mennonite church buildings erected since 1918 revealed trends and in- formation which a number of church building committees have found helpful. The extent of participation in inter- school athletics by Mennonite boys at- tending public high schools was learned for the use of the Mennonite Board of Education. The most extensive study to date has been the Mennonite Family Census. Statistics obtained from this project will be useful for years to come. To what ex- tent are the Mennonites still a rural and farming people? What per cent of our income earners are employed in in- dustry? What is the age of the average Mennonite church member? What is the educational level of the average Men- nonite? At what age do our young peo- ple now join church compared to ten or twenty years ago? What per cent of our members come from non-Mennonite background? Are our families larger than those of the average American fam- ily? What is the average number of church members per Mennonite family 126 GOSPEL HERALD February 5, 1952 and how many families are there in the Mennonite Church? The answers to all of these questions and many more for which this study furnishes the informa- tion have been desired by committees and groups planning the work of the Mennonite Church. Two major studies will be undertaken in 1952. A study of Mennonite income in 1951 will be made for purposes of com- parison with the earlier one and to dis- cover present trends in income as related to Mennonite giving. The second ma- jor project is the Mennonite Outreach Study. Under it an attempt will be made to learn in what areas and among what classes of people our evangelistic efforts have been most successful. What per cent of our members do we lose? What are the most common reasons for this loss? Are we more successful among the poor than among the middle class? In rural areas than in cities? Where in the church have the largest number of non- Mennomte background persons been won? These and many other problems related to the evangelistic outreach of our congregations and home mission sta- tions will be studied. Almost every week the Mennonite Re- search Foundation office receives letters of inquiry from those who wish help on their family histories, from students in colleges and universities who in writ- ing term papers or theses need informa- tion concerning the Mennonites, and from Mennonite students who are work- ing on seminars and term papers in their courses in our own church schools. The office also publishes a mimeographed newssheet entitled “Mennonite Research News and Notes,” which keeps students of Mennonite history and life informed of the studies that are being made in their fields of interest. As the Foundation grows in years and experience and as more funds and per- sonnel are made available for its work, many new projects may be undertaken. Only a beginning has been made in the study of the many problems and forces which concern the Mennonite Church as she faces the increasingly complex Ameri- can culture of the second half of the twentieth century. The officers of the Foundation solicit the financial support, criticisms, suggestions, and prayers of the Mennonite Church. A Tribute By Ruth Hostetler In the passing of Brother George M. Hostetler the church has lost another faithful leader. He served the Holly Grove congregation at Westover, Mary- land, as a minister for eleven years, and was a faithful bishop for over eighteen years. Brother George was of an unassum- ing disposition, always kind and con- siderate of others, a wise counselor, a sympathetic friend to all, a great leader of his people. He never was so taken up with material things that he could not lay them aside to give counsel, sym- pathy, comfort, or whatever was needed to help others. His words and life gave courage and strength to many. He was a staunch defender of our faith. He believed, lived, and taught simplicity and nonconformity. He was a great help to our young men of draft age, giving wise counsel and advice, helping them to understand the prob- lems they were facing. He had a great burden for his people, and when difficulties and trouble arose among them, he spent many sleepless nights in prayer, concerned for their restoration and peace. He was a great student of the Bible, a deep thinker, and a great teacher. I have never heard anyone explain more clearly the great truths of the Bible. When he read the Scriptures he read clearly and distinctly Perpetual Light By Edna Beiler An angry gale roars through the woods, (A lion stalking prey tonight ) While here within this quiet room, Glows an unflickering steadfast light. So sometimes life roars threateningly, (A lion lurking in the night ) For such a time God grant to me A sanctum of perpetual light. Phoenix, Ariz. so that everyone could hear and under- stand what he was reading. He was deeply interested in the work of our conference and always attended when possible. He was present at the Ohio and Eastern A.M. Joint Confer- ence at Allensville, Pa., in May, and at the General Conference at Goshen, Ind., in August. He was a great lover of children. He had time for the tiniest children, always speaking to them. They in turn had a love for him. He would not neglect the little ones because there was some- one great to speak to. But as our Lord, he would say, “Suffer the little children to come unto me, . . . for of such is the kingdom of heaven.” His last sermon was preached on Nov. 4, 1951, at our communion service. He told us his prayer was that God would give him strength, that one more time he could minister to his people. And the Lord graciously answered that prayer. He was a great lover of singing, and often taught singing classes. The last young people’s meeting he attended he was asked to lead a song. His physical strength was waning and he was hardly able to lead, but his spirit was in the work and he led with vigor. As his body weakened his spiritual strength increased. He still gave counsel to our minister and deacon just a few days before his passing. The family have lost a kind, loving, and faithful husband and father, the church a wise counselor, the community a loving friend. His children have re- ceived from him a goodly heritage. His life and influence will go on: “He being dead yet speaketh.” “Blessed are the dead that die in the Lord.” Manokin, Md. An Appreciation of the Brunk Brothers’ Tent Revivals By D. D. Miller This article is being written on my own volition. I feel that a good work needs to be encouraged; therefore I write. In September, 1951, the large tent was set up in a field in Wayne County, Ohio. The meetings lasted five weeks, or over six Sundays. My wife and I attended all we could (more than we earlier had an- ticipated), missing possibly eight of the forty-two or more services, because duties called me elsewhere. This gave one who was interested in trying to determine the true value of the work at least a fair op- portunity for decision. May I say, that I never like to swallow anything so “dif- ferent,” without some critical observa- tion, and then generally there are ex- ceptions. If one questions an undertak- ing he does not need to try to be critical; so I set to the task of trying to satisfy my curiosity. The tent meeting is a large undertak- ing. There is a large tent, large grounds, large semitrailers, large trailer houses, and two large men heading it all (the only noticeable exception is a small air- plane near by). What is it all about? “Lose your sins and find your Saviour” and “The whole Gospel for the whole world” are two prominent mottoes displayed. How about the singing? Well, it is just the good old (and new) Gospel songs that sing and speak about the Saviour, His blood, and praises to God. What about the preaching? The mes- sages night after night convinced me, and made me think to write as I do. The preaching was Biblical, sound, inter- woven with Scripture references, con- vincing and “Mennonitish.” Don’t mis- understand me; by that latter term I simply mean that the “all things” were preached in those large audiences with- out begging for mercy for the right to preach them. Nonconformity was preached equally with nonresistance and apparently without favor or fear; and it took with the people, and it definitely helped a lot of people. As long as the Brunk brothers carry on that manner of work, laboring for February 5, 1952 127 A Prayer for This Week Heavenly Father, you live in incom- prehensible light. Yet a ray of your light has fallen over me and I could but con- template your glory. One echo of your voice came to my conscience and I lis- tened. Your image remained in my heart and I understood what you are. My faith would cast me into your merciful arms, O Father. I will have faith, O God, because you know all things. If I am afflicted, if I am tempted because of illness, you know all things and you know what are my in- timate thoughts and intentions. As your power is infinite, so too is your wisdom infinite, O God. Help, O Father, every one when their faith falters, and rekindle in every one the ardor of love which consoles the heart, for you can do all things. I will have faith because of your love; for is not love the perfect mani- festation of your perfection, O God? Is it not by perfect love that other divine graces operate in my behalf and wrap me in their mantle of light? If you have me in the greater love of your Son, will you not also give me all other things in Him? You promise yourself with all your love to me and I pledge myself with all my faith to you. Bless my pray- er, O Lord. Amen. —Franca Ceraulo, Sicily. the salvation of souls and making New Testament disciples, my prayer is that God may bless them and continue to move them forward in the large field, the “world,” and separating church members more and more from worldli- ness to real living for God. I believe these tent revivals are filling a gap in the Mennonite Church today. Berlin, Ohio. If He Were Here Again By Ursula Miller If, after two thousand years, Jesus should walk again among us—! The great men of our time, attracted by His glorious personality, agreed that here, listening to this marvelous Man, was the solution to all their difficulties. (As in- deed, it was!) “His ideas really are merely idealistic,” one great man said bitterly, later. “We find it impossible to use such im- practical suggestions.” “Good, true, and beautiful,” from another. “No force?” one jeered. “My kingdom is not of this world, He said.” GOSPEL HERALD “We can’t use such unreasonable rea- soning.” And He left the great men of the earth to work out their plans without Him! At least, largely without Him. My kingdom is not ot this world! Why, ALL our kingdoms and nations are of this world, tney say. Our hope is in, and of, this world. Oh, of course, when we die, we hope, vaguely, that is true, for a rest in some uncertain heaven, if there is such a place. So reasoned the great and the rich as Jesus withdrew Himself from their company. # * * * “Oh, I wish I could SEE Jesus, really see Him,” thought a follower of His as she sat reading. Amazed, she saw Him as He stood before her. “My Lord and my God,” she said, bowing low before Him whom she adored. “I’m sorry. Lord,” she said. “I do not often read these magazines; my neighbor brought me two and I was looking through them.” This she said rapidly, in shame and confusion. Quickly she arose with a look of worship at her Lord, and she carried the offending magazines to the kitchen, laying them face down on a chair. Hastily she returned to her Guest; He was no longer there. She dropped to her knees where He had sat and said in contrite adoration, “My Lord and my God.” # # # “Use me. Lord, use even me,” softly sang a devout worshiper of Jesus Christ. She was sewing, and meditating about sacred things, as her hands were busy with a needle. Suddenly, before her stood a glorified Beingl “Use your mouth, daughter, to make me known to your neighbor,” the glo- rious One said, and continued, “I know you love me but I am not willing that any others should perish.” Then she to whom the Lord had come whispered, “I will. Lord, oh, I will, but do Thou give me the words to say.” He was no longer there but the glory of His divine presence lingered, filling her heart and soul with a holy radiance. # # # A group of men were discussing a young candidate for the ministry. “I don’t want him,” a disgruntled brother said. “You never want anyone,” he was told. “Why don’t you want him?” “He’s too pious; takes religion too seriously; he takes the Bible too literally. He’ll never be popular. Just for those reasons he’ll never be popular. He will never be a big—” “We don’t need big shots in the pul- pit,” he was told. “It gives our church more prestige if we do, though. We have some rich mem- bers, and—” An awesome Being stood before the trembling group. They cringed with fear and shame. “If you reject the one I have called,” the awesome Being said, “I will bless Prayer Requests — Sister Franca Ceraulo, faithful Christian worker in Sicily, has been ill for a number of months. She has had one serious operation and is facing another one soon. The prayers of God’s people on her behalf are much needed. She herself has suggested an appeal to the readers of the Gospel FIerald. (See A Prayer for This Week.) Pray for the healing and spiritual wel- fare of a young man, an epileptic, and for his wife, that she may have a spir- itual experience and realize her duties in the home. Pray that foreign missionaries in prison in China on false charges may be de- livered by God’s power, and that God may give their families His keeping in heart and mind, and impart courage and patience and unwavering faith. Our workers with Israel request that “ye that are Jehovah’s remembrancers, take ye no rest, and give Him no rest, till He establish, and till He make Jerusalem a praise in the earth.” Pray that the curse of permanent mili- tarism may not come upon us through Universal Military Training. Pray that the way may be opened for effective witness in alternative service by our 1-0 men. Pray for the Mission and the Church in India as they prepare to operate unit- edly under a new constitution, begin- ning July 1. Pray for our young men of draft age, and their parents, that they may stand for Christian convictions on nonresist- ance, and be willing to make personal sacrifice in the interests of Christian witness. him, anyway, but you who reject him will I hold responsible for the souls he cannot win.” The group dispersed trem- bling and ashamed and fearful, for the Being was not among them. * # * “I wish Saul’s were not coming,” pout- ed Jenny prettily, as she helped her mother with dinner. There were other guests and dinner was being prepared. “Well, we haven’t had them for a long time,” the mother said. “Oh, there are so many of them, and so hungry, and they never have anyone, so I never have them,” said a Sunday- school teacher blithely. “Mother has them often,” replied Jenny. A Voice said to the women, “Ye are my disciples if ye keep all my command- ments,” as they stood terrified. 128 February 5, 1952 “When thou makest a dinner or a supper, call not thy friends . . . nor thy rich neighbours; lest they also bid thee again.” As the women stood aghast at the word they had heard the Voice was no longer present among them. He, as a Spirit Being, is in our very midst. It is a good feeling to be with friends of whom we are not ashamed, nor they of us. We are aware of what they do, and what they say. We do not care to make apology for our friends. We, too, try to conduct our life so that they are not ashamed of us. “Ye are my friends if ye do whatsoever I command you,” said Jesus. “I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ,” said the Apostle Paul, and so also should we say. “What an inestimable privilege to have Jesus as Friend and keep His words! Our minds are constantly God-conscious and Jesus-conscious. And— if He were suddenly, bodily, in our midst-would we be ashamed? Would we— of our thoughts, our words, our deeds— IF HE WERE HERE AGAIN? Protection, Kans. Perspective . . . and Then Perseverance By David A. Shank Habakkuk, “the prophet who scolded God,” has much to say to present-day servants in the kingdom of God. Spir- itual crises, such as the one through which he passed, and with which we are constantly threatened in times like our own, compel the people of God to main- tain perspective on the context of their faith and work, as well as to be con- stantly re-enthused, revived, and restored in the path of perseverance and commit- ment, or else we will commit spiritual suicide, as Habakkuk almost did. The perspective required is that al- most-divine objectivity toward oppres- sion of the righteous, toward distortion of the truth, toward perversion of jus- tice, and toward apparent successes of the godless— a perspective which, rising above these horribly real but nonetheless temporal and passing circumstances, re- ceives a vision of God as One who is not insensitive to the cries of the right- eous, nor powerless in the face of these circumstances, but One who listens pa- tiently to our complaints even when dis- torted by external circumstances, and One who is already in the act of answer- ing our complaints even before we cry, and that by means of the very circum- stances about which we complain. That we cannot always understand His answer, or that we may not in our own time see the end results of His answer should not dissuade us. His purposes will be ful- filled, He will judge evil, and He will vin- dicate His own. To see One who is eter- nal and holy use even the most evil de- signs of men to serve His purposes should GOSPEL HERALD only serve to confirm His holiness and righteousness. Such a vision will deepen and strengthen our own concern and prayer for the revelation of the continuing re- demption of God in the midst of His judgments in time among the nations. As Habakkuk prayed: “Revive thy work in the midst of the years, in the midst of the years make it known, and in judg- ment remember mercy,” so must we pray, until we see with a new clarity that the redemptive purposes of God will be made known in the midst of the years, in the midst of the temporal judgments by those who are willing to stake their all upon such a God— a faithful God. He will reveal Himself and His salvation and life through those who, like Habak- OUR SC Implications of the Changing Role of the Nurse in Current So- ciety for Our Nursing Education Programs By Edna Amstutz [Sister Amstutz is Director of Education at the La Junta Mennonite School of Nursing. The following address was given in the section on nursing education at the meeting of the Men- nonite Board of Education on Oct. 20, 1951, at Morgantown, Pa.] The question of preparing nurses to meet present-day nursing needs is at the height of the “stirred up” phase in a cycle of change in the emerging of new patterns of nursing programs and curri- cula, and we are now asking ourselves just what shall we do about our parti- cular situation in order to best fulfill our purposes and discharge our Christian obligation to the present age. It is a big question indeed and we can be assured that our decisions of today will prove to be the right ones for tomorrow only if we are fully guided by the will of God. We can turn with reassurance to James 1:5, 6, “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering.” Curricula recommendations resulting from study groups and individual research. Changes in society imply changes in the functions of the nurse. Population increase, increased life expectancy, in- crease in chronic diseases, changes in the social pattern which have shifted nurs- ing care almost completely from the home to the hospital, the broadening scope of the nurse’s function in technical services, community responsibility, and increasing emphasis on preventive and ■ positive health goals— all add up to a crying demand for more nurses. In studying the problem of supplying kuk, have identified themselves with Him and His purposes to the extent that external circumstances of war, depres- sion and famine, “or any other creature” can make no demands upon them that are not already being met in their perse- vering commitment to Him. With such a perspective and such a commitment, Habakkuk moved from a mood of misunderstanding complaint to trusting confidence in the face of the most impossible circumstances, humanly speaking. May all those that serve in His name know that same confidence, despite the nature of the task, or the dif- ficult circumstances that weigh upon them. Thus may His kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven.— European Relief Notes. HOOLS an additional number of nurses it be- comes obvious that not all nurses will need to be prepared for the same func- tions. Curricula should be geared to offer differing levels of preparation. These functions have been differentiated into three main categories— (1) the sim- ple or assisting functions, (2) the inter- mediate or technical functions, (3) the complex or professional type functions. In order to prepare workers for these major categories of nursing activities it is necessary to develop appropriate edu- cational programs: (1) to include insti- tutional or homemaking activities for the assisting group, (2) to include the technical activities for the intermediate group, (3) to include the total range of nursing activities for the professional type functions. The first group could probably be trained on the job for specific functions. Our problem as educational institutions then seems to be centered particularly in the areas of preparation for total pro- fessional and for technical activities. The larger number of nurses in in- stitutional work will be required to per- form the technical skills. This is the group which should be increased with greater rapidity. It is my personal opinion that this group of workers should have a sufficient degree of com- petence and responsibility that they can give good safe nursing care without con- stant, close supervision— otherwise good nursing which is based on a combination of good spirit, skill, and knowledge can- not be given to the public. The present programs which have been set up for the practical nurse on a one-year basis of preparation are now ready for some scrutinizing, and it ap- pears that they are not quite adequate to prepare the worker for as full a range of activities as is actually needed. Mildred Montag offers this observation, “Three large hospitals in New York who have hired trained practical nurses as rapidly as they were available say that they are ' February 5, 1952 able to do very little more than aides trained on the job. Their conclusion is that hospitals are not justified to pay the higher wage demanded, and that cost to the person and to the public do not appear to be warranted in view of the slight increase in kind and quality of care the practical nurse is able to give above the level of the aide.” In the summary of Curriculum Bul- letin No. 2 which was the outcome of the Joint Nursing Curriculum Conference held at Teachers’ College, Columbia University, November, 1950, the follow- ing conclusions were advanced: That Nursing Curricula should be developed: 1. To prepare all nurses who are recognized to practice within a state to be skilled in the technical aspects of nursing a patient. This includes the following: the necessary manual skills; sufficient understanding of human behavior upon which to es- tablish a good relationship with the patient under care and with other members of the institution who are involved; knowledge of immediate effect of treatment and prevention of infection; ability to know the limits of their competence and the value of supervision and consul- tation. Education for this group should be secured in a school of post-high-school level of instruction following the standards suggested. 2. To prepare an enlarging group of nurses for the complete range of nursing in its service to prevent disease and promote health of body and mind, and to assume leadership of the nursing team. Education for this group should be secured in a senior liberal arts college or uni- versity through an integrated course including general, professional, and technical courses leading to a de- gree in nursing. 3. To prepare selected nurses from the degree program through advanced preparation to be nursing special- ists, consultants, teachers, super- visors, administrators, and research workers. The group further delineated the three levels of preparation as follows: 1. First level of instruction for nurses should be an integrated program of general and nursing education of post-high-school, college grade. The present diploma courses in nursing should be studied and reorganized on an educational basis to include the minimum general education which is basic to the understanding of modern nursing. 2. Second level of instruction should be an integrated program of gen- eral, professional, and technical nursing education in a college or university leading to a baccalaure- ate degree. 3. Third level of instruction should be an integrated program leading to a GOSPEL HERALD master’s or advanced degree to pre- pare nurses for advanced responsi- bility. It is further advocated that in the development of these curricula provision be made for progression from one level to another. This is necessary in order to give opportunity, challenge, and a rightful sense of worth to all levels of nursing. The need for this was recog- nized both by the Joint Nursing Curri- culum Conference Group and also very forcefully presented by Mary Ella Chayer in her book, Nursing in Modern Society. The application of these recommenda- tions to our educational program. This in brief presents something of most recent trends in the planning of re- search and study groups concerning the much-needed revision of nursing cur- ricula. How does it apply to our church program of Nursing Education? It seems logical that within these patterns we should be able to develop curricula on the first and second levels. At Goshen College we now have the program cor- responding to the second level pattern. At La Junta we have the program, with slight modification, that corre- sponds more closely to the traditional three-year diploma program of the still common hospital school. Its program and function must be studied and con- sidered carefully to see whether or not the curriculum can be revised to pre- pare for the technical functions in a shorter period of time and whether per- haps there are possibilities in using both hospital and community resources for preparation in rural hospital and com- munity areas— a field in much need of more nursing service. The question keeps raising itself in my mind, if all professional nurses are to be prepared in the large universities and medical centers, will any then be willing to sepa- rate themselves and find their place of service in isolated rural areas? Perhaps this is a part of our opportunity. Our school in the past has functioned in more or less obscurity and under serious handi- caps, yet it cannot be denied that good has been accomplished. There is one factor that dare not be overlooked— the element of those intangibles of faith and spirit not found in secular institutions— God in the small and insignificant must ever be reckoned as a mightier force than the greatest of human and material re- sources apart from Him. This experience in the past history of our first school of nursing should be an encouragement not only in planning for the future of that particular school but for the total pro- gram on new fronts as well. In preparation for the third level positions it seems self-evident that study must be pursued in universities offering postgraduate work. However, in this area definite forethought and planning is necessary to have people prepared and available for a growing, developing pro- gram. 129 The need for clear directives to make our nursing curricula Christ-centered. With respect to the program of the church, how will these patterns of nurs- ing curricula prepare the needed person- nel? Since the service activities of the church are geared also to meet the ex- isting needs of the day and must meet standard requirements in the organiza- tion of welfare and service activities, it would seem that progress along the sug- gested lines should correspond well with the type of services which will be needed by the church programs. Ways and means of utilizing to best advantage specially prepared personnel should be studied. However, we must go beyond the standards set for mere professional com- petency. It is our task to interpret mod- ern nursing education in the light of a Christian philosophy and to determine our own directives to accomplish the task of the church to her youth and to the world’s need for total health of soul and body. We cannot rightly see our obligation to society apart from its in- terpretation in the light of our faith in the eternal triune God, who created us and who through His Son Jesus Christ redeemed us from sin that our lives might show forth the praise of His glory. The primary purpose of our schools be- comes the development of such programs as will instill and perpetuate in the lives of our students a growing faith in God and a commitment of self to His will and service as well as to prepare them for their professional responsibilities. The service and profession of nursing must then ever be established as a consecrated means of service to our Master, whom we serve through ministry to the least of the sons of His creation. These are the moti- vating forces in our program which we need to see clearly as we set them side by side with the humanistic motives of our respected contemporaries, from whom we can and must learn much in ways, means, and reasons for the redirection of our program of nursing education. Per- haps God has called us to this day and hour that we may revitalize the spirit of the Love of Christ in a worthy calling or profession. Certainly the spirit of nurs- ing has always been a factor equal to the knowledge of any age which has made nursing either good or bad. As Chris- tian nurses we should have a fuller un- derstanding of the total needs of man- kind than humanistic-motivated indi- viduals are able to envision. We should endeavor to interpret preventive medi- cine and build health of both soul and body. This is the work of a Christian program. It is only as we meet and dis- charge our obligation in the interpre- tation of Christian Nursing, first, to our students and then through them to the world, that we can claim a right to ex- pect our church constituency to support a costly program of nursing education. La Junta, Colo. 130 GOSPEL HERALD February 5, 1952 FOR OUR SHUT-INS God Bless You 1 seek in prayerful words, dear friend, My heart’s true wish to send you That you may know that, far or near, My loving thoughts attend you. 1 cannot find a truer word, Nor fonder to caress you; Nor song nor poem I have heard Is sweeter than “God bless you.” God bless you! So I’ve wished you all Of brightness life possesses; For can there any joy at all Be thine unless God blesses? God bless you! So I breathe a charm Lest grief’s dark night oppress you; For how can sorrow bring you harm If ’tis God’s way to bless you? —Clifford Lewis. Contributed by Mrs. Peter S. Martin. Why? By Stanley C. Shenk “If the Lord be with us, why then is all this befallen us?” Surely, this ques- tion Gideon addressed to the angel has been asked millions of times by people in the depths of adversity. In Gideon’s case, the answer is not too hard to find. The Lord was “with” His people, yes, but He was with them in terms of the discipline of punishment for their sin. Moreover, He was also willing to be with them in terms of deliverance. There are countless other types of ad- versity out of which the agonized human heart cries, “Why?” and in which the answer may be harder to find. A vital young man may be crippled for life in an auto accident not of his own making, or a mature person in the full tide of useful activity may be cut down and condemned to a lifetime of invalidism by a blighting disease. Then the grip- ping question “Why?” comes and insists on an answer. There are at least three answers to this problem of human suf- fering. First, God sometimes allows suf- fering in order to make of an individual a special channel of service to others. John Milton was smitten with blindness at an early age, but out of that affliction he dictated some of the greatest religious poetry of all time. It is very unlikely that he would have written so extensively had he had his normal sight and a normal round of activities. Because of his out- ward darkness, he kindled the inner fires of the imagination and saw things in heaven, earth, and hell never glimpsed by other eyes. These things he wrote down for us in his two great poems, “Paradise Lost” and “Paradise Re- gained.” We all know of invalids who infuse their surroundings with a glory. People come to cheer them, and go away cheered themselves 1 God is using them as special channels of service. Their friends think of them and say: “If the grace of God is sufficient for them, it’s sufficient for me!” Paul prayed thrice that his thorn in the flesh might be re- moved, and the Lord said, in effect, “Keep it. My grace is sufficient. Your adversity makes you feel weak, and then you seek my strength. Thus, in the end, you are a better servant.” Second, God may allow suffering in order to cleanse and purify us. In the long dark hours that accompany a physical or an emotion- al wound, there is plenty of time for med- itation, for confession, for consecration, for applying the promises of God as never before. Out of such a use of ad- versity comes the radiance that glorifies the room of a saintly sufferer. Out of such an experience of drawing nigh unto God in our trouble comes the spiritual dynamic that makes possible a special ministry through our suffering. A Chris- tian girl, whose cherished love affair had broken off, once said to me with deep feeling, “I can’t understand why it hap- pened this way, but I do know it has drawn me closer to my Lord.” Yielding to God in adversity makes a man tender; fighting Him makes a man bitter. “Whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth .... Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby” (Heb. 12:6, 11). Third, God sometimes allows suffering in order to give direc- tion to wayward or unconsecrated lives. He cannot force any man to be saved, but He can put stumbling blocks on the road to hell. He does when people pray earnestly for a soul’s salvation. I know. He put stumbling blocks in my road, and I finally got tired of tripping over them. He cannot force anyone to become a missionary, but He can lead a man in that direction through bringing experi- ences of suffering into a path of selfish- ness that he has wrongly chosen. West Liberty, Ohio. Mrs. R. D. Rhodes, Jr., Dayton, Va., suggests that shut-ins might like to have names and addresses of other shut-ins with whom they could correspond. We will be glad to print a list of such names as are sent to us.— Editor. Use Me By Rose Magines Lord , as I live from day to day In this obscure and lonely way; Show me a work that I can do That will bring honor unto you. I’d overcome my own distress By planting seeds of happiness. Forgive the selfishness I feel When before Thy throne I steal And ask for blessings just for me, And needs of others fail to see. Father, forgive my selfish way And teach me how to truly pray. The task is great, the workers few. Here on my bed what can I do? I would prefer work in Thy field, But Thy will’s best and so I yield To Thy request, “Come ye apart And rest a while, renew thy heart.” Dear Lord, if there’s iniquity Within my heart to hinder me In fellowship with Thee, I pray, Empty me of self today. Fill me with Thy Spirit true. Show me Calvary Love anew. La Junta, Colo. The Christian Attitude for the Later Years of Life By Frances E. Boord A calmness engendered from the “peace that passeth all understanding,” a willingness to accept God’s will wheth- er it is exercised through physical laws that have been broken, or otherwise, and a smile that will show that one has been with Jesus, should characterize the personality of any Christian. “Laugh and the world laughs with you, weep and you weep alone,” is never exemplified more strongly than in the later years of life. Even in homes for the aged, the group gathers around the op- timistic ones. When age draws on we should have had such experiences that we have learned that “all things work together for good to them that love God.” It is not so much what we have had to face or bear through life as it is how we have done so that will bring in- ward content. If we have taken “every- thing to God in prayer,” and have left it there after doing everything in our pow- er to rectify or solve our problem, then we should have peace. But if we keep mulling over things after we have left them with Him, only disaster is the re- sult. There is nothing more soul-inspiring and comforting than to see a helpless paralytic or arthritic patient bright and (Continued on page 14V) February 5, 195 2 GOSPEL HERALD 131 TO BE NEAR TO GOD BASED ON THE DAILY READINGS FOR THE SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSONS Sunday, February 10 The Foolishness of Greed. Luke 12:13-21. “Thou fool !” What a contrast to the com- mendation Christ gave the poor widow — “She has cast in all.” The rich fool was sat- isfied with himself, while the poor widow hungered and thirsted after righteousness. Christ said, “[She] shall be filled.” We can be sure the widow was provided for tem- porally, since she sought first the things of God. The rich fool had great possessions, but soon he had only his soul left. It was shrivel- ed and lank, because it had not been fed on the bread and water of life. John 6:34 — “Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread.” John 4:15 — “Give me this water, that I thirst not.” Monday, February 11 Love Between Brothers. I John 2:8-17. “There is beauty all around, When there’s love at home; There is joy in ev’ry sound, When there’s love at home.” (No. 220 in Church Hymnal.) Jesus combined the two great command- ments from the Old Testament (Lev. 19:18 and Deut. 11:1) and showed us that he who loveth God will, also love his brothers. We can not be filled with the love of God and not love those around us. If we do not love our brethren we show that we do not love God completely. We can only love God as He fills us with His love, for “God is love.” Romans 5:5 — “The love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.” Romans 13:10 — “Love is the fulfilling of the law.” Tuesday, February 12 Kin to Christ. Mark 3:31-35. Jesus could not let His earthly relations supersede all those who would be related to Him in His coming kingdom. The divine Lord could not let His brief humanity amount to more than His eternal Lordship. How wonderful that we can be kin to Je- sus. We can provide for His little ones, as “unto Him.” We can be brothers and sisters unto the least of these who are the Lord’s. Thus we are close kin to the Saviour who died for us. This is only a figure of the nearness of the Master, but it shows the practical application demanded of us. “Closer is He than breathing, nearer than hands and feet.” Wednesday, February 13 Friends in Bethcmy. Luke 10:38-42. Of all His earthly friends these three, Mary. Martha, and Lazarus, were very dear to Him. Perhaps because they were near to Jerusalem, He often retired to their place. Why? First, their welcome. Second, their love for Him. Third, they provided for Him. Fourth, they sought to learn of Him. Fifth, they consulted with Him about their problems. They needed Jesus and, in His humanity, He needed them. Hence they were mutual friends. What a glowing picture of Chris- tian friendship! We enjoy our friends more when we can help them occasionally, as well as be helped by them. Of what greater thing could we be worthy than to entertain God’s workers? Lord, come to me and be my Guest, And let me fill Thy least request. Thursday, February 14 Friends in Trouble. John 11:1-6. A friend is sick, but Jesus is gone. Why does He tarry? Why does He not hasten to the one He loves? Lord, help us that must wait! Prepare us for the day when Jesus will come and we need no longer wait. But in the meanwhile abide with us that must mark time till our longings are realized. We know that when we completely rest in Thee and quit our vain struggling, the glory of Thy presence will fill us with the splendor of heaven. Dear Lord, abide with us that wait. Friday, February 15 Without Counting the Cost. John 11:7-16. The time has come for Jesus to go on a necessary mission, and He prepares His dis- ciples. After discussing the danger in Jeru- salem, Thomas resolves to go with the Mas- ter, “that we may die with him.” In Christ’s day many ceased following Him for any number of reasons, but the Twelve decided to stay with Him because He had the words of eternal life. Now they decide to go with Jesus to death. Though they may have hesitated at the cross, eleven of the twelve gave their lives to live and die with the Master. The strait and narrow way is never crowd- ed, but what glorious company it affords its wayfarers ! Saturday, February 16 A Beloved Friend of Jesus. John 11:17-35. How great sympathy had the Lord of life and death with those whose friend had died. So great that He wept with them. As if He forgot for the moment what He had come to do and mourned with them all. Because He was a perfect man He felt sorrow even more keenly than the others. Lazarus must have been one of the rare souls that all love, for many had come to weep for him. Had devotion to Jesus made him also one of the pure in heart that can appreciate the things of God? At any rate Jesus loved him. And when He had paid His respects to His friends. He hastened to release the bands of death. Have we let Je- THE FAMILY AT BETHANY Sunday School Lesson for February 17 (Luke 10:38-42; John 11:1-45; 12:1, 2) The followers studied in this lesson stayed at home. They did not go around with Je- sus. They were not the so-called missionaries of today. They did not belong in a minister’s home. As some of us like to call ourselvfes, they were just ordinary keepers at home. We can be followers at home. Jesus loved to go to this home. Why? There was always an open door with a big welcome. Why? Was it not because He greatly blessed the home He visited? Mary, Martha, and Lazarus anticipated the blessing of their guest. They appreciated Jesus much. Often they must have sat and listened to Je- sus tell them of things eternal. “Mary also sat” implies that Martha too had a listening ear and certainly Lazarus sat to learn. Jesus came often to this home to minister to the souls there. He was not intent on being min- istered to. Once when Jesus called, Martha became quite frustrated with the serving. Jesus had to rebuke her for not taking time to listen in faith with undivided attention and eager ap- propriation to His words. We can be attentive listeners to His Word, appropriating His truths to our lives. We, too, must take time out of a busy life. The follower at home who gets the blessing is the one who chooses and takes the opportunity to be blessed. To keep first things first, we must daily sit at His feet. Is He a welcome guest at our homes? When death came to this home, what bless- ing did Jesus give them? In giving Lazarus back to them He showed them His Godhead and Saviourship. Every contact with this home brought blessing. When Jesus’ passion was approaching He sought the hospitality of this home again. Why? Here He found understanding love as few living had. Jesus would be a daily guest at our homes bringing with Him blessings. Will we take time to learn of Him? True followers do find time. Open wide your doors, today. — Alta Mae Erb. Lesson based on "International Sunday School Les- sons: the International Bible Lessons for Christian Teaching," copyrighted 1951 by the Division of Chris- tian Education National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. sus command the stones of doubt, pride, and fear to be rolled from our lives, so that we can behold Him who has redeemed us? — Mary Alice Holden. The principle of nonresistance is more than a heritage of peace churches; it is a practical expression of an inner life that can be found only in individuals who have an experiential knowledge of salvation, and whose experience and training includes the application of love to all areas of life. — Noah G. Good. 132 GOSPEL HERALD FIELD NOTES Items to appear In this column lor any issue of the following Tuesday must reach Scottdale by Wednesday morning. Bro. Verle Hoffman, Goshen, Ind., brought a concluding evangelistic message at a Sun- day school meeting held at the Olive Church, Elkhart, Ind., on Jan. 27 by eight northern Indiana congregations. Bro. George R. Brunk preached to the Pinecraft congregation on Jan. 20. The audi- ence numbered 1000. A Franconia youth meeting was held at the Line Lexington Church on Jan. 26. Bro. James Shank, on furlough from Africa, was the speaker. Bro. Elmer Moyer, Souderton, Pa., was one of the instructors in a Prophecy Conference held at the Rocky Ridge Church, Sellersville, Jan. 19 and 20. Bro. Paul Marvin Yoder will conduct a singing school at La Junta, Colo., Feb. 18-26. Bro. Ford Berg is growing stronger but has not yet been strong enough for an opera- tion. Winter Bible school classes are held each Wednesday evening at the Plain Church, Lansdale, Pa. Bro. Wayne Kratz teaches Ephesians to the adults and Bro. Jacob R. Clemens teaches Latin American missions to the young people. Bro. Paul Holdeman was ordained minister for the Gulfhaven congregation, Gulfport, Miss., on Jan. 20. E. M. Yost, Denver, Colo., preached the ordination sermon and Paul Hershey, Gulfport, Miss., was in charge of the ordination. Table of Contents 121 — The Place of Women in the Work of the Church The Time Is Short (Poem) 122 — Our Readers Say 123 — The Occasional Gambler The Strength of Separation Accepting Oneself 124 — How to Keep the Commandments It Happened 125 — The Work of the Mennonite Research Foundation 126 — A Tribute Perpetual Light (Poem) An Appreciation of the Brunk Brothers' Tent Revivals 127 — A Prayer for This Week If He Were Here Again Prayer Requests 128 — Perspective and Then Perseverance Implications of the Changing Role of the Nurse in Current Society for Our Nursing Education Program 130 — God Bless You (Poem) Why? Use Me (Poem) The Christian Attitude for the Later Years of Life 131 — To Be Near to God Sunday School Lesson for February 17 132— Field Notes 133 — Mission News 134 — Balodgahan, India, Boarding School 136 — Coming and Going 137 — As You Might Have Been 138 — The Kingdom to the South III M.C.C. Weekly Notes 139 — Church Correspondence 141 — Births Marriages Obituaries 142— The Book Shelf 143 — Items and Comments A children’s Bible hour is being planned by the Elmira, Ont., congregation. This will be held one evening weekly in at least two homes with sisters from the congregation in charge. Six people were received into the Swank Church, Lone Tree, Iowa, recently, five by water baptism and one by letter. The Swank congregation gave the evening program at Iowa City on Jan. 6. The Messenger Quartet, Flanagan, 111., gave a program of Gospel songs at the Pres- byterian Church in Sterling, 111., on Jan. 27. The Gospel Beacons, young people’s or- ganization of the Chestnut Hill congregation, Columbia, Pa., has erected three small signs and is planning to erect a large billboard to carry the message of the Gospel. A weekly prayer meeting for the East Pe- tersburg congregation has been started recent- ly by the Gospel Stewards Fellowship. Bro. Ira Nafziger was ordained to the ministry for the Laurel Street Church, Lan- caster, Pa., on Dec. 30. The following Friday afternoon one of his children was struck by an automobile and instantly killed. The brethren Amos Horst and Simon Bucher of the Lancaster Conference plan to begin a trip to the South on Feb. 4. They will include a trip to an Indian reservation in southern Alabama. Bro. Paul Mast was ordained to the min- istry at the Nickel Mines Mission, Paradise, Pa., on Jan. 20. Nine regional Bible schools now being conducted in the Lancaster Conference have an average attendance of 2000 or more. The special Bible term at Lancaster Men- nonite School has 47 enrolled. Bro. J. Irvin Lehman is serving as director. A girls’ chorus has been organized at Hannibal, Mo., with Mrs. Ellis Zuercher as director. Bro. Harold Kreider and other workers from Hannibal visited Bro. Johnny Allison at the Missouri State Prison on Jan. 28. He has given his testimony at the regular Sun- day morning service and has been asked to teach a Sunday school class. He has been dis- tributing tracts and one young man has re- quested baptism. Bro. D. D. Stoltzfus, Atmore, Ala., for- merly of Hesston, Kans., would like to get in touch with young Mennonite families look- ing for cheaper land. He knows of an 800- acre tract in western Florida for sale at $30 per acre. Nine states and provinces, from Oregon to eastern Pennsylvania, were represented among the fifty persons who attended our first conference on summer camps held at the Salem Church, Elida, Ohio, on Jan. 25 and 26. Bro. Howard Stevanus and wife, Breslau, Ont., arrived on Jan. 22 at Gulfport, Miss., and plan to stay until April 1. The Franconia Tract Society was sched- uled to meet at Perkasie, Pa., on Feb. 4. February 5, 7952 Visiting Speakers Dec. 30: Wilbur Yoder, Middlebury, Ind., accompanied by the Middlebury Chorus un- der direction of Miriam Keim, at North Go- shen, Ind.; Russell Krabill, Goshen, Ind., at East Goshen, A.M., and at Shore, Shipshe- wana, Ind., P.M. Jan. 6: Ivan Magal, Richmond, Va., at Warwick River, Denbigh, Va. Jan. 13: Josef Herschkowitz, Harrisonburg, Va., at Gulfhaven, Gulfport, Miss.; Henry L. Ruth, Jr., of the Salford, Pa., church, at Plain, Lansdale, Pa.; J. Lawrence Burkholder, Goshen, Ind., at North Goshen; David L. Landis, Lancaster, Pa., at Landis Valley. Jan. 20: Oliver Roth, Milford, Nebr., at Yoder, Kans.; Rufus Horst, Kansas City, Kans., at Garden City, Mo.; James Martin, Baden, Ont., at East Goshen, Ind.; Arlene Sitler, La Junta, Colo., at Clarence Center, N.Y. Jan. 27: James Shank, Tanganyika, at Rocky Ridge, Sellersville, Pa.; Elizabeth Showalter, Scottdale, at Meadville, Pa.; O. N. Johns, Louisville, Ohio, at Black Oak Ridge, Hancock, Md. Jan. 30: Aaron Shenk, Meckville, Pa., at Youth Fellowship, Mellingers, Lancaster, Pa. Feb. 3: l E. Burkhart, Goshen, Ind., at Strasburg, Pa. Feb. 6: J. Irvin Lehman, Chambersburg, Pa., at Ambassadors for Christ monthly meet- ing, Paradise, Pa. Evangelistic Meetings D. D. Miller, Berlin, Ohio, at Zion, Pryor, Okla., Jan. 13-20 with twenty responses. E. M. Yost, Denver, Colo., at Gulfhaven, Gulf- port, Miss., Jan. 16-23. J. Irvin Lehman, (Continued on page 140) Calendar Annual Christian Day School Meeting, New Danville, Pa., Feb. 16 Mennonite Publication Board, Annual Meeting, Way- land, Iowa, Feb. 20, 21 Eastern Ohio Minister's Meeting, Leetonia Mennonite Church, Leetonia, Ohio, Mar. 4-5. Annual Ministers' Meeting, South Central Conference, Greensburg, Kans., March 11-13 Southwestern Pennsylvania Conference, Ministers' Meeting, Place Undecided, March 21, 22 Conference on Christian Community Relations, Tis- kilwa. 111., March 27-29 General Council of Mennonite General Conference, including invitational Prophecy Conference, Elk- hart, Ind., April 2-5. Lay Evangelism Conference, Goshen College, Go- shen, Ind., April 5-7 Mennonite Youth Fellowship Workshop, Iowa Men- nonite School, Kalona, Iowa, June 9-12 Mennonite Youth Fellowship Annual Meeting, Lower Deer Creek Church, Kalona, Iowa, June 13, 14 Mennonite Board of Missions and Charities, Annual Meeting, Lower Deer Creek Church, Kalona, Iowa, June 14-17 Laurelville Mennonite Camp, Mt. Pleasant, Pa. Boys' Camp (ages 9-12), June 28 to July 4 Girls' Camp (ages 9-12), July 5-11 Junior High Camp (boys and girls, ages 13-15), July 12-18 Missionary Bible Conference, July 19-25 First Family Week, July 26 to Aug. 1 First Young People's Institute, Aug. 2-8 Second Young People's Institute, Aug. 9-15 Second Family Week, Aug. 16-22 Victorious Life Conference, Aug. 23-24 Music Week, Aug. 25-29 Southwestern Pennsylvania Conference, Springs, Pa., July 20-23 Ohio Mennonite Christian Workers' Conference, Mar- tins Church, Orrville, Ohio, Aug, 12-14. Illinois Mennonite Conference, Flanagan, 111., Aug. 19-21 Mennonite General Conference,. Place Undecided Aug. 26-30, 1953 GOSPEL HERALD 133 February 5, 1952 Go, Preach . ^ I S S I O N S * Give, Pray The General Board Headquarters for Missions, Relief and Service: 1711 Prairie Street, Elkhart, Indiana. Telephone, Elkhart 2-2786. Mission News Sister Marta Quiroga spoke on Jan. 20 to the church at Carlos Casares about her visit to the mother church in North America. Bro. Lee Kanagy, missionary in Tokyo, Ja- pan writes on Jan. 22: “We are always so thankful for the prayers of the folks at home and for the great blessings of the presence of Christ. It is hard to find words to express our joy; rejoice with us, that another lovely child has been given to the Christian Church and to us.” Little Ruth was born on Jan. 7. Sister Clara Springer, missionary in Puerto Rico, is making satisfactory recovery from a gall bladder operation which she had on Jan. 18. Bro. T. K. Hershey held evangelistic meet- ings for Spanish speaking people at the Ybor Mission, Tampa, Fla., Jan. 28 to Feb. 3, after which he will fly to Puerto Rico to contact Puerto Rican laborers who attended services in Pennsylvania last summer. The training in service course for prepar- ing workers was begun Thursday afternoon, Jan. 17, in La Plata, Puerto Rico, and is to continue each Thursday afternoon. The num- ber enrolled is nine, including members from three churches: Bethany (Pulguillas), Good Shepherd (Rabanal), and Calvary (La Plata). Life of Christ, taught by Bro. John Driver and Old Testament Survey, taught by Bro. Lester T. Hershey, are the courses offered. The Nursing School of Goshen College conducted the Sunday evening program at the Belmont mission in Elkhart, Ind., on Jan. 27. The twenty-third Annual Convention of the Mennonite Church in Argentina was held at the campground near Trenque Lauquen, Jan. 24-27. The moderator of the convention is Bro. Rogelio Perugorria. Bro. and Sister Don McCammon, returned missionaries from China, will be filling ap- pointments at the Science Ridge Church, Sterling, 111., on Feb. 10; at Manson, Iowa, Feb. 17; and at West Liberty, Ohio, Feb. 24. Bro. J. J. Hostetler, pastor of the First Men- nonite Church in Canton, Ohio, spoke at the Martins Church near Orrville, Ohio, on Sun- day evening, Jan. 20, in the interests of the Ohio Mission Board. The local board of the Eureka Old People’s Home met at the Mission Board headquarters in Elkhart with members of the Executive Committee on Jan. 28. The Annual Mission Council of the Argen- tine Mennonite Mission met Jan. 28 to Feb. 1 at the campground near Trenque Lauquen. Missionaries from the Chaco also attended. One hundred choruses and hymns were sung by memory last week by the children of the Bethany Day School, Pulguillas, Puerto Spring Missionary Day March 16, 1952 Write now for quarters for the children in your Sunday school who wish to invest in missionary projects. Write now for Savings Banks for all children and adults in your Sunday school who do not now have them. Write now for capital for your youth group who wishes to sponsor a youth missionary project and does not have available funds for the initial invest- ment. Write, for all of these, to the Mennonite Board of Missions and Charities, 1711 Prairie Street, Elkhart, Indiana. Rico, during their opening devotional pe- riod. They were divided into two groups to Your Treasurer Reports The fiscal year of the Mission Board ends on March 31. This is less than two months away. At this time we like to close out all expense accounts. When sufficient designat- ed funds are on hand for a particular pro- gram, we can do this without transferring General Mission Funds. Occasionally, we do not close out an account because of its size and the need to get additional contributions for this particular purpose. At the present time, there are a number of outstanding dis- bursements for which contributions are par- ticularly wanted before the end of the fiscal year. If contributions are designated for these accounts, it will be of great assistance to the total mission program. The following places represent areas for which disbursements have been made and sufficient designated con- tributions are not on hand. May we urge your contribution for any of these purposes during the next two months. Chicago Mexican Church Building Fund Superintendent’s Building at Kansas City Children’s Home Mennonite Youth Village Land Purchase Japan Mission Homes India Bihar Building Fund Saginaw Mission Fund Chicago Home Mission Fund To assure proper allocation, please indicate as shown above the fund for which your con- tribution is designated. H. Ernest Bennett, Treasurer Mennonite Board of Missions and Charities Elkhart, Indiana MENNONITE RELIEF COMMITTEE (M.R.C.) The brethren William Snyder and Ray Horst of the Mennonite Central Committee met with the Mennonite Relief Committee at its regular meeting on January 22 to discuss the present status of the regulations for the assignment of 1-0 men under the new draft law and co-operation between the two com- mittees in assisting 1-0 men. 1-0 men are urged to secure and fill out the questionnaires provided by the MCC Peace Section indicating what kind of serv- ice they will be interested in under the new law. It should be understood that filling out such a questionnaire does not mean volun- teering for service to the local draft board. That will not be possible until the President’s regulations for assigning 1-0 men are finally released and it will have to be done by the 1-0 man himself. Filling out the question- naire gives the church agencies, MCC and MRC, information necessary for intelligent planning for giving assistance to 1-0 men in finding the kind of service they desire to volunteer for to their draft board when the assignment regulations are finally released. Brother Claire Hostetler, Smithville, Ohio, recently completed a year of voluntary serv- ice, most of which was given to the building program of the new women’s dormitory at Goshen College. see which one knew the most. In addition to these melodies being planted in their hearts they are learning Scripture verses and hearing stories from the Bible. Bro. and Sister William Detweiler and the Calvary Hour Singers are scheduled to be with the congregation at Fairpoint, Ohio, some time in February. Through the efforts of Bro. Merlin Good and the support of the Pike congregation near Elida, Ohio, a new work was opened at Leges, Kentucky, nearly a year ago. Seven persons accepted Christ during revival meet- ings held there this winter. Three had ac- cepted Christ through visitation work pre- ceeding the meetings. Prayer is requested in behalf of the workers and these new babes in Christ. Bro. John E. Leatherman spoke on Bible translation to the Lancaster Mennonite School on Jan. 17. Bro. Mahlon Hess and wife were reappoint- ed to the work in Tanganyika on Jan. 10. Sister Ruth Miller of the Good congregation, Elizabethtown, Pa., was appointed as a mis- sionary nurse for the same field. Bro. J. D. Graber, accompanied by the brethren Amos Swartzentruber and B. Frank (Continued on page 140) GOSPEL HERALD 134 Boarding School girls grinding flour for their bread. The Balodgahan Boarding School — the older girls help the little ones. February 5, 1952 Balodgahan, India, By Mary M. Good As this is being written the radiant face of a white-haired wom- an is seen just outside the window. She is cutting grass for the oxen. That is, she was. Just at this moment she was hurried off to get ready to go in the tonga to Dhamtari to take one of the girls to the hospital. It was for such as her that the orphanage was opened in 1899. If you would ask her how she came to the mission, her story would be something like this: “We were starving in our village two miles from Dhamtari and the Ressler and Burkhard sahibs cames to the village and got nine of us children. The others were all beys. I was the only girl. The boys all died soon afte" reaching the camp. They were too nearly starved when they got there. By God’s great love and mercy I was spared.” At the end of 1900 there were 224 boys and 165 girls, famine refugees, in the orphanage. Sister Sarah Lapp says in the Balod- gahan diary: “A number of times the treasury was empty and the workers did not know where the next meal was coming from, but always when the time came for the food to be cooked the Lord had sent the rupees from somewhere or other and no one ever went hungry. The Lord did just what He had promised.” In 1902 the girls’ orphanage was moved to Rudri, four miles from Dhamtari. In 1906 the orphanages were again interchanged and the girls were sent back to Dhamtari and the boys to Rudri. Sister Lapp wrote in 1908: “The girls’ orphanage is constantly de- creasing in numbers. Quite a number have died and more have married. One girl was pronounced a leper and sent to the leper asylum.” In 1910 the girls were again moved to Rudri and the boys to Dhamtari. In 1912, due to the Rudri property being sold to the Irrigation Department of the Government, the girls were moved to Balodgahan, seven miles from Dhamtari. Since then Balodgahan has remained the home of the orphan girls. At that time there were eighty-one girls. In 1915 the orphanage began to be converted into a boarding school. The boarders were girls from Christian homes that had been established by the orphans who had married. As the years went by there were certain outstanding personali- ties among the orphans who were a great blessing to the institution. In the early period Garjan Bai, after whom the middle school is named, was the spiritual leader among the girls and also a great help and blessing to the missionaries. In the influenza epidemic of 1918 it pleased the Lord to call this child of His to Himself. Through her passing the girls’ orphanage suffered a great loss. The crop shortage in 1918 again brought in about fifty-six starv- ing children. The famine of 1920 brought in about seventy more. At the end of the year 1922, there were 246 girls in the institution, 75 per cent of whom were orphans or had only one parent living. This was the peak in numbers in the history of the institution. In this period Lydia Bai and Miriam Sonu were the ones especially used of the Lord to lighten the load of the missionary. Both of these dear ones went to be with the Lord in young womanhood. Lydia left a son, Chandrakumar, who is now in Bible school and is a promising young man for the church. Miriam left three daugh- ters who show in their lives the imprint of their godly mother. There were many more whose lives were a blessing, but there is space to mention only a few. When the boarding buildings were first erected, they were built around a quadrangle surrounded by high walls. The rooms are eleven feet wide and vary in length from ten to thirty-five feet. The large courtyard in the middle is a nice playground. When the buildings were first put up, a large dining room and a kitchen were built in one corner of the compound. Four or five women assisted by some of the girls did the cooking. In 1928 the dining room and kitchen were relegated to wood storeroom and a place to boil clothes and the cottage system was instituted. The rooms around the quadrangle were grouped in twos and threes and separated into units by low walls and a kitchen built for each unit. The girls since then live in family groups of from nine to eleven girls. Each group does their own cooking and keep their cottage tidy. There is a list of ideals hanging in each cottage and when an ideal is not GOSPEL HERALD 135 February 5, 1952 Boarding School Two Garjan Memorial School girls: Helen Bisahu, standing on the step of the train, is now Mrs. J. M. Bhelwa. Satyavati P. Das, standing below, is now Mrs. P. J. Malagar. These girls are preparing the food to cook for the evening meal. The one to the right is grinding spices. The two in the center are cleaning rice and the one on the left is cutting the vegetables in the conventional way by holding the sickle between her toes. Mealtime at the Boarding School. The Balodgahan Boarding School was first begun as an orphanage in 1899 with 224 boys and 165 girls by 1900. Today there are six- teen orphans and daughters of widows and thirty-nine boarders. lived up to, it is marked against the cottage. They are very eager to rate high. The girls of the different classes in school are divided among the cottages so that there are large and small girls in each cottage. A responsible girl is the matron of the cottage. The older girls take the place of older sisters to the younger ones. They comb their hair, help them with their clothing and whatever is necessary for them. The morning in the cottage begins with fifteen minutes’ quiet time for personal devotion. They prepare their morning meal and also cook rice and dal (split peas) for the noonday meal which is kept warm over a bed of coals till the noon interval in school when they come home to eat. Some prepare the food while others clean the rooms and help the little girls get ready for school. School opens at 8:00 or 8:30 A.M., depending on the season of the year. When school closes at 2:30 or 3:00 P.M., they come home to cook the evening meal and do the other work of the cottages. At 6:00 P.M. they have their evening prayers. The cottage system was not in progress many years until the people in the community were saying that the girls who marry from the institution are better housekeepers and homemakers than before. The cottage system has been found to be “Life that is preparation for life.” At this writing, there are sixteen orphans and daughters of widows and thirty-nine boarders in the institution. To permit the orphans to grow up in as nearly as possible a home atmosphere so that what they miss in not having homes of their own is in some way made up to them and also to let the boarders feel that while they are here this is also their home, requires some careful planning at times. The orphans should feel that it is their home, but they must not be selfish about it. The person who has figured most in the lives of the orphans the past years was Satyavati Prabhu Das, now married to P. J. Mala- gar. While carrying a full teaching load, she volunteered to live in the boarding with the girls and look after them. She herself had grown up in the institution as an orphan and no one could have understood the girls and their problems better or helped them as much as she did. There are four Hindu girls here as boarders now. They are happy with the other girls and having them here is an avenue of evangelization. Until about 1928 all the expenses of the institution were borne by the gifts of friends in America. The children who were not orphans were the children of famine orphans for the most part. They were poor and many of them still are very poor. It was felt, Some of the girls in the school ready for mealtime. 136 however, that the parents should begin to assume some responsibility for the education of their children. The collection of fees was difficult in the beginning because a group of people who had received everything free saw dangers ahead. To adjust to a new way of life is always hard. The result, however, of this process of training has been gratifying. About 25 per cent of the cost of operating the boarding at present comes from fees paid by parents. They do this very graciously now and as one looks back over the years very definite growth in this respect can be seen. The experience of the years has also taught many lessons in the way of teaching orphans the value of money. As this is being written the Death Angel has visited one of the Christian homes and taken away a little child. The writing of the preceding paragraph was interrupted twice to go to the home. The grandfather, a saint- ly man, was one of those rescued in the 1899 famine. The mother of the child grew up in this institution. The going of the child is a blow to the family, but the blessed hope these parents have of someday meeting their loved one in heaven is something of which the non- Christian knows nothing. Again we praise God with our dear Indian friends that Christ was brought to this part of India. To lead the little ones of this age into the fold of Christ is the greatest privilege in this work. Through evangelistic meetings, group meetings with the girls, and personal talks an effort is made to lead every girl to see her need of conversion. After she has confessed Christ her Saviour and has expressed her de- sire for baptism, her pastor is informed and after she has been instructed in the meaning of church membership, she is baptized in her home church when she goes home for vaca- tion. The Holy Spirit must convict and much prayer is needed in this work. The mission- ary craves more time for uninterrupted pray- er. She also craves the prayers of friends at home in behalf of the salvation of the chil- dren. There is a primary school and also a mid- dle school at this place. The middle school is Garjan Memorial School. Both have stu- dents living in the Boarding, but many more are day students and come from their homes. The primary school includes classes I to IV and the middle school, classes V to VIII. After they pass the middle school, they are eligible to enter high school. The primary school was built when the station was opened. Only boys attended this school in the be- ginning. The school for girls was in another building. In those days coeducation was thought improper in India. In 1922 the mis- sion took a bold step and sent the primary school girls to the boys’ school. The other building was kept for middle school girls only. In 1936 a still bolder step was taken when boys were admitted to the middle school. This step has never been regretted. There are a few primary schools in villages around Balodgahan and some of the Hindu boys who pass from these primary schools attend the middle school here. This gives the MISSIONS SECTION GOSPEL HERALD school a contact with the Hindu community and the opportunity of teaching the boys the Christian religion. The story of Kiyaram (when he became a Christian, he changed his name to Jivanlal) is a familiar one to some of you. The second year the school was opened to boys this lad came as a student. In the face of much opposition from his people, he accepted Christ and when in high school was baptized. He is destined to become a leader in the India Mennonite Church. At least one of his relatives, a village owner, has become a believer through Jivanlal’s testi- mony. Many others of the Hindu students in the school have been and are very sym- pathetic toward the Christian religion, but only this one has openly confessed Christ. The problem of getting teachers was a very grave one in the early years. The new mis- sionary who took over the school in 1921 just when the seventy girls of the 1920 famine had been sufficiently “processed” to be taken into the school had her days of grief and perplexity. Women who had barely passed the fourth grade had to be taken in as teach- ers. The new building was not yet com- pleted and the old building was filled to over- flowing, with the overflow on the veranda, under a tree, and in a shed made of bamboo mats. Schoolteachers had to be secured from other missions. At that time education in this part of India had not advanced to the ex- tent that missions were willing to let teach- ers who were satisfactory go. Especially not trained ones. Tribute must, however, be giv- en to some who came to us from other mis- sions without whom it would have been dif- ficult indeed in those days of laying founda- tions. As the years went by the teacher prob- lem became less acute. Finally, from among our own girls a number were trained and be- came schoolteachers. This was indeed a hap- py day for the school. As this brief review is taken, it is an in- spiring thought that there are some from among those who have studied in the school who are able now not only to be teachers, but also to take a large amount of responsibility in the school. The Lord be praised for this. May He lay it upon the hearts of many who read this article to pray much for those who have gone out from this school to establish Christian homes and into places of leadership in the church, especially for those yet un- saved. Balodgahan, M.P.. India. Coming and Going By J. L. Rutt Some years ago two young ladies from two distinct districts made our acquaintance while living here in the Cordoba Hills, which are widely known as an ideal health resort for certain types of sickness and are also a pop- ular tourist resort. Each lady had come here to recuperate from a bodily illness. The one who did not have a contagious disease began rooming with the other one who did have a contagious disease, and without informing the other one, but hiding her real condition. February 5, 1952 Of course, not knowing the ailment of her roommate she soon contracted the disease as the dishes were not washed separately. In- stead of getting better, she grew worse and upon returning home, i.e., to another prov- ince, she visited her family doctor who in- formed her of her real condition. It was a tremendous shock. The future did not look too bright. Young in years, she became dis- couraged. But being a Christian, she had something that an unconverted person did not have. Her parents saw the necessity of again making provision for her to live in the Cordoba Hills in a near-by village. They first rented a small house and later bought it. She was attended to by her mother who had made a great sacrifice to live with her and to take care of her. While living so near (a mile or more) they both began attending our services. From the beginning her interest in spiritual things grew and instead of being downcast and sad, she drew near, renewed her covenant with the Lord and through a renewed interest in the Word, she was soon on the way to better physical and spiritual health. Victory came into her life. She then decided to open up a The Cordoba Hills of Argentina are widely known as an ideal health resort for certain types of sickness and are also a popular tourist resort. small Sunday school in her home for some underprivileged children of the vicinity and taught them the Sunday-school lessons. She was occupied with something worth while, sowing the Word in the tender hearts of the children who knew nothing of Christ’s love and His salvation. It was in the women’s meeting where she really opened her heart and saw that although she did not have a strong body she could be strong in Christ and victory was to be found through Him, proving again that victory in Christ can be had in the case of everyone who wholly yields to the Lord and stops try- ing and lets Him work. We are sure that this person has had an experience that she would never want to for- get. Through an infirmity of the physical body, she came into an abundant and glorious life in Christ. She is living a consistent Chris- tian life in spite of her handicap. We hope to soon see her radiant smile when she can enjoy the beautiful, cool autumn days with us again. Later an aunt also was afflicted with this same disease and came to live in an adjoin- ing apartment. She, too, in spite of her in- February 5, 1952 firmity, is living a consistent, happy Chris- tian life. Others come here discouraged, downcast, do not take care of themselves, and so never Have you ever seen yourself as you might have been, had not the light of the Gospel been your heritage for centuries? The In- dian of the Argentine Chaco is a good ex- ample of the absence of the light for endless generations. He is illiterate, ignorant, and primitive. He is in great need which he readily senses. He is not altogether certain what it is that will fill that void in his life. But he is willing to be taught. The rapt at- tention with which he listens to our teach- ing and preaching is a rarity, the like of which we have never before seen. This has been a great challenge of our work. A little over three months ago, we shipped our belongings and ourselves out of the big city of Buenos Aires and started north to the Chaco on a journey of two days and a night by train. In dry weather, this is a hot dusty ride, but thanks to general rains, we had a cool, comfortable trip. Now we are in semi- frontier country in which there is more forest than cleared land. Our mission headquarters, which in reality is only a farm, occupied by two missionary families, two missionary nurses, and eight Indian families, has been named “Nam Cum” and is located near a little country store and public school, which together form the center of a district called “Pampa Aguara.” Twenty miles to our south lies the economic center of a sizable part of the Chaco — the city of Presidencia Roque Saenz Pena, named as is the custom here, in honor of a former president of Ar- gentina. It is to this city we must drive over GOSPEL HERALD recover in health, always living a discouraged and defeated life. In Christ under all condi- tions it is possible to live a victorious life. Cosquin, Cordoba, Argentina. a dirt road at least twice a week to do all our business and to get our mail. Our mission work, of course, centers here in Nam Cum, but we also have congrega- tions in two reservations which are called League 15 and League 17. Only recently Lois and I have taken full responsibility for the work in League 15, which is located about twenty miles to our north — on a dirt road, of course. Living so far from the place makes it difficult to give it the proper attention, but we endeavor to make at least two trips a week. We are at present having late spring weather with its intermittent rains; so we are frequently hampered in carrying out our plans. For instance, in November we had rain on three of the four Sundays, and therefore couldn’t go. Later on, we can count on dry weather when we will long for a rain to cool the atmosphere. So far we have not had to endure anything above 140 degrees in the shade, but they assure us that it gets hotter. What is most difficult to endure is a bug about the size of a small gnat, called a pol- vorine, which breeds in water holes and comes at us in swarms. Being so small that it can hardly be seen, one wonders if God really intended that it should sting like a mosquito! Since the Indians are now busy hoeing their own cotton, or that of their Argentine neighbors, our work with them is limited to several religious services a week. During the winter months, when there is very little work, it is possible to carry on classes for Bible study 137 and the three “r’s.” The opportunity is great, for these people know so little that the pos- sibilities for spiritual and mental develop- ment are immense. On the vocational side, the mission owns this farm for the purpose of helping the In- dians learn to support themselves properly and manage their own affairs. Among the women, knitting has become quite popular, and has also provided them with a means of helping them clothe their families properly. The medical side of our work is very im- portant. Because of general malnutrition and disease, T.B. is widespread and no preven- tive measures are taken. The nearest medical aid is at Saenz Pena; so it naturally falls to our nurses here to do much more advanced work than a nurse would ordinarily be called to do. They must make diagnoses and pre- scribe remedies which under ordinary cir- cumstances should only be made by a doctor. In emergencies we must take the patient to the hospital in Saenz Pena. This we do not do oftener than necessary because it has only been within the last year or two that any of the Argentine doctors showed any sympathy for the Indians. The Indian is considered to be an inferior person. We thank God for this change for the better in attitudes, be- cause it relieves our nurses of undue respon- sibility in serious illness. One of the difficulties which makes itself felt every day, and which is giving us some concern, is the language barrier. We are in a Spanish-speaking country and that is what we use exclusively. But the Indians have their own language which is not written. Every sermon we preach is interpreted for the bene- fit of those who do not understand the Span- ish. But we cannot be sure that we are being faithfully interpreted in every detail, because we cannot understand them. In a recent article in the October, 1951, issue of “His” magazine, Mr. Pike of the Wycliffe Bible Translators pleads for the cause of the thou- sand languages which yet do not have a word of Scripture. He argues that even tribes of a few hundred people are entitled to hear the Word of God in their own language. He even feels that a highly capable missionary would not be throwing his life away to make the Word of God available to even only a few hundred. It is very true that one’s moth- er tongue will always carry more meaning than an acquired one; therefore, would not our work be more effective and more per- manent if we had the Scriptures in the Toba language? This problem dare not be passed over lightly; so we would ask you to ac- company us in prayer that God might direct our thinking and our steps. Recently we have been made very aware of our deep need for a close walk with God in the power of His Spirit. We have been shown in a real way that we had been trust- ing in our own strength to do that which may be accomplished only in the strength of the Lord. Pray the Lord to teach us hu- mility, brokenness, openness, and willing- ness, that His work may prosper as He uses us. Chaco, Argentina. MISSIONS SECTION As You Might Have Been By Lois and Albert Buckwalter This is one of the Indian chiefs of the Chaco with his wife, daughter, and mother. 158 GOSPEL HERALD February 5, 1952 THE KINGDOM TO THE SOUTH By J. D. Graber III Chaco means jungle: or does it? There is a difference of opinion as to its exact mean- ing. But the general countryside fits the de- scription. There are vast forested areas where some of the most valuable hardwoods grow. There are open spaces where the land is cul- tivated, but there are also immense stretches of marshy land grown over with grass and thorny bushes and a liberal admixture of cactus. The land for what seems like hun- dreds of miles is completely flat. For the most part there are not even any rivers for drainage. The rain water simply collects in vast shallow lakes and square miles of marsh country that fills up during wet seasons and practically dries up during long dry spells. While I was visiting our mission in the Argentine Chaco in early January we had a most unseasonal rainy spell. A few days be- fore my arrival they had had a three-inch rain, and while I was there a similar amount of rain fell. By this time the lakes and marsh- es were full. In fact, they overflowed the roads in places, producing mudholes difficult to pass. We tried, one day, to get out to League 17 with the four-wheel-drive jeep truck. We plowed through three marsh patches, but the fourth one was impassable; so we had to return. This mud factor in the transportation in- fluences the work a great deal. All appoint- ments at outlying points have to be made with the proviso, “if it does not rain.” The missionary also needs to be something of a weather prophet, for getting out to the preaching point is only half of his problem. He always needs to get back, for the “great out of doors” in the Chaco during wet, humid weather is not very hospitable. In the Argentine Chaco January is mid- summer. While I was there the temperature rose to 107° Fahrenheit. With the high hu- midity that prevailed this was somewhat try- ing— much like India in the “little hot sea- son” that follows the close of the monsoons in September and early October. Insect pests are also a bane to the flesh. Mosquitoes are numerous but you can at least see them as they attack. Fortunately, the malaria-spread- ing variety is absent. More difficult are the tiny “polverinis” or “dust flies.” They can hardly be seen by the naked eye, but I am sure a magnifying glass would reveal a pow- erful biting apparatus, for their invisible at- tack can produce great scratching. Even the tiny chigger is there in abundance, while the common housefly is, of course, always with us. It is obvious that missionaries do not live in the Chaco because of the physical ameni- ties available. No one would choose this area as a place to retire or as a holiday resort. Our missionaries are there because the ab- original Indian inhabiting these areas is in need of the Gospel. He lives for the most part in primitive circumstances. His house MISSIONS SECTION is little more than a hut and frequently he lives a nomadic life, moving from place to place where he can find some work. He has lived under these primitive and poverty-rid- den circumstances so long that thrift, in- tegrity, and industry have had scant oppor- tunity to take root in his character. The great scourge among them is tuberculosis. Their habits of life are such that it is most difficult to bring about a sanitary situation that would prevent constant re-infection. There is little value in treating one member of a family if others of family and tribe similarly disposed constantly expose him again to infection. Spiritually the Indian does respond to the Gospel. It was an inspiration to meet with the congregations at Nam Cum and at League 15. I have already said that we could not get to League 17 because of mud. Many of the believers are, naturally, babes in Christ in need of much teaching and spiritual growth. But they have found the Lord Jesus and in fellowship together they are being built up in Him. Their primitive religion is a form of Animism, but one does not observe any marked religious practices or forms among them as one moves superficially about. This is in contrast to the profuse idolatry and the extreme “religiousness” found among the village people of India. One great barrier in reaching them with the Gospel is language. Most of the men know some Spanish, but the women usually do not. I had the strange experience of speak- ing through two interpreters when I preach- ed. A missionary translated my English into Spanish, and an Indian man, knowing both Spanish and Toba, translated into the latter language for the benefit of the women and children. I had to wonder how much of the original message finally got across after pass- ing through two language filters. The Toba language abounds in staccato clicks and clacks and is totally unintelligible to the out- sider. One of the questions being seriously con- sidered by the missionaries is whether more effort should not be made to reach the Indian in his own language. The Toba tongue has not been reduced to writing nor has a gram- mar been formulated. A few fragmentary pieces of work in this field have been done but most of the great task remains to be done. Let no one think that the language used by a primitive illiterate people such as these Toba Indians must logically be simple. Ex- perience has proved that these languages are extremely complex and difficult of mastery. Our missionaries feel they can better reach the heart of the Indian if they learn his own language. It is a universally known fact that the inner citadel of the soul cannot be reached as well through a second or a trade language such as Spanish is in this case. A man must speak to God in his own mother tongue or else his religious experience will remain shal- low.— via Elkhart, Indiana. Said John Oglethorp to John Wesley, “I never forgive.” To which Wesley made a prompt response: “Then, I hope, sir, you nev- er sin.” M.C.C. Weekly Notes Testimony on UMT given The Mennonite and Brethren in Christ churches were represented in a testimony be- fore the House Armed Services Committee on January 23, on the proposal for Universal Military Training which Congress is now considering. Harold S. Bender, who delivered the pres- entation, emphasized two concerns; first, the suggestion that the provision for con- scientious objectors should include not only alternative service but also the possibility of training in civilian work which contributes to the national health, safety, or interest. Sec- ondly, he made reference to the proposed moral safeguards for all the men in the train- ing corps, with emphasis on the inherent in- adequacy of even these precautions, thus re- flecting the deep conviction that military training is essentially incompatible with the highest spiritual and moral welfare of young men. It was not possible in this testimony to express direct opposition to UMT, but this approach made it possible to give strong wit- ness nevertheless. The Committee received the testimony courteously, asking several significant ques- tions in return. There seems to be strong opposition to UMT both within the Committee and among other members of Congress. Letters from concerned persons in the churches to these government leaders will be significant in en- couraging Congress to weigh carefully the dangers in the UMT proposal. There is still a possibility that the UMT proposals can be defeated. Draft Counselling Planned Plans are being made by the MCC Peace Section for holding district meetings during the next month or so in as many of the larger Mennonite communities as possible. The pur- pose of these meetings is to discuss the latest draft information and to organize among lo- cal leaders a counselling service to be avail- able to young men in each community. Min- isters should look for announcement of these meetings in their respective areas. Should Deferred Men Volunteer? Some young men and ministers have in- quired whether registrants having occupa- tional or dependency deferments should send in their names as CO volunteers under the present law. A registrant who has dependents is de- ferred specifically because it is deemed that he is needed to support his family. Likewise a person who is deferred for farm or other work is presumably essential to that work. Thus ordinarily men in either of these situa- tions would not be available for a civilian work assignment, and thus the opportunity to volunteer would not apply to them. This would be true also for those who have defer- ment appeals pending, for presumably their appeal is made on the basis of bona fide oc- cupational or dependency need. Released January 25, 1952 Via Mennonite Central Committee Akron, Pennsylvania February 5, 7952 GOSPEL HERALD 139 CHURCH CORRESPONDENCE CLARENCE CENTER, NEW YORK Dear Herald Readers: As we look back at the beginning of a new year we think of the many wonderful things the Lord has done for us as individuals and as a congregation at this place this past year. In spite of much sickness and broken bones we have been rich- ly blessed. Bro. Edward Yousey still has his leg in a cast but expects to be out of it soon. Bro. C. H. Frey, who has been ill for a number of months, and who also suffered a broken ankle, is much improved. Our present membership of 165 is con- siderably reduced just now because of the number of families wintering in the South. The summer months bring an increase of visitors here. We extend an invitation to any of you visiting Niagara Falls to worship with us at any time. The literary society recently sponsored a drive for selling the game “Pilgrim’s Prog- ress” as a means of raising funds for the so- ciety. This group was also responsible for distributing Christmas baskets to needy folks, as well as purchasing plants for shut-ins. On Christmas Eve after the candlelight service, the young folks enjoyed caroling at various homes. The children gave their pro- gram Dec. 23. Edna Ruth Yoder, who has been helping at the Children’s Home in Kansas City, spent the holidays with her family here. The annual business meeting was held Jan. 10. Enoch Eichorn was elected to the office of chairman of the Board of Trustees. The Homemakers’ group made thirty-eight pairs of bedroom slippers for a children’s home in Canada for their Christmas project. The sewing circle made Christmas bundles for the Navajo Indian children. Sister Elsie Frey was re-elected president of the Sewing Circle. Arlene Snyder is secretary-treasurer. We are looking forward to having Arlene Sitler from La Junta School of Nursing with us Jan. 20. Our pastor, Bro. Edward Diener, has been bringing a message with an evangelistic ap- peal after each young people’s meeting the past several weeks. Jan. 14, 1952. Moneda Hartzler. FORAKER, INDIANA (Salem Congregation) Dear Gospel Herald Readers: Sunday morning, Nov. 4, Bro. Elno Steiner from Olive preached for us. In the afternoon and evening the Nappanee and Yellow Creek congregations met with us for our semian- nual Sunday-school meeting. The sermon in the evening was preached by Bro. Peter Wiebe, who was recently ordained for Yellow Creek. Nov. 18 Bro. Miner Leatherman of the Dunkard Brethren near Goshen led the de- votion before the morning sermon. On Thanksgiving morning our people wor- shiped with the Yellow Creek congregation; Bro. Milo D. Stutzman from Kingman, Alta., preached the sermon. That evening at Salem he began a series of revival meetings which lasted until Dec. 2. Dec. 9 Clarence Ramer from Duchess, Alta., brought the morning message. In the evening Paul Verghese, from India, formerly a teacher in Ethiopia and now a student at Goshen College, spoke in young people’s meeting. Dec. 16 Bro. Ira Johns preached for us in the evening. The night before Christmas the M.Y.F. sang carols for the aged, shut-ins, and sick people in the community. Sunday evening, Dec. 30, Bro. and Sister Don McCammon told of their experiences in China. Dec. 31 at the college cabin Sister Marie Yoder showed us her pictures and told of the mission work in Puerto Rico. Then the older people were dismissed and the M.Y.F. stayed for an evening of fellowship. They engaged in prayer and personal consecration as they watched the new year come in. Those of our members who were at home for the holiday season were Sister Lottie Ramer, cook at the Mennonite Home, Ritt- man, Ohio, Rosalie Reichelt from the Bethel mission in Chicago, Peter Hartman from Hesston College, and Donald Hoover from E.M.C. Now that winter Bible schools have started, Lee Hershberger and Lester Miller have gone to Kitchener, Ont., and Lucile Hoover to Fairview, Mich. Our business meeting was held Jan. 7. Titus Metzler was re-elected trustee and Robert Walter continues as janitor. Work progresses on the new church at Toto. Jan. 15, 1952. Mrs. Elmer Hartman. ALPHA, MINNESOTA Dear Herald readers: Communion serv- ices were held here Dec. 1 with Brothers Simon Gingerich, Wellman, Iowa, and Ed- ward Birkey, Jolley, Iowa, in charge. On the evening of Dec. 1 at a very impres- sive service Bro. Noah Landis was ordained bishop, by voice of the church taken at an earlier date. May God bless Bro. Landis in this new calling. With a somewhat sad feeling we gave Bro. Gingerich good-bye. He very faithfully served this church as bishop since 1921. May God bless and give him health and years of serv- ice yet is our prayer. Bro. and Sister Delbert Erb left Dec. 15 after being here several weeks. The work in South America will seem very near to us since they have gone there. It was interest- ing to have them tell us what they will do. Bro. Merle Bender, Hesston, Kans., brought us the morning message on Dec. 9. He came here in the interest of Hesston Col- lege. In September we reorganized our Sunday school: Supts., Delmar Nafzier, Elmer Lan- dis; Pri. Supts., Lloyd Garber, Mrs. Ralph Yoder; Secy-treas., Robert Johnson; S.S. Chor., Mrs. Elmer Landis; Church Chor., John Yoder. Bro. Noah Landis spent Dec. 22 to Jan. 5 at the winter Bible school at Wood River, Nebr. The young folks went Christmas caroling for those not able to attend services regularly. Benches have been put in at Fox Lake Sunday School, which is in charge of Earl Greasers and James Butes. The four students at Hesston College from here enjoyed vacation with their parents. Mrs. Charles Bute and Mrs. David Lehman remain about the same; we miss our older members in our services. Our church took up a special offering Dec. 30 for relief since we did not do any relief canning in 1951. Pray for the work in this part of the Lord’s vineyard. Mrs. Ed Hartzler. HOLLSOPPLE, PENNSYLVANIA (Thomas Congregation) Dear Herald Readers: On Jan. 7, the first Sunday of the new year, we were reminded of our many blessings and were admonished to spend much time in the secret place of prayer in the coming year, by our aged bish- op, James Saylor, who brought to us the morning message. Both brethren James and Joseph Saylor have been in fairly good health; they are able to worship with us most of the time. We praise God for both of them. The Helping Hands Class of our Sunday school, consisting mostly of young married women with children, got together this past summer in the evenings and canned peaches, made soap, and did some sewing, for mission purposes and for families with sickness in the home. Bro. Robert Dayton, Ridgeley, W. Va., and the Pinto Chorus rendered their services on the annual Harvest Home program Oct. 14. Bro. Dayton brought a very stirring message on Ps. 24:1. On Oct. 20 preparatory services were held. Four applicants were received by water bap- tism and one on confession of faith, from the Kaufman congregation. They shared the communion service with us the following day, Oct. 21. Bro. Charles Shetler, Schells- burg, Pa., was the guest speaker at both serv- ices. Brethren LeRoy Zook, Mt. Union, Pa., and Elam Glick, Belleville, Pa., brought us mes- sages concerning Christian education and the mission work of our conference, on the cold, snowy evening of Nov. 18. Even though a very small number were present, we felt it was a worth-while meeting. Fall Missionary Day was observed on Nov. 18. The primary department sang a few songs for the whole Sunday school. The savings received from the banks and quarters invested plus the Sunday-school offering amounted to $543. The youth missionary project turned over $130 in earnings, making 140 GOSPEL HERALD February 5, 1952 our total Missionary Day proceeds amount to $673. The project group and the Sunday school have allotted this amount to the Col- ored Mission in Chicago, West Liberty Or- phans’ Home in Ohio, Chaco work in Ar- gentina, the Japan mission field, and the gen- eral mission fund. The givers have received many blessings; our prayer is that the recipi- ents will receive just as many. Both the junior and senior sewing circles have sent a number of Christmas bundles to needy ones across the waters. On the morning of Dec. 23 instead of our regular church service the primary, junior, and intermediate departments gave our an- nual Christmas program. On the evening of the same day an octet from E.M.C. and two speakers gave a much-appreciated program. Over the holiday season we enjoyed hav- ing a number of visitors with us, as well as welcoming home for a short time the college students who have been in various schools for the year. A special meeting for draftees was held on Jan. 7 to inform the boys more definitely as to their draft standings. We ask an interest in your prayers and in- vite you all to come and visit us when you find opportunity to do so. Jan. 15, 1952. Fannie E. Thomas. MUMMASBURG, PENNSYLVANIA Christian greetings to Herald readers. Since the last writing from here, five were received into fellowship with us and now there are two under instruction to be received later. We truly wish them the Lord’s choice blessings, and our prayer is that they will re- main true to what they promised before God and witnesses. Sept. 23, 1951, was the day for the dedica- tion services for the Mummasburg Mennon- ite Christian Day School. School is held in the building on the grounds near the church. Sister Miriam Clymer from Lancaster County is teaching here. Even though there are not many coming this first year, we feel the Lord has done great things for us. He invites us to continue to ask big things, for His power and goodness are not limited. We reorganized our Sunday school, as follows: Supt., Forrest Ogburn; Asst., Harold Martin; Secy., Walter Ogburn; Treas., Clar- ence Martin; Chor., Elmer Weaver; Asst., Thomas Yoder. Sister Nadine Ogburn is a senior at the Lancaster Mennonite School. We will ap- preciate her presence and help in our services after she graduates. A number of our group are attending the regional Bible school at Hanover, each Tues- day and Thursday evening for six weeks. We appreciated the fellowship of Bro. and Sister Amos Shertzer and family, who wor- shiped with us on Jan. 13. They are helping in the work at Bair’s Codorus. We appreciate visitors and we extend an invitation to anyone to worship with us here. Pray for us as we endeavor to faithfully serve the Lord until He comes. Jan. 14, 1952. Lizzie D. Myer. MISSION NEWS (Continued) Byler, plans to visit the Chaco field in South America during January. Sister Marie Yoder, on furlough from Puer- to Rico, spoke at North Goshen, Ind., the evening of Jan. 20. Bro. Alvin Hostetler and wife, who have been appointed to a term of voluntary service in India, were given a farewell service at North Goshen, Ind., on Feb. 3. Bro. E. E. Miller brought the morning message. In the evening, in addition to Bro. and Sister Hos- tetler, Bro. John Mosemann, president of the General Mission Board, spoke. Bro. D. A. Yoder, Elkhart, Ind., spent Jan. 6-15 with the Rainey River Mission in Minne- sota. He conducted baptismal and commun- ion services. A group from the Sycamore congregation, Garden City, Mo., gave a program at the Gospel Center, Kansas City, Mo., on Jan. 13. Ten decisions for Christ resulted from a short series of evangelistic meetings at the Wayside Mission, Gulfport, Miss., with Bro. Josef Herschkowitz bringing the messages. Prayer is requested for these converts. MRC agreed at its recent meeting to sup- port young men from its constituency ap- Not Charity, but Brotherhood A systematic plan oi meeting expenses oi hospital, surgery, or burial. MENNONITE AID, INC. 1413 South Eighth Street Goshen, Indiana proved for Pax service units in Europe as openings are available, unless their support is otherwise provided for. Pax units are build- ers units for 1-0 men. They are giving a positive witness abroad to the peace testi- mony of the church and deserve the prayer and financial support of the brotherhood at home. Funds for such support will be budget- ed from contributions designated for that purpose and from general Relief and Service funds. The MRC Summer Service program re- cently approved provides opportunities in child welfare, city and rural missions, build- ing projects, an MYF Youth Gospel Team, a Music Team for carrying on music schools, and a student-in-industry unit. Special per- sonnel needs include a male quartet, a num- ber of builders, and several couples to direct summer Bible school units. Upon returning from a recent literacy campaign to the East and Far East, Dr. Frank C. Laubach wrote: “Asia is in the throes of mighty changes. Most people have their eyes glued on the battlefields in Korea. Ours are glued on the terrific battle of propaganda going on in the rest of Asia. For there, in southern Asia, is the real battlefield of the world. Whether we have a line in Korea at the 38th parallel, or twenty miles north of that parallel, may make little difference in world history. But whether we save or lose southern Asia, especially India, makes ALL the difference between victory and defeat, be- tween life and death for America. ... In Asia the masses are desperately determined to better their condition and the governments are desperately worried. Where our missions and our government are giving enough serv- ice, we are saving Asia. Where we are not helping people, we are losing them. You who know this should shout it from the house- tops. For America is thinking in a cloud. Say it clearly, say it loudly, say it constandy!” An intensive literacy campaign program is planned for 1952. Work will be done in Kasganj, in North India; in Katpadi, in South India; in Lahore, Pakistan; and in Kuala Lumpur, Malaya. Surveys on Chris- tian literature needs will be made in many of the countries where literacy campaigns have already been conducted, including Cairo, Teheran, Lahore, and points in India. FIELD NOTES (Continued) Chambersburg, Pa., at Lancaster Mennonite School beginning Jan. 28. Noah L. Hershey, Parkesburg, Pa., at Strasburg, Pa., Feb. 10- 24. Roy Koch, St. Jacobs, Ont., at East Go- shen, Ind., Mar. 26-April 6. Announcements Bro. Abner Stoltzfus, Gap, Pa., on his re- cent trip to Palestine, at Vincent Church, Spring City, Pa., on Feb. 24 at 7:30. Youth Conference by Johnstown, Pa., district MYF at Thomas Church, Mar. 1 and 2. Bible Conference at the Stumptown Church, Bird- in-hand, Pa., evening of Feb. 16 and all day Feb. 17, with John E. Lapp, Emory Herr, Harvey E. Shank, J. C. Clemens, and David M. Thomas as speakers. Bro. J. Ross Goodall, Kitchener, Ont., at the following churches in the interest of Jewish Evangelism: Toledo, Ohio, Jan. 27; Bethel, West Liberty, Ohio, Jan. 29; Lima, Ohio, Jan. 31; Central, Elida, 1 Ohio, Feb. 1; West Clinton, Pettisville, Ohio, Feb. 3 A.M.; Lockport, Stryker, Ohio, Feb. ! 3 P.M.; Olive, Elkhart, Ind., Feb. 4; Goshen College Chapel, Feb. 5; Chicago district, Feb. ! 6-10; Shore, Shipshewana, Ind., Feb. 12; North Main, Nappanee, Ind., Feb. 13; Prairie 1 Street, Elkhart, Ind., Feb. 16 and 17 P.M.; 1 Middlebury, Ind., Feb. 17 A.M. Bro. Martin 1 Graybill on “How I Can Serve the Risen 1 Christ” at Hammercreek, Lititz, Pa., Feb. 1 10, at 7:30. Third Annual meeting of Chris- 1 tian Workers’ groups at Lancaster Confer- „ ence under auspices of Youth Christian Serv- l ice Activities Committee at Martindale, Pa., (■ March 8 and 9 with Richard Detweiler, Sou- 8 derton, Pa., and Roy Koch, St. Jacobs, Ont., as visiting speakers. Strasburg, Pa., MYF at 1 Water Street Rescue Mission, Feb. 26. Quar- terly Missionary Round Table at Rossmere j Mission, Lancaster, Pa., Feb. 11, at 7:00, with J. Irvin Lehman as speaker. Christian Life | Conference and Ministers’ Study Week at Canton Bible School, Feb. 7-10, with Milton I Brackbill and Stanley Shenk as guest speak- I ers. February 5, 1952 GOSPEL HERALD 141 SHUT-IN (Continued) cheerful through it all, always ready to greet one with a smile and be as inter- ested in life as normal people. There is a more fearful paralysis than that of the body; it is that of the soul and mind, such as that of one who has applied him- self or herself so closely to making a living that no time has been taken to re- build and keep in order the inner spirit- ual life nor do the same for the physical body. The Christian who never has allowed himself to hold resentment, or to brood over past mistakes and errors of his own or those of others, and who is alert to re- pentance and to ask forgiveness, and is always watching to emphasize the cheer- ful side of life, will reach a contented if not happy ending. Oakwood, Mo. BIRTHS "Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord" (Ps. 127:3a). Alderfer. — To Wilmer M. and Verna (Young) Alderfer, Souderton, Pa., a daughter, Linda, Dec. 2. 1951. Birky. — To Luke and Verna (Conrad) Birky, La Plata. P. R., a daughter, Kathryn Ruth, Jan. 7, 1952. Boll. — To Roy B. and Arlene (Wenger) Boll, Lebanon, Pa., a son, Glenn Roy, Jan. 4, 1952. Brenner. — To William Edward and Ruth Laurine (Hartzler) Brenner, Creston, Ohio, a second daughter, Marian .Tannett, Jan. 12, 1952. Burkholder. — To John J. and Vera (Hess) Burkholder, Lititz, Pa., a son, James, Oct. 6, 1951. Burkholder. — To Melvin J. and Mildred L. (Rosenberger) Burkholder. Hatfield, Pa., a son, Stephen Ray, Dec. 19, 1951. Burkholder.— To Paul G. and Miriam (Thom- as) Burkholder, Lancaster, Pa., a son, Paul Glenn. Dec. 22. 1951. Byler. — To Wilmer T. and Nancy Y. (Stoltz- fus) Bvler, Elverson, Pa., a son, Jay Irvin, Jan. 14. 1952. Christner. — To George and Nettie (Swartzen- truber) Christner, Benton. Ohio, a daughter, Darlene Ann, Dec. 24, 1951. Clark. — To Earl and Mary Elizabeth (Weav- er) Clark. Strasburg, Pa., a son, Murl Eugene, Jan. 8. 1952. Cook. — To Larry and Betty (Staton) Cook, Ft. Wayne, Ind., a son, David Lawrence, Dec. 16. 1951. Denlinger. — To Daniel and Ruth Ann (Her- shey) Denlinger, Kinzers. Pa., a daughter, Dolores Ann, Jan. 18, 1952. Diller. — To Ivan R. and Doris (Jantz) Diller, Hesston, Kans., a son, Stephen Jay, Jan. 10, 1952. Frymoyer. — To Donald and Bessie (Lauver) Frvmoyer. Miffilintown, Pa., a daughter, Faye Evelyn, Dec. 23, 1951. Fyffe. — To Direl and Polly (Worthy) Fyffe, Relief, Ky., a daughter, Esther Fay, Dec. 19, 1951. Gingerich.- — To Andrew and Esther (Zimmer- man) Gingerich, Mannsville, N.Y., a son. Hu- bert Dean, Jan. 3, 1952. Gingerich. — To John S. and Lillian (Miller) Gingerich, Bristol, Ind., a son, John Keith, Dec. 8, 1951. Good. — To Paul and Margaret (James) Good, Carstairs, Alta., a second daughter, Marlene Ruth. Dec. 17. 1951. Groff. — To Lloyd L. and Irene R. (Snavely) Groff, Bareville, Pa., a daughter, Julia Lea, Dec. 3. 1951. Heiser. — To Raymond and Hilda fSchertz) Heiser. Dewey, 111., a daughter, Arlys Kay, Jan. 11. 1952. Hostetler. — To Harold and Svlvia (Miller) Hostetler. Westover, Md., a daughter, Ida Mae, Dec. 8. 1951. Jaberg.- — To Robert and Pearl (Miller) Ja- berg, Walnut Creek, Ohio, a son, Michael Robert, Dec. 29, 1951. Kline. — To Samuel J. and Lydia A. (Born- treger) Kline, Coehranton, Pa., a daughter, Janet Louise, Jan. 3, 1952. Kropf. — To Merle and Ruth (Baker) Kropf, Harrisburg, Oreg., a son, James Dale, Dec. 6, 1951. Landis. — To J. Dale and Erma (Martin) Landis, Lititz, Pa., twin daughters, Joyce Ellen and Jean Elaine, Dec. 29, 1951. Layman. — To Emory and Luella (Shenk) Layman, Harrisonburg, Va., a third son, Dwight Edward, Dec. 30, 1951. Lehman. — To Calvin R. and Goldie (Gerber) Lehman, Dalton, Ohio, a daughter, Audrey Ann, (one brother, one sister), Jan. 8. 1952. Lehman. — To Roy J. and Esther (Hershey) Lehman, Holtwood, Pa., fourth child, a son, John Thomas, Jan. 15, 1952. Liechty. — To Omer and Mary (Zehr) Liech- ty, Ilicksville, Ohio, a daughter, Jill Ann, Jan. 6, 1952. Litwiller. — To John and Mary Ann (Troyer) Litwiller, Chicago, 111., a son, Nelson Edward, Jan. 17, 1952. Martin. — To Edgar H. and Helen June (Metzler) Martin, East Earl, Pa., a daughter, Margaret Ann. Dec. 31, 1951. Miller. — To Lewis M. and Grace (Hege) Mil- ler, Hagerstown, Md., a third child, a son, Mark Richard, Nov. 18, 1951. Pletcher. — To Luke and Ocella (Hahn) Pletcher, Wakarusa, Ind., second child, a daughter, Eileen Joyce, Jan. 9. 1952. Rudy. — To John Henry and Lucy (Gehman) Rudy, Rothsville, Pa., a son, Thomas Edward, Jan. 6, 1952. Schloneger. — To Merle and Adeline (Stahl) Schloneger. Louisville, Ohio, a son, Glen Dale, Nov. 13, 1951. Springer. — To Simon E. and Edna (Miller) Springer, Hopedale, 111., twins, a son. Darrell Rav, and a daughter, Dianne Kav. Nov. 15, 1951. Stauffer. — To Henry H. and Florence (Mil- ler) Stauffer, Bainbridge, Pa., a daughter, Eu- nice Ann, Jan. 4. 1952. Sutter. — To Ivis and Joan (Zook) Sutter, Clarksville, Mich., a son, Robert Murl, Jan. 16, 1952. Sutter. — To Lester and Marietta (Egli) Sut- ter, Manson, Iowa, a son, David Lester, Dec. 11, 1951. Swartzentruber. — To Levi G. and Iva Ellen (Yoder) Swartzentruber. Wioesburg, Ohio, a son. James Mark. Jan. 6, 1952. Weaver. — To S. Edward and Zf this book, which so refreshingly strength- ms our faith in the risen Christ. The author irmly believes in the Scriptures as the di- vinely inspired Word of God, and bases his reatise solidly on them. Nearly half of the book is devoted to a plendid presentation of the fact that “the esurrection of Christ is the most firmly es- ablished fact of history.” The very first entence of Chapter I is an appeal to the 'Jew Testament to “decisively” prove this. \.nd even apart from the Scriptures, consider he following few statements as an example >f Miller’s freshness and originality in treat- ng this great subject: “Men may scour the mtire face of the earth and they will find no nonuments, no tombstone erected in mem- >ry of the departed and dead Jesus Christ. Afiiy is this true? Because we do not set up nonuments in memory of the living, but only n memory of the dead. . . . He needs no nonument to mark His grave because His is in empty grave.” How can you account for Pentecost, the urthday of the church, just fifty days after faster, if the enemies of Christ could have produced His dead body? Apart from the ■esurrection of Jesus, how can you explain the ludden abandonment of the Jewish Sabbath lay, which was observed for several thou- ;and years; and the accepting of the first day if the week by both Jew and Gentile as the lay of worship? With many more such questions the author challenges the unbe- liever to account for numerous spiritual :hanges without the fact that “Jesus Christ Is Alive” The reviewer is compelled to qualify his approval because of one paragraph and a few GOSPEL HERALD ITEMS and COMMENTS A congregation of 16,000 persons attended the opening of a ten-day preaching mission in Philadelphia conducted by Canon Bryan Green, Anglican evangelist. Canon Green told his audience that “there is cause for alarm in the sultry moral atmosphere about us, the greed for money, the self- or over- indulgence of our appetites whether in sex, food, or drink. The sins of modern life,” said he, “make people morally soft; Chris- tians lull themselves back to sleep spiritually by being frivolous or flippant, their minds crammed with material things.” Over 2,000 students attended a chapel meeting at the University of Pennsylvania which Canon Green addressed. A revival of this type under Episcopal auspices is something new. * # # Dr. E. Stanley Jones, missionary evangelist, is one of eight Methodist ministers organiz- ing a Fellowship of Methodist Pacifists, an unofficial group in the Methodist Church. The purpose of the group is thus stated: “To refuse to participate in any war, or to sanction military preparations. To work to abolish war, and to foster good will among nations, races, and classes. The aim of the fellowship is to deal with offenders against society so as to transform the wrongdoer rather than inflict retributive punishment.” — Evangelical Press Association Service. * * * An appeal to omit liquor at office Christ- mas parties was sent to 5,000 business execu- tives in the state of Pennsylvania by the Christmas Safety Committee of the Pennsyl- vania Temperance League. * * * The national production authority denied 476 applications and granted only 174 for buildings by religious educational welfare organizations in the final quarter of 1951. “It is unlikely that NPA approval will be given to any church educational or welfare project in the first three months of 1952 that is not at least 20% completed,” said the agency’s announcement. * * * Counting heads and tabulating the number of churches are not the most effective ways of measuring the religious climate of a com- munity, according to William G. Mather of Pennsylvania State College. Addressing the other statements regarding the atonement that could be misleading to the unsettled or weak Christian. For example, we are told that “Christ tasted of sin, hell, and death for every sinner,” and that He imputed “His own righteousness to us.” Apart from a few statements such as these that savor of Calvin- ism, the book can be highly recommended for the Christian who waits to be strengthened and refreshed in his faith in the Christ — not “of the tomb” — but “of the empty tomb.” The index is adequate, and the type clear on fairly good paper. — Lloyd Hartzler. MS Division of Home Missions of the National Council of Churches, Dr. Mather contended that the measure of religion could no more be gauged by church membership “than counting the number of people in an area is the measure of health.” Drawing on infor- mation revealed by a survey conducted over a four-year period on the status of Pennsyl- vania rural churches, he said that the rural church has served primarily upper and mid- dle-class families. As the result, small re- ligious sects have invaded rural areas to win over the lower economic and social classes, “but they have not served them adequately.” The survey also shows that the rural churches in Pennsylvania are growing, with 60% showing gains of 5% or more in total mem- bership from 1940 to 1950, while 20% re- main stable, and another 20% decline. Of the churches surveyed, 40% reported no or- ganized youth group, while 92% of the churches in the open country had no men’s organization. * * # The United Holy Church of North Amer- ica is the first Negro denomination to join the National Association of Evangelicals. The N.A.E. has more than 30 denominations in its membership and has congregations from 30 more. It claims to represent 10,000,- 000 Protestants. * * * The State Department at Washington which had earlier blocked the sending of missionaries to the island of Formosa be- cause of the shortage of housing and food and the danger inherent in the political situa- tion there, later modified this ruling to per- mit churches having long-established mis- sions in China to send missionaries to For- mosa. However, only the more pressing ap- plications will be granted under the new policy. Answer to War By Millard Lind The answer seems simple. “Thou shalt not kill.” But— some preach- ers praise their soldier members for dropping bombs. High school age youth demand more explanation. They must know WHY. Why did Christ say, “Love your enemies”? What did Paul mean when he said, “Let every soul be subject unto the higher pow- ers ? Put Answer to War into the hands of the young people. $1.75 a copy. Mennonite Publishing House SCOTTDALE, Pa. GOSPEL HERALD 144 February $, ipyi We laid an aue/ia^e a^i3.5 cap^lei a day! Now SEPARATED UNTO GOD is in its second printing. In five months 3,000 copies of Sep- arated unto God moved out of the Publishing House. Now we are happy to tell you that a second edition is printed. Once again the book is avail- able to you. Entire congregations are studying the book together. Pastors are finding Separated unto God an ideal gift for newlyweds. Many customers consider it an ideal gift for any special occa- sion. Separated unto God is the kind of book you come back to many times. Here in clear language are set forth Biblical principles applied to modern living. Buy now for yourself and your friends. 350 pages, $3.50. Separated unto God By John C. Wenger MENNONITE PUBLISHING HOUSE, SCOTTDALE, PENNSYLVANIA ( Douglas MacArthur has been granted the third annual citation for distinguished serv- ice to mankind by the Salvation Army As- sociation of New York. In accepting this citation, General MacArthur said, “In this day of gathering storms, as the moral de- terioration of political power spreads its growing infection, it is essential that every spiritual force be mobilized to defend and preserve the religious base on which this nation was founded.” * * * In spite of Protestant opposition to the ap- pointment, President Truman has said that he will send the nomination of General Mark W. Clark as ambassador to the Vatican to the Senate after it convenes on January 8. # * * Although the number of Negro colleges and universities has increased from 99 in 1900 to only 108 in 1950, today’s enrollment in these institutions is 28 times greater. The rise was from 2,624 in 1900 to 74,526 in 1950, according to the United States Office of Ed- ucation.—Signs of the Times. * * * The Evangelical Church of West Germany is planning to send relief to Korea as an ex- pression of her gratitude for the support given her by foreign nations after the war. — D. Carl Yoder. * * * Of the 500 Protestant churches destroyed in Japan during World War II, 170 have been reconstructed, and 22 are scheduled for completion soon. . . . North American church- es have given over $800,000 for this recon- struction.— D. Carl Yoder. * * * Nothing for a long time has aroused such a furor as the nomination of an ambassador to the Vatican by President Truman, and yet, a Gallup poll reveals that 40 per cent of the persons asked said they had heard nothing about it. In spite of various evidences of an increase of interest in religion in America, it is also evident that religious affairs pass by a great proportion of the people. * * * Time reports that the ashes of Louis Braille, blind friend of the blind, who died 100 years ago, have been transferred from his native village to the Pantheon in Paris, where they rest among the illustrious benefactors of humanity. * * * Dr. Hans Meiser, a bishop in Munich, Germany, recently declared that conscientious objection to military service is the cause of much confusion in the church. Dr. Meiser took the traditional Lutheran position that this is a matter for political decision in which the church has no direct concern. * * # A high-school senior in Ann Arbor, Mich- igan, son of a Quaker mother, has refused to take a required military orientation course given to seniors in that high school. He has been allowed to drop the course and will still be eligible to graduate in June if his parents make a written request for the change and physical educational work is substituted. * * * Dr. Robert G. Cochrane, a noted British leprologist with 25 years’ experience as a medical missionary in India, tol^ the Amer- AVJVNIW3S ican Leprosy Missions recently that there are great new opportunities for young Christian doctors in the leprosy mission field. He said that the advent of the sulfone drugs had opened “a completely new field in which a doctor can find oudets for his medical abili- ties.” * * # A judge in North Carolina ordered mem- \ bers of two feuding families who appeared before him in county court to attend the Billy Graham revival at Greensboro for three weeks. Let us trust it stopped the feuding. * * * The Mennonite Central Committee has purchased a 50-acre farm, one mile east of Newton, Kansas. It is planned to build a men- tal hospital here similar to the one at Hagers- town, Maryland, and Reedley, California. Most of the money will be raised in the cen- j tral west area. It is hoped to secure $175,000 before October 1, 1952. The institution will be a 40-bed hospital with later units to be j added as there is need, up to 100 beds. * * * Construction by non-public schools in the 1 United States set a new record in 1951, ac- i cording to a government report. Construc- tion projects estimated to cost $329,000,000 were started by private schools and colleges last year compared with $249,000,000 in 1950, the previous record. * * * Pennsylvania has more churches than any other state, according to Religious News Sellvifcd. £ l 0 J V 3 i n «5 3 AV NAWiaOO « *19* NIJLN3MHVM V % 1 V 3 1 1 S 1 S 3 i 1 NOLL 3 W I GOSPEL HE “In the defence and confirmation of the gospel" ""How beautiful are the feet o volume XLV TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1952 — For to Me to Live Is Christ BY GERALD C. STUDER “For to me to live is Christ” (Phil. 1:21). This simple statement is one of the finest specimens of a surrendered soul that we have in the entire Scripture. When Paul wrote this he had some thirty years’ experience in spiritual conflict and missionary activity to back him up. Without a life consonant with his state- ment this would be merely an example of bragging. But Paul is dealing in life objectives and he knows it. Perhaps as he wrote he recalled that law of God’s which says that “whatsoever a man sow- eth that shall he also reap,” and he must have shuddered in horror at the thought of where he would have come out had he ignored God’s call on the Damascus road. At that moment when he gave up and cried out to the Lord, “Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?” he surrendered all to Jesus Christ. This is not turning over a new leaf; this is rebirth, regenera- tion. This is changing the roots in order that right fruits may follow. This is what Paul did earlier that now made it possible for him to make the statement which is our text. “For to me to live is Christ” means that for Paul the business of life was Christ. His energy, activity, occupation, and interest was all Christ. His sole de- sire was Christ; I wonder. Is it ours? Can we sit back and allow to parade be- fore us all the things we love most, our families, homes, farms, children, prized possessions, and yet lay them all aside and declare that for us to live is not any of these but is Christ alone? Can we? Can you? Paul regarded everything that he had to do and everything that befell him in doing it only in relation to Christ. “For to me to live is Christ” to Paul simply meant to live as Christ lived. At Antioch the believers and followers were called Christ-ians by the unconverted world about them because they lived among them as Christ had lived among men. What would the unconverted world around you dub you if they did not know that you claim to be a Christian? For us to live might mean any one of a number of other things besides Christ. The story is told of nine-year-old Bobby Feller, who was asked by his teacher to write a theme about a great oak tree. Bobby Feller wrote about how it could be cut down and made into baseball bats and home bases. Even at this tender age he could say, “For to me to live is base- ball.” There are those who if they would search their own hearts and admit what they find there would have to say, “For to me to live is pleasure” or “money.” We talk in jest sometimes about those who “live to eat.” Maybe some of us would have to confess this too. But Paul declared, “For to me to live is Christ.” How can we live for Christ? What will a life be like that is Christ? I want to suggest three answers, all beginning with “R.” Rich In the first place, if for us to live is Christ our life will be rich in the truest sense. We all want to live life abun- dantly. We are repelled by the long- faced, narrow-minded legalist. He is not our ideal. There are people who are known to be “agin” everything. Christ talked of some of whom it would have been better had they never been born or, having been born, it would be better if a millstone be put around their neck and they be cast into the sea. People who look at life with a the-whole-world-stinks kind of attitude. Christ was just the op- posite of this. Christ lived life full to the brim and running over. He lived life so full that even a rock-hewn tomb and two guards could not contain Him. He faced life squarely and lived it with gusto. He said once, “I am come that they [every- body] might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. ” And, by the way, in that same verse He also designated any other idea of life as a thief who comes into our life to kill and to steal. Christ once met a man who was more interested in death than in life. The man said in answer to Christ’s call to follow Him, “Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.” To him Christ said, “Let the dead bury their dead.” Another man Christ met must have looked longingly at his home while he said, “Lord, I will follow thee whither- soever thou goest,” for he was told by Christ that “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of ■number 7 man hath not where to lay his head. In other words, Christ was saying that if you are more interested in laying your head than in following me, then you had better follow the foxes. Still another man Christ once met, who was young and rich, wanted his wealth and salvation too (we know people who want their cake and eat it too), and he was told to sell all that he had and give to the poor and come take up his cross and follow Christ. That is to say, the way is too narrow for you to walk in it with a farm on your back and your pockets bulging with material possessions. There is a story of a boy found crying because his hand was caught inside a precious antique vase. The father came to the rescue and in order to preserve intact the heirloom tried every means at his command to remove the boy’s hand but all to no avail. In desperation, the father finally broke the vase only to dis- cover that the only reason the boy could not get his hand out of the vase was be- cause he was grasping a penny and wouldn’t let go. Christ won’t break any vases for His followers. His provision for every man to follow is more than Two Cups By Bertha L. King Jesus took from God’s hand dire curs- ings’ cup , The cup that was poured for me. And raising it to His God-man lips , Drank even the bitter lees. Then the sorrows of death encom- passed Him And the pains of hell got hold on Him And all Thy deeps are gone over Him. O God! Thy Son— He dies! With nail-pierced hands He now holds out Sweet blessings’ cup to me. And I, unworthy of such infinite grace, Yet drinking its richness , I see Myself freely cleansed in the blood of Him And justified through the death of Him And newly born by the life of Him. O' God! Thy child— I live! West Liberty, Ohio. 146 adequate. It is impertinence to ask or expect Him to make concessions to you. He is God and we are men; we all enter and follow the same way. All of this is in saying tnat our life will be rich if lived for Christ. Romans 10:12 says that “the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.” II Cor. 8:9: “For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might he rich.” Ephesians is full of references to the “exceeding riches of his grace” to us- ward. Hebrews 11:26 tells us of Moses, reared in Pharaoh’s own palace, un- doubtedly acquainted firsthand with all the wealth of Egypt, yet “esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt.” If for us to live is Christ, we will live richly. Righteous In the second place, we will live right- eously. To live righteously speaks of good works, and many Christians today are afraid of works. They insist, “We are saved by grace through faith,” and that is right. Furthermore, they remind us that “there is none righteous, no, not one,” and that is right. What is more, these people tell us that it is the modern- ists of our day who put their emphasis on works and we don’t want to be classified with them, and certainly that is right also. And these people still go on and say that the modernists teach a love for our neighbor that doesn’t come from a love for God and Jesus Christ first; that they are humanitarian but not truly born again, and spiritual, and in all this they are right. But in their, and our, opposition to all that is modernistic, un- scriptural, and unsound, these people frequently overemphasize their points of difference until they too do not preach the “whole counsel of God.” They preach “free grace and dying love” and forget that this is only half of the Gospel. There are two sides to the Gospel coin and one side without the other makes a counter- feit. Out of this error has come the mis- sions versus relief controversy and the concern for souls without a concern for the bodies of men. Let us take the story of the Good Samaritan as an example. If “these people” are right the story should go like this: A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, leaving him half dead. And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and GOSPEL HERALD when he saw him, being in a hurry for a committee meeting, he passed by on the other side, supposing that someone else had already gone to town for a stretcher. And fikewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him: and being late as it was for his cate- chism class, and seeing the priest up the road ahead of him and supposing that he was going for help, he also passed by. And likewise again a certain “cheap- gracer,” as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he went and asked him if he was saved and, receiving no answer, took him to an inn, and dumped him off, saying, “I wanted to help but, of course, I won’t place myself under any obligation.” No, we all know the story as it is, as Christ told it, how the Good Samaritan put the man on his own beast, poured into the man’s wounds his own oil and wine, and took him to an inn, saying, “Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when 1 come again I wiif repay thee.” If the truth of Cod is merely that we can be saved by grace through faith, then with half-dead men we may have curiosity but no genuine concern, for they are in no condition to consider the claims of their own lost souls. If this were the whole Gospel, then we can imagine Christ weeping over Jerusalem and lamenting their plight, but we cer- tainly cannot imagine Him acting out of love and dying on the cross in their and our behalf. And had this supposi- tion been true, we and they would still be irretrievably lost. If for us to live is Christ, we will live as Christ lived. This means we will go out of our way to heal the sick and cleanse the defiled and comfort the sorrowful, not only among our own people but wherever we are, regardless of race or color or creed. Too many people get saved and come to church, but live like the devil all week long. They pray on their knees on Sun- day, and prey on their fellow men all week. Let me cite a few Scriptures to show you the other half of the Gospel. We will go directly to what is probably the most used passage in showing people that there are no works in salvation. Ephesians 2:8, 9: “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast.” I hope that every pulpit in every Men- nonite and Christian Church will never cease to ring with the glorious Gospel of salvation by grace. I pray that always and everywhere men shall know that February 12, 1952 1 H nothing that they could possibly do I could ever merit salvation or put God in debt to men. But this is the wrong passage if we want to teach that there are no works connected with our salva- tion. All that these two verses teach is that there are no works connected with our salvation AS FAR AS MAN IS CONCERNED. The great tragedy is that these people of whom we have spoken never or seldom use the tenth verse. Verse 10 says, “For we are his [God’s] workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” This verse clearly teaches that there are works connected with our sal- vation, but that they are God’s works and not ours. Furthermore it teaches that the intention of God from the be- ginning in creating man was that he should do good works and that this in- tention is made possible by regeneration. Consequently, though we cannot believe in a salvation by works we must believe in a salvation that works. Another way of explaining the other half of the Gospel is to say that though we are saved by God’s unmerited favor we are judged by our good works. Con- version is the beginning, not the end, of salvation, for salvation continues in good works. This is the proof of the root found in the fruit. The Scriptures are unanimous in teaching the significance of good works in preparing us for the last judgment. Here are a representative group from both Testaments. The psalmist in Ps. 62:12 says, “Also unto thee, O Lord, belongeth mercy: for thou renderest to every man according to his work.” Jere- miah says in 17:10, “I the Lord search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.” Christ Himself says in Matt. 16:27, “For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.” Paul says in II Cor. 5:10, “For we must all appear before the judg- ment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, ac- cording to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.” And Peter in I Pet. 1:17 says, “And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man’s work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear.” And John in Rev. 20:12 says, “And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: (Continued on page 152) GOSPEL HERALD ESTABLISHED 1908 AS SUCCESSOR TO GOSPEL WITNESS (ISOS) AND HERALD OF TRUTH (1864) PAUL ERB, EDITOR CATHERINE HERNLEY, EDITORIAL ASSISTANT J. D. GRABER, missions editor JOHN L. HORST, MILLARD C. LIND, associate editors THE GOSPEL HERALD IS A RELIGIOUS WEEKLY PUBLISHED IN THE INTERESTS OF THE MEN NON I TE CHURCH BY THE MENNONITE PUBLICATION BOARD, SCOTTDALE, PA. ENTERED AS SECOND-CLASS MATTER IN 1908 AT THE POST OFFICE AT SCOTTDALE, PA., UNDER ACT OF MARCH 3, 1879. SUBSCRIPTION PRICE: $3.00 PER YEAR, THREE YEARS IN ADVANCE, $8.00, FIVE YEARS IN ADVANCE, $12.50. SAMPLE COPIES SENT FREE ON REQUEST. SEND ALL MATERIA) «?OR PUBLICATION TO GOSPEL HERALD. SCOTTDALE, PA. PRINTED IN U.S.A. February 12, 1952 GOSPEL HERALD 147 EDITORIAL Our Growing Camp Program It is now almost thirty years since Bro. Allan Good, in connection with the mission work at Portland, Oreg., began the first summer camp conducted by the -Mennonite Church. This summer it will be twenty-five years since our first young people’s institute was held under the leadership of Bro. Noah Oyer at Goshen, Ind. It is sixteen years since a young people’s institute was first con- ducted in a camp situation at Arbutus Park, Johnstown, Pa. And it is eight years since the first Mennonite-owned camp had a full camp season at Laurel- ville. Pa. Since then five other camp sites have been acquired, and a number of camps are now being conducted by mission boards, conferences, and con- gregations, with others in the planning stage. Since this growing work has been un- co-ordinated, built largely on the convic- tion and initiative of individual and unofficial groups here and there, the meeting of camp representatives held at Elida, Ohio, on Jan. 25 and 26, the first church-wide meeting devoted to the problems and methods of summer camps, was something of a landmark. We hope to publish soon a report of that meeting. Summer camps provide a combination of inspiration, instruction, and recrea- tion. They seem to fit into the pattern of modern living. Our people today are caught between two concepts. The first is that work is a necessary evil, made endurable by short hours, long evenings and week ends, and vacation periods for rest and recreation. The modern man looks forward to quitting time, to the annual vacation, and to eventual retire- ment. Our people, increasingly urban- ized, mechanized, and industrialized, are certainly not immune to this con- cept. The second concept is more traditional with us. It is that work is the chief good. It says that rest is laziness and that lei- sure is a waste of time. It sees long hours as virtue, of vacation as a running away from duty., and of retirement, as a disgrace. . . . Both of these viewpoints have in them some truth, as well as some error and danger. As often, we seem to be getting together somewhere between the ex- tremes. We are probably agreed that work is not an end in itself. Work done is not for most of us the chief measure of the good life. One can be intemperate in work as in other good things, and many people tend to become enslaved to labor, whether in their concepts or in the process which makes the daily grind a mastery of spirit. We cannot help seeing that conditions of modern labor have changed. We know today the accelerated pace that kills. Mechanization gains efficiency at the expense of interest. Monotony is the sure result of the production-line method. There is less of whole accom plishment from which the worker can gain his inspiration. All these are factors which make it necessary and justifiable for the modern Christian, including many Mennonites, to get away some- where for a change of environment and a rest. Recreation is one of our new necessi- ties. The right kind of recreation can add something to a man. It creates the whole man, supplying what may be lack- ing in his life. It puts the accent on fullness of life, recognizing the value of a rich experience. A day or a week in the woods can make a contribution to a man’s personality that he could hardlv receive otherwise. The people who carp- ingly boast that they have never had a vacation are perhaps unconsciously dem- onstrating that they need one. But the Christian must integrate his recreation with the rest of his life. A true Christian is a Christian all the time. And every part of his life must be brought into relation with every other part. He dare not take a vacation from his religion or from the claims of spirit- ual consistency. Yet it is a fact that rnanv of our people do spend a week or more at resorts where the whole environment appeals to the carnality of the average vacationer, and they sometimes do things they would not want their preacher at home to know about, and should not want their God to know about. At the best, it is impossible for them to return home from a week at many of these places spiritually stronger. Religion is the integrating principle for a Christian. Therefore recreation must be not onl) consistent with Christianity, important as such consistency is, but must con- tribute to it. The Christian’s recrea tion, including his vacations, must be positively Christian. This sets forth the chief reason tor having church camps— for our children, for our young people, and for adults. Here they can find congenial and helpful associates, instruction in the Bible and in Christian living, opportunities and stim- ulation for meditation and worship, fur- ther understanding of the church and its program, and opportunities for testi- mony and evangelism. Here they can have a vacation plus— all the rest and recreation which modern distraction de- mands, plus the spiritual help which every Christian needs. The camp movement began among us because of a deep desire to do something that will utilize our leisure and our recreation toward Christian ends. There have been some fears and some hesita- tion in accepting the camps. The rapid growth of the movement indicates a growing acceptance. The people who met at Elida evidently had a strong sense of mission. They were conscious of problems and of dangers. But they no longer doubted that God will be able to use summer camps to His glory. Alternative Training Bro. Harold S. Bender, in his testi- mony before the House Armed Services Committee concerning the proposed uni- versal military training bill, suggested that religious objectors be permitted to take training in relief and rehabilitation work as an alternative to military train- ing. As presently drawn, the bill will require conscientious objectors to per- form civilian work of importance to the national health, safety, or welfare. By adding “or training” after the word “work,” Bro. Bender pointed out, a worth-while program might be launched by the peace churches. “We believe that intensive courses of training can be devised,” he told the committee, “which would prepare such persons for the meet- ing of human need and the fulfillment of their obligations as citizens in line with their convictions, and that such training would— in the long view— be more valu- able than the same time spent only in work assignments.”.. .... 148 GOSPEL HERALD How to Keep the Commandments BY BARNEY OVENSEN II By learning from Jesus, who kept the Father’s commandments and remained in His love, we also can keep His com- mandments and remain in His love. Jesus said that the law and the prophets were until John the Baptist. Christ did not come with the Old Testament law but with the new covenant of grace. And yet He did not come to abolish the law and the prophets. It is true that He did abolish the distinction between clean and unclean foods and many other de- mands of the Mosaic law. But He es- tablished the law. He upheld the law. He fulfilled the law. What law? The temporary law of Moses? No. That law He set aside. But the eternal law of God He taught and established in the hearts of all His followers. He taught us the law of love. And love does not break the law but fulfills the law. This is the love of God that we keep His com- mandments. Paul and the other apostles taught the same doctrine. They spoke against keep- ing the old law that had become useless for salvation and they established the law that Jesus taught. Paul, in his letter to the Roman Christians, said, “Owe no man anything, except to love one an- other; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law. The commandments, ‘You shall not commit adultery, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,’ and any other commandment, are summed up in this sentence, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.” If we keep the first and second commandments, the ones our Lord emphasized, we will not break any of the others. Some teachers have learned enough of the Lord’s teaching to come with the commandment of love, but have not learned how to keep this commandment. They imagine that all the other com- mandments have been set aside as useless since love fulfills them. But neither they nor their followers succeed in ful- filling the law of Christ. Why? Because they do not teach the same way as their Lord taught. And those who follow Jesus must follow all of His teaching, not just a part of it— even if that part is the most important part. “Seek the baptism,” one says. “Seek the second blessing,” another insists. “Just cease from your own striving and rest in the finished work of Christ,” says someone else. And the way they tell it, their way is not only God’s way of per- fection but is really an easy way. Christ’s way is not easy. But the way is plain to any true follower of Jesus, so plain that even a fool will not err there- in. What are we to do? We must do something. To neglect our salvation is the way to damnation. Those who in- sist the Gospel says “done” not “do” are either ignorant of the Gospel or teaching another “gospel” that is different from the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We must do something. Either we must do what modern teachers tell us to do, or we must do what Christ and the apostles told us to do. Whom shall we follow? Is it hard to decide? DO WHAT JESUS SAID. DO WHAT THE APOSTLES SAID. This is the way Jesus walked and taught us to walk. This is the way the apostles walked and taught us to walk. This is the way the early Christians, and all Christians down through the years from the first Christian century until today, have walked and taught others to walk. To neglect His commandments and to pray for His “leading” or “guidance” or some special revelation of His will, is foolishness— not the foolishness of God which is wiser than men’s wisdom, but the foolishness of men who think they are wiser than God. The world thinks highly of fools; but God’s children be- lieve in Jesus and follow Him. When we begin to do what God says —and if we have not been doing that before we can begin right now— we begin with the first commandment: to love God. We surrender ourselves to keep all the commandments of God with all of our heart and soul and mind and strength. We do all we can to keep the commandments. We do not merely ask God to shed abroad love in our hearts; we give Him our hearts. We cease fight- ing against God and begin to co-operate with God. And we do this, not half- heartedly or insincerely, but with all our heart and soul and mind. Are you with Jesus? Either you are with or against. The apostles explained some of the meaning of Christ’s teaching in their letters to early Christians. And Christ’s apostles were not ignorant of the way to perfection and victory over sin and the world. They taught as their Teacher taught: If you have been born again, seek the things that are above, where Christ is. For God will give eternal life to those who seek for glory and honor and immortality by patient continuance in well-doing. We are not to seek to lay up treasures on earth; but we are to seek to lay up treasures in heaven. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. Chris- tianity requires self-denial. Jesus said you must take up your cross daily if you want to follow Him. For you have died, all you who were baptized into Christ. You are not your own; you were bought with the blood of Christ. So you and I must put to death our earthly, worldly February 12, 1952 desires: lust for immorality and impur- ity. Yes, Christians have those desires, and must fight them instead of yielding to them. We must put to death our pas- sion and evil desire and love for money and worldly goods and worldly “success.” People who live in those things are sons of disobedience, not sons of Abraham, who obeyed God. The Christian must not imagine that there is something wrong with his Christianity because he has a desire for the things of the world; but he must put away all these evil de- sires as they arise: anger and hatred and bad feeling toward others, slander and evil speaking and talking about people behind their backs, foul talk and cursing and foolishness, and similar things that come up in our daily lives. What! After we are born again? Yes, the people Paul instructed in this way were Christians. And if we are honest, we know that we need the same instruction. Do not lie one to another, no, not even for the glory of God. Don’t try to make believe you are better than you really are, or worse! Tell the truth even when it hurts. If it were always easy to tell the truth, Paul would not have needed to warn Chris- It Happened — FIFTY YEARS AGO (From Herald of Truth,, Feb. 15, 1902) Bro. Abraham F. Moyer, who for al- most half a century labored as a minister ... in Blooming Glen congregation, Bucks Co., Pa., passed to his rest on the 3rd of February. . . . Last Sunday forty-two persons were baptized (Dhamtari, India). The Herald of Truth has been be- fore the public, as our church paper, now for thirty-eight years. Bro. Noah Metzler, Goshen, Ind. . . . filled fourteen appointments (Trous- dale, Kans.). Nineteen precious souls were led to ... a Saviour. Bro. John Blosser of Ohio labored with us (Emma, Ind.) for two weeks . . . eleven souls confessed Christ. Our Sunday school is “evergreen” (Birmingham, Kans.). The conference (Ind.-Mich.) address was delivered by Bishop Isaac Eby of Lancaster Co., Pa. On the 6th of February, 1902, at the residence of the bride’s parents, near Palmyra, Mo., by Pre. J. M. Kreider, Bishop Daniel Kauffman ... to Sister Mollie Shank (Congratulations! Ed.). (Died) ... in Monmouth, 111., of the infirmities of old age, Elizabeth Shoe- maker, aged 110 years, 1 month, and 17 days. ... Of her numerous posterity four were of the fifth generation. February 12, 1952 GOSPEL HERALD 149 tians against telling lies to each other. Is it not wrong to say that you have no desire lor the uungs of the world, when the truth is that you have to fight against desire for wicked and woriuly tilings almost every day? You hypocrite! Con- fess your faults one to anoiner that you may be saved. God is not fooled. And don’t stop with the war against sin until you have reached perfection in your Christian life. And that means we must ever go forward. You will have to add to your faith the virtues and works of faith. Since you are one of God’s chosen ones, a saint, you must put on compas- sion, kindness, lowliness, meekness, and patience. God doesn’t desire sacrifice half as much as mercy. Blessed are the merciful, for they will obtain mercy from God. While it is true that the fruit of the Spirit is love, patience, kind- ness, meekness, and similar virtues, it is also true that we must “put on’’ these virtues. We must co-operate with God. We have to practice forbearance, put- ting up with the faults of other peopfe even when there is no excuse for them. And if we have a complaint against an- other brother in Christ we must practice what we read in the Gospel and iorgive. Forgiveness isn’t easy, but we can learn from Jesus. Imitate Him and forgive others in the same way as He has already forgiven us. And if we don’t forgive others we are not receiving forgiveness for our own sins. But if we do forgive we can pray to God, “Forgive us our debts as we have forgiven our debtors.’’ But most of all put on love. Follow after love. The aim of Paul’s preaching to Christians was love— which issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and sincere faith. Purify your heart if you are double-minded. Make up your mind that your whole love, strength, and everything you have belongs to God. And don’t allow that uncertainty to re- main, the idea that maybe you ought not to go all the way with Jesus. Keep a good conscience. If you go against your conscience and do what you believe is sin, you are condemned. Confess your sins and get a clear conscience. You j must get your conscience clear with God before you go to prayer, or else you will have no confidence. Your heart will condemn you. But if your heart does not condemn you, you can get anything you ask from God. Provided you ask in faith. It is not easy to believe. A sincere faith is worth much more than all the wisdom of this world. And our faith must be kept sincere. Admit you have little faith if you have little faith. Don’t make believe you never doubt, when you do. The apostles had little faith be- fore they saw the resurrected Messiah. If we have little faith, let us go on and get more faith. Use the faith you have, even if you cannot “move mountains’’ with your little faith. There are enough | things God has commanded without adding the commandments of men. You have faith enough to keep the command- Let Me Abide in Thee By Menno M. Brubacher Dear Lord , Thou art the true and living vine, Grant me to be a fruitful branch of Thine; May that life-strength which comes alone from Thee, Be manifest from day to day in me. Let strength from Thee through all my being flow, That I in Thee may daily live and grow; Yea, let me constantly abide in Thee, That I may do the work Thou hast for me. Apart from Thee I could not live one day. For I would surely err and lose my way; Let T hy free grace my every need supply, For without Thee I soon would wither— die. Help me to spend my life to Thy name’s praise, That I at last may see Thy lovely face; O! grant that I in Thee and Thou in me, May sweetly live to all eternity. Waterloo, Ont. ments. Do this and you will live. There is glory and honor and peace for every one who does good, not only for the Jews who received the Gospel from Jesus but also for Greeks and Romans and Americans. For God shows no partiality. He is no respecter of persons. The apostolic letters to Christians are full of this kind of teaching. Read the third chapter of Paul’s letter to the Colossians and see for yourself what he taught. Did Peter and James teach dif- ferent ways? No. They all taught the same way as their one Teacher. They used different words and different thought forms but taught the same way of life. Jesus told us what to do if we have trouble with sin in our lives. Does some sin tempt you? Did you fall once? Watch out or you will fall again. Find out what caused you to sin and cut it out. If it is your money or your best friend, or your attitude toward wife or father or mother or your love for someone or your “look- ing” or anything else that causes you to sin, get rid of the cause. Cut it out! Yes, pluck out that necessary eye. You can better get along in poverty or misery in this world than in the next. It is better to lose your life in this world than to go to hell and get punished for all of your sins against God and men. “If your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away.” If it is your money, don’t follow the rich young ruler but get busy giving it away. If it is adultery that you are tempted to commit, stop looking at anyone who is a temptation to you. Of course we must get to know God’s commandments. That is why He in- spired men to write the books that we have in the Bible. And it is up to us to listen to God’s Word and pay attention. “He who has ears, let him hear.” We can read the Bible daily in the privacy of our own bedroom. Or if we have no private place, we can read it anywhere. But read it we must. Or listen to some- one read it. The words of Jesus, the words He spoke to His disciples, “are spirit and life” to every one of us. By the words of Jesus, by hearing His words and doing them, we build upon rock. By the truth of Jesus’ words we are sanc- tified. By hearing His words we live. And we also need the apostolic writings of the New Testament and the inspired books of the Old Testament. By daily reading and hearing the Word of God we learn what the will of the Lord is, and learn to do it better and better as the years go by. We must love the Lord with all our heart— and that means making a full sur- render to Him daily. We must love the Lord with all our soul, giving Him all that He desires and withholding no single thing from Him of all that He asks and commands. We must love the Lord with all our mind, setting our minds on the things of God and meditat- ing on His law day and night. We must love the Lord with all our strength, keep- ing His commandments to the best of our ability. And besides all this we are to seek for spiritual gifts. And when we have one or more gifts we are to pre- sent ourselves to God as a “living sac- rifice” in order to use our gifts in His service. If anyone thinks that all this can pos- sibly be done without grace from God he shows that he has never tried to live right. Paul said that a natural man can- not be subject to God’s law. Apart from the true grace of God, separated from the true vine that Jesus talked about on the night before tiis passion, we can do nothing. But with God all things are possible. And God has given us very many promises which we can use in our prayers in order to get help and grace in time of need. God gives grace to the humble. The more earnestly we try to keep the commandments the more hum- ble we will get. And the more humble we get the more grace we will get from God. God does not allow us to be tempted above our ability to bear temptation. He guarantees that we will be able to bear it. He does not guarantee that we will bear it. For He has given us free wills and left it up to us whether we will obey Him or not. Therefore we must work out our own salvation with fear and trembling, not with a high- minded feeling of safety, certainty, and security. And if we do that, God works in us both to will and to work for His 150 good pleasure, jesus is with His own people always, even in our day and age. And His grace is sufficient for us, because the strength He supplies to us is perfected in our weakness. God said by His prophet Isaiah, “Why do you say, ‘My way is hidden from the Lord’? Have you not heard? The Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, does not faint. He does not get weary. He gives power to the faint; and to the one who lacks strength He increases it. Even boys grow faint and weary, and young men will collapse and fall pros- trate. But those who wait for the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar up with wings like eagles. They will run and not get tired. They will walk and not grow faint.” Staten Island, N.Y. Brotherly Love A Paraphrase By John A. Hostetler If I could speak in all the languages of the world and could sing like an angel, but have not love for my fellow creature, my condition is worse than a cranky old woman or a raving goose clanking at the moon all night. And though I should have the powers of prophecy, and could reveal all secrets and would have a score of doctors’ degrees, and if I would have all faith, even to the extent of raising my wife and child from the dead, but have not the capacity for charitableness, my life is a failure. If I give away my books, all my assets, and my Studebaker for the salvation of souls, and if I give my body to the communists to be burned, but have not a tender passion of soul, I gain less than nothing. Genuine love is patient and winsome; this kind of charm is not jealous or of- fensive; it is not demanding or rude. Love never insists on its own way; it is not irritable or gaudy; it does not gloss over my faults, but rejoices when I do right. Such liberality and affection em- braces all my instability, my hopelessness, my failures, believes everything I say and do, hopes for everything I hope for, and embraces all sorrows. A fervor like this never ends; as for the prophets, preachers, and scientists, their speeches will come to an end; all persons will cease their clamor; as for colleges, alumni and all repositories of learning, they will soon cease. For now our brain capacity is immature and our predictions are faulty, but when the perfect comes, our blemishes and defections will be wiped out. When I was an innocent baby, I blabbed just like one, and thought just like one; but when I became a physically mature person, I outgrew childish ways. So it is with us; for we can see only a mere shadow in the mirror of God’s fu- ture, but then we shall be mature and understand as we see Him face to face. GOSPEL HERALD Now I know only partially; then I shall understand fully, as much as I permit myself to understand Him now. So faith, hope, love abide— these three; but the greatest of these is exquisite love in all its manifest beauty among the creatures of God. State College, Pa. There’s a Baby in the House ! By Mina Wiarda And the baby rules the place— the house is ordered and run with the wel- fare of the helpless little one in mind. The thermostat is set at the temperature best for baby, all noises and sounds are softened for baby ears, cold drafts and blasts from open doors are avoided, food purchases must include what the little one requires, the laundry is a busy place for baby’s sake, and the furniture makes room in various parts of the house for baby’s little furniture pieces. And as for the pleasures and joys of the home, baby is the star performerl And baby’s health is the determining factor in family trips ' and visits or staying at home. Yes, baby is king in the house! It’s wonderful to have a baby in the family! Everyone loves the little mite, everyone is interested in baby’s daily de- velopment, everyone claims baby as his or her own, and everyone wants to ven- ture whom baby looks like, and what baby is going to do when grown up! And to elicit from baby a smile, or a gur- gle, a coo or a word, a first step, or the appearance of a first tooth, seems to be an open contest in the household. Even burping the tiny one, or holding the bottle, or tickling the pretty chin are de- lightful pastimes. And what fun it is to show the baby off! Of course, baby must be lifted, and carried, and wheeled, and laid down— the infant is helpless. Baby must be held up for standing and for first steps. And words must be repeated again and again before baby is able to form them. Every- thing baby is to learn has to be patiently taught. But it is all a labor of love, therefore light and joyous. Who minds, helping and teaching the little dar- ling! There come times when baby may not be well, or becomes fretful, or turns the night into day, or seems to have lost ap- petite, or gets hurt somehow. Yes, a thousand ills can befall the little one, to the distress of the family. Then, what eagerness to rescue the precious one, or call the doctor, or apply the necessary remedies! And what safeguards also are employed to protect baby! Just so, in the family of God, the household of faith, there are babes— be- ginners in Christ, newborn ones, who need special watching and extra care, and tender, loving handling, and every caution, lest in their frailty and inex- perience they become spiritually upset or ill. With these in mind, extra “dishes” February 12, 1952 tnust be prepared, special arrangements provided, the milk of the Word (as well as the meat for the oldsters) dispensed. And the spiritual laundry must be kept going, lest the “little ones” be offended! Tnere may come times when the baby is spiritually sick, or becomes fretful, or permits the light to become darkness, or loses the spiritual appetite, or is hurt somehow. Oh, a thousand ills can befall the babe in Christ. Then, what eager- ness on the part of the church to rescue the beginner, to call upon the Great Physician in his behalf, or to apply the necessary encouragements, warnings, or exhortations, as remedies. And what safeguards the saints seek to raise in the babe’s behalf! But what a delight are the babes in any church family— how we love them, and long, and watch, and pray, and strive for their growth in grace. We rejoice in the changes that take place in their lives and the transformations manifested in their characters. How happy is the one who can say, “This one I brought to Christ, by God’s grace!” And usually the babe in Christ reminds us of some saint, and we are wont to speculate as to what mark this one will make for Christ or what work for the Lord this child will accomplish when spiritually matured. Oh, wbat potentialities! And a particular delight is to display the child to the unsaved, or the luke- warm, as a trophy of God’s grace and redeeming love, and a testimony to the saving and keeping and satisfying power of the Lord Jesus Christ, and as a wit- ness to the indwelling of the Holy Spirit! Impoverished and dreary must be the church family that can boast no newborn ones in their midst! For it is truly won- derful when “There’s a Baby in the House!” 1 i Pierre, S. Dak. Are You a California River Christian? By Clifford Snider, Jr. This may not mean much to you, but ^ let me explain. During the summer months, I am told, there is little or no rainfall in California; ' consequently the rivers dry up. The bridges and banks are still there, but no water. There are some Christians in this same position. There is an outward ap- ! pearance of salvation and Christianity, j but there is no Holy Spirit flowing from within. John 7:38; “He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall How rivers of living water.” Friend, are you experiencing a dry season? Then let me say this, “Be NOT drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but BE FILLED with the Spirit” (Eph. 5: 18). Kitchener, Ont. February 12, 7952 GOSPEL HERALD 151 A Prayer for This Week Dear Lord Jesus, who didst so love the little child— calling him to Thysell and blessing him, acknowledging his importance as an individual and his greatness in the kingdom of heaven— we thank Thee for the lessons we can learn of him: How swift his forgiveness, How complete his forgetfulness, How brief his anger! How guileless his criticism, How artless his questioning, How open his motive! How unquestioning his trust. How instant his sympathy, How simple his joy! Dear Lord Jesus, who didst so love the little child— help us to learn the lessons Thou through him wouldst teach us! —Miriam S. Lind. Using and Abusing Time By Laura Showalter Her words hurt. I could easily have let them spoil my whole evening at sew- ing circle, or even my friendship for the girl who spoke. Why did she need to say that? Most likely because I needed to think how to make better use of time. My attempt to make something beauti- ful out of something worthless had ap- parently not been a success. As she looked at my bright Blazing Star quilt top she said, “Can you imagine a grown- up making something like that?” indi- cating that I had wasted time that should have been used more profitably. I wanted to ask whether the time was better spent when we painted designs on towels, when we cut large pieces of ma- terial into small squares to be crocheted around and sewed back together, when we knitted garments for refugees instead of sending the yarn and letting the grandmothers knit to suit themselves, and when we embroidered or painted quilt blocks. Instead of asking any such questions I set to work with some material our president had planned, and while sew- ing my mind returned to the girl who had spoken. She is such a dear, gentle soul, and I wish I could copy her lovely ways. We who have known her for a long while have never known her to be out of sorts, nor have we seen her too busy to do a kindness and do it in a sweet way. There is a shortage of girls of her class. There is a possibility, too, that I do well to ponder her words. Could not some of my time be used to better ad- vantage? I remember with satisfaction evenings when we cut apples for drying, sewed cut garments for relief, sewed for needy local people, or hemmed dozens of colorlul outing pieces for baby blankets. But other evenings did not seem to ac- complish as much— at least not in quanti- ty—because we were making something special. Are we justified in putting so much work on a few pieces and then de- ciding to send them to a mission home somewhere because "there they will be appreciated and taken care of”? Could we do better by making a larger number of pieces instead of a few special ones? At the mention of special things some- one will remember that our rule is to love our neighbors as ourselves. Shall we, then, try to provide special things for everybody? Since that is out of the question, would it not be more loving to provide simpler things so that they will reach more people? If our own things were simpler we would have more time to help needy ones. Sometimes the elaborate things around our homes are there because they were gifts and we could not hurt the feel- ings of our friends by refusing to accept and use what had cost them so much work. Might we have a selfish motive in exchanging names at Christmas or oth- er times? Surely no friend would give us something that was no nicer than we would choose for ourselves! That word picture drawn by Ada Stoltzfus haunts me. One of five broth- ers marooned on an island found a cot- tage with comforts and supplies. He locked himself in so as to have it for him- self, even though his four brothers were as much in need as he. It was a picture of America selfishly keeping her plenty, giving to other nations only the surplus we can’t use. Shame on us for doing that and yet calling ourselves Christians! Scottdale, Pa. Latest Revisions By Orrif. D. Yoder “Master, WE WOULD SEE A SIGN from thee” (Matt. 12:38). Behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, saying, Where is the sign of Him born King of the Jews? Behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon . . . waiting for the sign of the Consolation of Israel. And if I go away, I will show you the sign that I will come again and receive you unto myself. So that ye come behind in no gift, waiting for the sign of the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. Ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for the sign of His Son from heaven. (The revisions subject to change ac- cording to belief.) Dear reader, what do you think of these late revisions? Are they Scriptural, or are they a resume of our modern thought and practice? Prayer Requests — Pray that foreign missionaries in prison in China on false charges may be de- livered by God’s power, and that God may give their families His keeping in heart and mind, and impart courage and patience and unwavering faith. Pray that the curse of permanent mili- tarism may not come upon us through Universal Military Training. Pray that the way may be opened for effective witness in alternative service by our 1-0 men. Pray for the Mission and the Church in India as they prepare to operate unit- edly under a new constitution, begin- ning July 1. Pray for our young men of draft age, and their parents, that they may stand for Christian convictions on nonresist- ance, and be willing to make personal sacrifice in the interests of Christian witness. Bro. James Bucher, c-o Walter A. Shank, R. 2, Ellicott City, Md., requests pray- ers for two weeks of revival meetings at Ellicott City beginning Feb. 17, then two weeks following at Cottage City, Md. Parents request the prayers of the church in behalf of their child’s health and retarded development. Were there actually people in the days of Christ who wanted to see signs of the kingdom, but who flatly refused to see and accept the King Himself? Can there be such people today? Might Satan today fascinate us with signs but blind us to the Christ signified by the signs? What about the modern driver who would speed down the highway and ap- proaching the sign “Sharp Curve” would turn back and gaze at the sign until wrecked on the curve he failed to rec- ognize? Is that the way Satan is having most Christians travel on the road of faith and hope leading to heaven and to the Return of our Lord? Are we blind- ed to the joy of the living hope of our Coming Bridegroom while we revel in the anticipation of signs? Wake up, Christian; is it so? Or are we in the company of those Wise Men of long ago, wrho left the sign behind and went to seek the Chiist? Are we in the company of those early Chris- tians who proclaimed, not signs, but the imminent Return of their Lord who when He left them said. “I will come again”? Is our faith today that of the bickering Pharisees who wanted signs, or are we in the communion of those Christians who turned to God, and were waiting for the Return of His Son from heaven? 152 GOSPEL HERALD February 12, 1952 Dear reader, are you and I saved and washed “from our sins” in the blood of 'the Lamb (Rev. 1:5), is our fellowship up to date, and can we with a “Living Hope” say with the seer of old, “Even so, come, Lord Jesus,” as the eternal Word rings out— “Behold, I come”! Portland, Oreg. The Master Uncle Sam and Christ Will Both Look On As soon as Christmas is past with its abundance of color, and music, and joy, most of us abruptly realize that the time is near when the last figures for the year will be entered on the record for income tax calculation. On one hand that cal- culation will take account of how much has come in from one source or another, and on the other hand what deductions may properly be charged off. We believe it is fairly well known that the income tax regulations provide that persons may charge off as legitimate de- ductions gifts to benevolent purposes to the amount of 15 per cent of their net taxable income. But data gathered from those who are in the business of making out such returns indicate that very few entries for such purposes come anywhere near that percentage. In fact, it is found that as a rule the larger the income, the smaller the measure of giving on a per- centage basis. We do not in any wise hold up gov- ernment-inspired giving as the norm for a Christian. His giving should be prompted by a motive much higher than that. For him the love of Christ should constrain. But the plain fact is that in too many that love simply does not con- strain to the extent to which it should, with the result that they give niggardly, or not at all. And our feeling is that if even on the basis of income tax deduc- tion they be induced to raise their giving to a higher level and then extract even some small measure of blessing in doing it, both they and the Cause have profited therefrom. So we would call to mind that when the figures are finally set down and the results determined, both Uncle Sam and the Master will be looking on. The Master will say, “By all means I should have received not less than one tenth of the amount before personal exemptions were taken out for my work throughout the world.” Uncle Sam will reply, “So far as I am concerned, I would have been willing that you should have gotten up to 15 per cent of the net.” Then what will you say? Remember you will neces- sarily frame that answer between now and next December 31.— Editorial, in The Christian Evangel. Scriptural evangelism demands a clear, ' childlike faith in the Word of God as it is piven to us in the Bible. — H. H. Janzen. OUR SCHOOLS Thinking By Shem Peachey “What per cent of the students of this college THINK?” “I would judge about ten per cent.” “Ten per cent! That would mean, then, that of the Mennonite people of the community surrounding the college, an even smaller percentage THINK.” “Yes, it would be less.” This is a part of a conversation with a member of a Mennonite college faculty. Of course this was only an estimate. But it was an estimate based upon an edu- cated man’s experience and observation in a Christian college. “Ten per centl” That is a miserable figure. And then to be compelled, by the same basis, to estimate the percentage of our people who really think as still less, makes us heartsick. But what is thinking? Webster says, in part, “To employ the higher intellectual faculties.” Actually, thinking is not a mere assembling of facts from books, or from a professor’s outlines. Real think- ing is the intense exercise of the mind, with the knowledge at hand, to explore, discover, and understand new truth, in any area of knowledge: the engagement of the faculties of the mind in observing, remembering, perceiving, reasoning, judging, understanding from stated truths, the necessary, unstated implica- tions of truth, to be inferred from those which are stated, with their values: the exercise of one’s reason, supported by sense and intuition, in comprehending the underlying principles of the Word of God, and their correct translation into living realities. If we shall become a people with the capacity for intelligent, fruitful think- ing, we must be trained for it. Our thinking capacities must be developed. Not the hard application of an unde- veloped mind, but the hitching of devel- oped minds to his vehicle of truth will take us heavenward. Kirkwood, Pa. FOR TO ME TO LIVE IS CHRIST (Continued from page 146) and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.” i „ _j. Reckless If then, for us to live is Christ, we will live ricnly, righteously, and in the third place, recklessiy. Pernaps you think this word is unbecoming to the Christian life. I believe recklessness in the Bible is called faith, and that is how I am using it. The faith chapter in Hebrews is just full of things mat sound reckless if not foolish to our natural minds. Im- agine it! Noah building an ark on dry landl Can’t you just see the scoffers that would stop to laugh and deride? Can’t you imagine the vacationers that would make tins novelty one of their stops? Perhaps they would buy a post card and share this ridiculous sight with their friends and relatives! But it was simply obedience to faith. Or rich Abraham, well situated on the fertile plains, with his children and their families grouped about him on his large land-hoidings, and his thousands of cattle, and his servants. And suddenly one day, he packs it all up and decides to move. This is not out of the ordinary, but this man moved not knowing where he was going! Again a response to faith that is reckless. A certain mother warned her son who was taking up flying, “Son, fly low and slow.” It was foolish advice. But it was a mother’s idea of safety. Safe flying re- quires speed and altitude. There must be complete renunciation of earth for the sky or tragedy may result. Just so the life in Christ requires a clean break with earth-bound ways of thinking and a complete committal to that which is heavenly. The disciples were commanded by Christ to, “Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.” This doesn’t mean anything much if it doesn’t come as a challenge to stop piddling along the shore in the shallows. We won’t catch any fish there. So many of us cling too close to the shore— we have not launched out into the deep at our Master’s command. We are more willing to speculate in business than we are for Christ. We are like the one-talent man who explained his detestable action by saying, “I was afraid . . . .” Christ died for us in order that we might live for Him. He died because His reckless, righteous, rich life so irri- tated the sinful lives of all mankind that they could not endure Him in their presence if they would not accept Him as their Lord. And so we have some directives as to how we must live if we are to live as Christ lived. This is the narrow way, the strait and narrow way that leads to life, and the only way. May we so live that after having declared that “for us to live is Christ” we can add with Paul, “and to die is gain.” Smithville, Ohio. February 12, 1952 GOSPEL HERALD 153 FAMILY CIRCLE Home By Cel:a Arnold Home-making hands are busiest, Performing tasks all day To feed and clothe the ones they love, And point them to THE WAY. Home-going feet are swiftest, As eagerly they stride At close of day, or wanderings, To where loved ones abide. Home-loving folks are luckiest And mark this well-known fact, That Home is where the heart is, While love keeps it intact. Home-seeking hearts are happiest, Grant they will ever find there Peace and love and joy supreme, God’s gift to all mankind. Newton, Kans. The Role of the Parent in Teach- ing the Child Nonresistance By Karl Massanari The present and increasing emphasis which is being placed upon militarism makes it paramount that the parent remind himself of his task as a Chris- tian in rearing children. The parent’s role in teaching the child nonresistance is chiefly the task of making love rooted in Christ predominant in the life of the child. This can be accomplished both by precept and by example. By precept: 1. The first responsibility of the par- ent is to teach the child the Word of God so that (a) the child will experience in his own life the love of God; (b) as he grows older he will come to an understanding of his own position in the sight of God; (c) he will accept Christ as his personal Saviour and thus join the large Christian family serving in God’s kingdom; and (d) he will continue to grow spiritually “unto the measure of the fulness of Christ.” 2. The parent should strive constantly to give a Christian interpretation in family conversation to world news events, particularly to events related to war news. Caution should be exercised so that feelings of hatred for the military “enemy” are not engendered by what is reported and discussed. 3. The instruction of the parent should aid the child in developing appropriate loyalties to God and to government. The child very likely will have heard that loyalty to one’s country is supreme, whereas the Christian asserts that loyalty to God is above all else. A proper un- derstanding of and a Gibraltar-like con- viction about the relationship of these loyalties is basic to the development of nonresistant Christians. This relation- ship of loyalties does not infer a dis- loyalty to the government. It means, rather, that the individual is loyal to the government up to the point at which such loyalty conflicts with his loyalty to God. Then he says, “I ought to obey God rather than man.” Dorothy Thomp- son describes the Mennonite position in this regard in a recent article, “Queer People,” in the January, 1952, issue of the Ladies Home Journal. This state- ment for popular consumption is worth reading. 4. The parent ought not to be ex- pected to give his child a complete course in Mennonite history; but he should help the child to become familiar with certain aspects of the historical, four- century peace tradition of the Mennon- ites. The parent may regard such teach- ing as inadequate and he may wish to request the Sunday-school teacher or the pastor of his church to provide further instruction in this area for his child. 5. Through parental initiative, the parent and the child together should attend appropriate meetings which will help them to meet people who live the peace teaching of Jesus. Among others, such meetings as those which feature personnel from Voluntary Service, C.P.S., foreign and home mission fields, and relief organizations ought to be regarded as appropriate. Mere attendance, how- ever, is insufficient for the child. The things which are said at such meetings need interpretation and explanation so that the child can make them part of his experience. This interpretation and ex- planation can best be given by the par- ent. 6. The parent should provide guidance in aiding the child to select his toys and games. A visit to almost any toy depart- ment convinces one of the necessity of selection. Some of the popular children’s games which utilize guns, enact kill- ings, and dramatize warfare are not conducive to developing the attitudes and habits characteristic of the nonre- sistant Christian. 7. Similarly, the parent should pro- vide guidance and supervision in the selection of radio programs consumed by the child. If one expects the child later to be able to make his own selec- tions, he needs parental guidance in forming a set of standards to use in the process of selecting. 8. The parent should provide the child and himself with carefully selected read- ing materials which will serve to generate the spirit of love. The parent may be of further help to the child by actually taking time to discuss the content of what has been read. The following ref- erences are appropriate for the purpose already mentioned: 1. Tell Me About Jesus , Jones. 2. Growing Pains, Taylor (Westmin- ster Press, Philadelphia). These books present the everyday meaning of love and nonresistance to preschool and primary children. 3. Strawberry Girl, Lenski. A book for older boys and girls in which a family feud is settled and a father is converted. 4. Two Swords (from Eagle Book Se- ries, Friendship Press). For older boys and girls. 5. “The Packman’s Wares” and “Hold Hard to Love” from Missionary Sto- ries to Tell (Friendship Press). 6. MCC Children’s Newsletter, Mary Shank Lehman, Editor. Published quarterly. Free upon request. Ak- ron, Pa. 7. The Mennonite Peace Problems Committee is preparing a book of stories for children at present. A Quaker book of peace stories is Broomell’s The Children’s Stoiy Caravan. 8. Unspoken Love (to be published), Christmas Carol Kauffman. 9. Wings of Decision, Eunice Shellen- berger. Appropriate for junior high and senior high boys and girls and for youth. 10. Scriptures for families to memorize: (a) Matthew 5:38-48. (b) Romans 12:17-21. (c) I Peter 3:8-17. (d) I Peter 4:12-19. 11. Must Christians Fight? Edward Yo- der. 12. The Anabaptist Vision, H. S. Bender. 13. Before You Decide, Howard Charles. Parents, as well as the older children, should familiarize themselves with these last three references. By example: The parent may feel limited in his ability to carry out certain of the fore- going suggestions. This is not nearly as serious as is a failure on his part to ex- emplify in his own life the kind of be- havior which bespeaks the predomi- nance of the love of Christ. Putting it in an oft-used phrase: one’s actions speak louder than his words. 1. “Provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.” It is possible for the parent to actually cause his child to become angry. Such provocation may result not only from words said and deeds done, but also from words not said and deeds undone. One is less apt to “provoke the child to anger” if the needs of children of different age levels are understood. Misunderstanding of what the child really needs or regards as im- portant can result in mistreatment by the parent and consequent anger on the part of the child. Such feelings in the 154 GOSPEL HERALD February 12, 7952 TEACHING THE WORD child, if prompted frequently, will be detrimental to the kind of spiritual growth under consideration in this dis- cussion. 2. Not this: “YOU shut up! I’ve stood all I’m going to out of you.” Just last week I was riding on a train and heard a mother scream these words at her young child. A parent is instructed to train up a child in the way he should go, and is held responsible for seeing to it that this training is carried out; but it must not be carried out in the spirit of this mother’s words. When it is neces- sary to correct and/or to punish the child, the parent should never do so when he himself is angry. This is so for two reasons. In the first place, no one can think as clearly as he normally can when he is under emotional stress such as when angry. Secondly, one is too apt to be concerned about protecting his own ego (or his own “self”) at such times and consequently the welfare of the child is not uppermost in the mind of the parent. It is possible to “discipline” children in the spirit of love. And love begets love. 3. “Husbands, love your wives and be not bitter against them.” The manner in which the father and mother get along in the home is a significant factor in de- termining what kinds of attitudes chil- dren will develop. Kindness, gentleness, patience, and love on the part of par- ents with each other can be regarded as positive and lasting contributions to the development of a life in the child characterized by love. 4. “Red and yellow, black and white; they’re all precious. . . .” How the par- ent regards persons outside his own family is also an important factor. The attitudes he expresses toward persons of different races, or of different social classes, are all indicative of the degree to which love permeates his entire life. Such attitudes, whether good or bad, are observed and absorbed by the child. Such attitudes, if bad, are detrimental to the development of a nonresistant life in the child. 5. A parent pantomimes. Some of the undesirable attitudes on the part of the parent are expressed verbally. Not all, however, for certain ones are expressed non-verbally, frequently to his complete unawareness. In varying circumstances, the child may carefully observe on the part of his parent a shrug of the shoul- der, or a raised eyebrow, or a turned up nose, or a shaming finger, or a cynical smile, and develop within himself feel- ings of dislike or hatred for the person who caused this kind of parental be- havior. One thinks, perhaps, that he can cover up his feelings of hate or dis- like for another. But the child is quick to learn how to interpret the physical, non-verbal responses of the parent. What is needed, of course, is clear— the dis- placement of the feelings of hate in the parent’s heart with those oh love. And Murder Trials, Basketball, and Sunday School At a murder trial recently, spectators coming and going caused so much con- fusion that the judge remarked that the court was entitled to the same consider- ation as a basketball game, and ordered that no one else be permitted to enter during the remainder of that session. He of course referred to the practice at many basketball games of allowing no one to enter while the game is actually in progress. If then a basketball game or a murder trial is entitled to such consideration, what about Sunday school in the house of the Lord? Have you ever thought what a more reverent atmosphere would be created, how much more conducive it would be to real worship and study, were it not necessary to pause every few min utes to permit late-comers to enter? The present procedure in our Sunday school is somewhat as follows: Opening— pause while people enter- hymn— pause while people enter— devo- tion—pause while people enter— hymn- pause while people enter— preview of the lesson and assembling in classes. Is this promoting a real spirit of wor- ship? Is this showing true reverence to the Lord? Should we then close the doors at opening time and ask all late-comers to miss the entire opening period? Cer- tainly not— in a group of this size there will always be a few unforeseeable events which will cause a few to be late. But when this happens the feelings of love will be reflected. 6. “The tongue is a little member . . . and the tongue is a fire.” Psychologists have carried on some interesting re- search in the area of rumor and gossip. Some of their findings are startling. One of the chief causes of malicious gossip, they tell us, is hatred. The remaining causes all fall clearly under the category of sin, but they are not within the scope of our present discussion. If hate is the root of much gossip, then the parent needs to be concerned about what he says about others and more basically how he feels toward others. The Apostle Paul speaks harshly about those who are idle, tattlers, and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not. Exemplary living in this area can help to promote in chil- dren the development of those attitudes necessary to the nonresistant life. Conclusion. Any influence from the life of the parent which contributes to feelings - ■ --- (Continued on page 165) certainly this should be true of not more than 10 per cent at the very most. Let us examine the attendance figures for November. The minimum attendance (excluding the primary department) was 194 the twenty-hfth. But by actual count, when the final bell rang there were seated in the auditorium on November 4, sixty- five; on November 11, eighty; November 18, seventy- five; November 25, thirty- five. That means that every Sunday during the month, at least 50 per cent and as high as eighty per cent of those attending either straggled in late or missed the opening period entirely! Friends, something is wrong. Perhaps the opening is of no value to you. If so, this should be remedied, and any con- structive suggestions would certainly be welcome. On the other hand, we profit from a service in direct proportion as we partake. Do you sleep till the last min- ute, rush around getting ready, visit in the coat room or narthex about the auto accident yesterday, or the basketball game last night, and then walk in late? Or do you come on time, prepared to take part in the singing and prayer, to follow the Scripture reading, to listen at- tentively to what is said? Now against the above picture, con- trast this. Ninety to ninety-five per cent of those attending are seated in the auditorium five minutes before the final bell. As each one enters he quietly finds his seat and spends a few minutes in silent prayer and meditation. The few late-comers slip unobstrusively into the rear benches which have been left empty for them. Let us then propose the following steps to achieve this goal: (1) Get up fifteen minutes earlier than has been your custom on Sundays. (2) If there is anything unusual— ex- treme cold, icy roads, a basket dinner to prepare for— allow time for it and get up that much earlier. (3) On arriving at church DON’T stand and visit in coat rooms or narthex. DO greet others and proceed directly to the auditorium. (4) Leave the last four benches on either side for those who arrive late. (5) After finding your seat well for- ward, breathe a prayer for the Sunday- school service that morning. Spend the rest of the time till the service NOT in hastily reading over the lesson, but rather in silent prayer and meditation. What better way to prepare to unite in group worship— praising the Lord, com- ing to Him in prayer, reading and study- ing His Word— than by spending a few minutes in personal communion with Him?— The East Bend Mennonite Trum- pet. : •• February 12, 1952 GOSPEL HERALD 155 TO BE NEAR TO GOD BASED ON THE DAILY READINGS FOR THE SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSONS Sunday, February 17 A Royal Welcome. John 12:1-8. Before Jesus went to His triumphal entry, He stopped to rest at His friends’ home, and they gave a supper for Him. Lazarus, who had been raised from the dead by Jesus, was host of the feast and his sisters served. Martha supervised the table, and Mary, who had a special perception of spiritual things, poured out the family’s gift of love upon the Master. Jesus had often told them of His mission on earth, and Mary knew that since He had dared to come near to Jerusalem to raise her brother, the Jews would not allow Him to be with them very long. Now was the time for the incense to be spilled. This Sunday morning may we offer up our all in a renewal of consecration and wait for His blessing. Monday, February 18 Leaving All to Follow Jesus. Luke 5:1-11. Peter, James, and John were the inner cir- cle of Jesus’ disciples. Many were the blessed times they had with their Master. They were at the transfiguration, in the garden, at least John was at the cross, and Peter and John were among the first to see Him after the resurrection. But they had to forsake all to follow Him. They had to leave their boats and fishing equipment whereby they made a living. Doubtless they and their father had worked a long time to be able to buy or build what they needed in their trade. James and John had to leave their old father with hired serv- ants, who would probably not understand the old man as his sons did. Peter had a wife and probably a family that he had to be absent from most of the time. What have we left for Christ? God has to put His gold through the. fire to separate it from whatever clings so tightly to it that He cannot use it for His kingdom. Are we fully separated unto God? Tuesday, February 19 Who Do You Think I Am? Matthew 16:13-20. Peter as the spokesman of the disciples makes the great confession that Jesus is the Christ. What think we of Christ? Is He our Sav- iour, the only Begotten Son of God? Is Christ the Lord of our life? If so, we can meet the temptations of Satan with a declaration that will put him to flight. Where Christ is ac- knowledged as Lord, Satan can have no pow- er. He may bicker and torment with ques- tionings and disbeliefs. He may try to get us to choose the almost good instead of the eternal truth of God. But an unwavering as- sertion that Christ is Lord of our heart will cause him to flee for the present. And still Christ is asking, “But whom say ye that I am?” Wednesday, February 20 What Is True Greatness? Matthew 20:20-28. James and John were among the closest to the Master. He had revealed His choicest secrets to them. Somehow they supposed they were to be some great ones in His kingdom. And so they were. For in Christ’s king- dom the least shall be first. But even that was not for Christ to give. God had already given it to His Only Begotten Son. For He had to die as no one else had to die — with the weight of the whole world’s sin upon Him. Other men have died for their own sins, but the whole heap of the rotten mess had been piled on Christ. He only could bear it away to sanctify the hearts of men. And because He was willing to be least, He has been exalted as Lord of lords. Thursday, February 21 A Pledge of Loyalty. Mark 14:17-21, 26-31. Now comes the test for those who had been on the mountain top and chosen Jesus as Lord. “Lord, is it I?” they question in startling unbelief. “All ye shall be offended,” Jesus tells them on the Mount of Olives. Why offended? Be- cause others scorned Him. Because He was treated as a criminal. Are we offended in Jesus? Are we ashamed to be His very own people? To be numbered with the poor in spirit, the meek, the merciful, the pure in heart, and the peace- makers? Do we blush to teach His “all things” to the world? Does it give us joy to be recognized as the followers of God? “Someone is slighting the Saviour of men; Lord, is it I?” Friday, February 22 A Pledge Forgotten. Mark 14:43-50. “They all forsook him and fled.” Even the three closest disciples fled from Him. Oh, one or so did follow afar off. John was around somewhere close, and Peter followed off- stage and warmed himself at the enemy’s fire. As Jesus told them, the Shepherd had been smitten and the sheep scattered. Forgotten were their vows to stay with Him. Here was their opportunity to prove their love, but they were nowhere to be found. The sons of thun- der were silent, the Rock (Peter) shook like jelly, and Thomas the fearless was turned into a doubter. Had they really forgotten? An old song tells of memories that “bless and burn.” Compare Luke 24:32. If we have forgotten any good pledge, let us call it to mind today and put fire into it, that it may burn until it has been kept. Saturday, February 23 A Pledge Renewed. Acts 4:5-20. At Pentecost the fire of God fell and caused them to renew their pledge. They were not only bold in their talk now but in their ac- tions as well. Instead of backing down when PETER, JAMES, AND JOHN Sunday School Lesson for February 24 (Mark 9:2; 10:35-45; 14:32-42; Luke 8:41, 42, 49-56; 9:28-36; Acts 4:13-22) Are there different degrees of fellowship with Christ? Does Christ love some follow- ers above others? Surely the difference is not in Christ but in us. Christ can use some above others because they have insights and understandings of spiritual truth. But why does He give these to some only? I think Mary of Bethany gives the answer. Some listen to Him, some desire to hear, some take time to read and have their eyes opened to behold the wonderful things out of His law. Some have not yet matured enough to eat meat. According to our faith He gives. Great multitudes followed Jesus. Many went away easily. Others continued. Jesus chose twelve to train especially. Of these twelve, three seemed to get closest to Him; at least He gave them special opportunities. Perhaps it was to make leaders of them. John seemed very close to the heart of Jesus. Let’s go with the three to each event of the lesson and see what they were privileged to see and learn. When they beheld Jesus transfigured, they had a very special vision of the glory of Jesus and God, they heard God Himself affirm the divinity of this human Man, and they had a glimpse of immortality. And what insight this mountain experience must have given to prayer! Jesus came up here to pray. When Jesus took these three with Him in- to the presence of death, they saw a great demonstration of the power of faith in Jesus. And as strong a demonstration of the power of Jesus to bring to life her that was dead. When James and John asked preferment of Jesus they (and no doubt Peter, too) learned something new about true greatness. “Are ye able?” was a searching question in return. In the Garden of Gethsemane they must have experienced a humbling. Likewise Pe- ter must have been greatly humbled at the trial. But when the testing came after Pentecost they were bold and Christlike. The training was effective, for they stood the test. Those who follow close will see light. “In Thy light shall we see light.” — Alta Mae Erb. Lesson based on "International Sunday School Les- sons: the International Bible Lessons for Christian Teaching," copyrighted 1951 by the Division of Chris- tian Education National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. threatened, they cannot but speak the things which they have seen and heard. In the tem- ple they preached Jesus before the multitude with the same power that Jesus had used there. Five thousand men were converted and the priests knew that they had been with Jesus and His power was ruling their lives. What made the difference? The power of God had come upon them. Now they were ready to live and die for their Lord. More than this they lighted other brands, who set the whole world on fire with divine love. Lord, by Thy Spirit cleanse our hearts of fear and self-seeking as we labor for Thee. Amen. — Mary Alice Holden. 156 GOSPEL HERALD February 12, 7952 FIELD NOTES Items to appear in this column for any issue of the following Tuesday must reach Scottdale by Wednesday morning. Canton Bible School students gave pro- grams at Orrville, Pleasant Hill, and Beech the evening of Jan. 27. Winter Bible term students from Hesston College gave a program at the near-by Penn- sylvania Church on Jan. 27, and Eureka Gar- dens in Wichita, and Spring Valley, Canton, on Feb. 3. Enrollment at the winter Bible school at Loman, Minn., was 51 regular students and a number of part-time students. Eight states were represented. Bro. Harold Longenecker was ordained to the ministry on Jan. 27 at the Marietta, Pa., Congregational Mennonite Church. He will go to Alabama for service in March. Bro. Jesse Short, Archbold, Ohio, was the visiting speaker in the Christian Life Con- ference held at Johnstown, Pa., Bible School Feb. 9-10. All are invited to the Christian Workers’ Normal Feb. 14. Bro. LeRov Rhimesmith was ordained by lot on Jan. 27 to the office of deacon at the Locust Grove Church, Sturgis, Mich. Bro. Lee J. Miller officiated assisted by O. S. Hos- tetler. Eight persons came to the prayer room for help in finding salvation or for reconse- cration in the meetings held by Bro. John E. Lapp at Scottdale closing Feb. 3. The congregation and the Publishing House greatly appreciated these services. Table of Contents 145 — F'-'r to Me to Live Is Christ Two Cups (Poem) 147 — Our Grewino Comp Program Alternative Training 148 Hew to Keen the Commandments II It Happ~ned 140— Let Me Abide in Thee (Poem) 150 — Brotherly Love There's a Babv in the House! Are You a Cali'onUa River Christian? 151 — A Prayer for This Week Using and Abusing Time Latest Revision Prayer Requests 152 — The Master Thinking 153 — Home (Poem) The Role of the Parent in Teaching the Child Nonresistance 154 — Murder Trials, Basketball, and Sunday School 155 — To Be Near to God Peter, James, and John 156 — Field Notes 157 — Mission News 158 — Convinced, but Not Converted 159 — A Brief Visit to Our Chaco Work And the Lights — ? 160 — The Gospel Transforms Attitudes Every Man a King Medical Work in Tanganyika 161 — Your Help Will Be Needed Women's Activities In the Master's Name 162 — The Kingdom to the South IV M.C.C. Weekly Notes 163 — Church Correspondence 165 — Erpressions of Appreciation Births Marriages Obituaries 167— The Book Shelf Items and Comments A series of peace meetings conducted by a team from Goshen College were held recent ly at the following churches: Plain View, Aurora, Ohio; Burton, Ohio; Cleveland Mis- sion, Cleveland, Ohio. Teams are available for week-end appointments within a 250-mile radius of Goshen. Requests from more dis- tant areas will be considered in connection with a possible itinerary during spring vaca- tion April 4-14. Write to Paul Stoll, Office of Public Services, Goshen College, Goshen, Ind. Bro. Norman Derstine, Harrisonburg, Va., was ordained to the ministry, if plans car- ried, on the afternoon of Feb. 10 by unani- mous call of the Trissels congregation near Broadway. He will serve this congregation as associate pastor. The ordination was in charge of J. L. Stauffer and Timothy Show- alter. Bro. Elmer Kolb, Pottstown, Pa., preached the sermon. The special Bible term enrollment at E.M.C. is 118 including 10 ministers who are taking a three-week course. These ministers are from Virginia, New York, Delaware, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Louisiana. Bro. L. J. Miller has gone from Upland, Calif., to Phoenix, Ariz., where he is stay- ing with his daughter. Bro. Glen Whitaker is now a patient at the La Junta, Colo., Hospital. Clear Thinking About Courtship, by J. C. Wenger, has been printed and should be available soon. A reprint of Wings of Decision has been ordered. The church building at Sweet Home, Oreg., has undergone extensive remodeling in recent months. A full basement for the use of the Sunday school has been provided. Bro. Mahlon M. Zimmerman of the Ephra- ta. Pa., congregation was ordained to the office of bishop at the Hess Church, Lititz, Pa., on Jan. 31. The lot was not used. The ordiration was in charge of Bro. Amos Horst, and Bro. Arthur Ruth, Chalfont, Pa., preach- ed the sermon. A Wednesday evening Bible class began at Perkasie, Pa., on Jan. 23 with Bro. J. Silas Graybill as instructor. A coat of paint has been applied to the inside walls of the church at Perkasie. Bro. Noah Hunsberger conducted a Ger- man service at St. Jacobs, Ont., on the after- noon of Feb. 10 for the benefit of German- speaking people in the vicinity. A special delegate session of the Southern Pacific Conference will be held in Los An- geles on Feb. 16. Bro. Jency L. Hershberger was ordained to the ministry the afternoon of Jan. 27 at the Toto Mission near Knox, Ind., an outpost of the Salem congregation. The service was in charge of Bro. R. F. Yoder. Bro. J. C. Wen- ger preached the ordination sermon. Also participating were Harold S. Bender and Francis Freed. Twenty-three new members were received by water baptism at Kidron, Ohio, on Jan. 27. A group from the Michigan Bible School gave a program at Naubinway, Mich., on Feb. 3. The chorus from North Goshen, Ind., gave a program at Roselawn, Elkhart, Ind., the evening of Jan. 27. Bro. Amos Gingerich, Parnell, Iowa, is serving as an instructor at winter Bible school at Wellesley, Ont. Bro. Jacob Swartzendruber was elected on Jan. 13 to the office of visiting brother for the Pigeon, Mich., congregation. Foreign students of Goshen College, led by Gerrit Veendorp, gave a program at Sun- nyside, Dunlap, Ind., the evening of Jan. 27. Mennonite Sunday Schools have 3,657 pu- pils over 12 years old who are not church members. This is 900 more than there were 10 years ago. Announcements Christian Life Conference with P. L. Frey and C. F. Derstine speaking at Bavshore, Sarasota, Fla., Feb. 22-24. A. C. Good, Ster- ling, 111., at Easter services sponsored bv MYF at Hooedale, 111., April 11-13. Nonconformity and History Conference at Line Lexington, Pa., 200th Anniversary for the congregation Feb. 16. evening, and all day Feb. 17. Con- estoga Bible School, Morgantown, Pa., Feb. 18-29, with Omar Kurtz. Isaac G. Kennel. Tohn L. Glick, Eli Ka”ffinan, and Milford Hertzler, instructing. William G. Detweiler (Continued on page 164) Calendar Annual Christian Day School Meeting, New Danville, Pa., Feb. 16 Mennonite Publication Board, Annual Meeting, Way- land. Iowa, Feb. 20, 21 Eastern Ohio Minister's Meeting, Leetonia Mennonite Church, Leetonia, Ohio, Mar. 4-5. Annual Ministers' Meeting, South Central Conlerence, Greensburg. Kans., March 11-13 Southwestern Pennsylvania Conference, Ministers' Meeting, Place Undecided, March 21, 22 Conference on Christian Community Relations, Tis- kilwa. 111., March 27-29 General Council of Mennonite General Conference, including invitational Prophecy Conference, Elk- hart, Ind., April 2-5. Lay Evanaelism Conference, Goshen College, Go- shen. Ind., April 5-7 Pacific Coast Conference, Western Mennonite School, Salem, Oreg., June 3-6. Mennonite Youth Fellowship Workshop, Iowa Men- nonite School, Kalona, Iowa, June 9-12 Mennonite Youth Fellowship Annual Meeting, Lower Deer Creek Church, Kalona, Iowa, June 13, 14 Mennonite Board of Missions and Charities, Annual Meeting, Lower Deer Creek Church, Kalona, Iowa, June 14-17 Laurelville Mennonite Camp, Mt. Pleasant, Pa. Boys' Camp (ages 9-12), June 28 to July 4 Girls' Camp (ages 9-12), July 5-11 Junior High Camp (boys and girls, ages 13-15), July 12-18 Missionary Bible Conference, July 19-25 First Family Week, July 26 to Aug. 1 First Young People's Institute, Aug. 2-8 Second Young People's Institute, Aug. 9-15 Second Family Week, Aug. 16-22 Victorious Life Conference, Aug. 23-24 Music Week, Aug. 25-29 Southwestern Pennsylvania Conference, Springs, Pa., July 20-23 Chesley Lake Camp, Allenport, Ont. Boys' Camp, Aug. 9-16 Girls’ Camp, Aug. 16-23 Young People's Camp, Aug. 23-30 Ohio Mennonite Christian Workers' Conference, Mar- tins Church, Orrville, Ohio, Aug. 12-14. Iowa-Nebr. Conference, Bethel Church, Waylcmd, Iowa, Aug. 13-15. Illinois Mennonite Conference, Flanagan, III., Aug. 19-21 Mennonite General Conference, Place Undecided Aug. 26-30, 1953 February 12, 1952 GOSPEL HERALD 157 Go, Preach MISSIONS • Give, Pray The General Board Headquarters lor Missions, Relief and Service: 1711 Prairie Street, Elkhart, Indiana. Telephone, Elkhart 2-2786. Mission News The young people’s group from East Pe- tersburg, Pa., will render a Gospel program at the South Christian Street Mission, Lan- caster, Pa., the evening of Feb. 4. The morn- ing of March 2 Bro. James Shank, on fur- lough from Africa will speak there. Bro. and Sister Don McCammon, returned missionaries from China, will speak at Meta- mora. 111., on Spring Missionary Day, March 16. Bro. Rudy L. Stauffer, Mission Bishop of the Ohio Mennonite Mission Board, assisted by Walter Stuckey and Bro. Simon Ging:e- rich, ordained Bro. Murray Kraybill to the ministry on Jan. 27 at Mt. Gilead, Ohio. He will serve as pastor of the mission congrega- tion in the new communitv recently colonized there. Bro. Russell Kraybill. brother of Mur- ray, served as chorister, and Bro. T. J. Hostet- ler, President of the Ohio Mission Board, gave the charge to the congregation. Plans are being made to build a new church building in the near future. Speakers at the Sunnvside Church, Dunlap, Ind., were Bro. Don McCammon and Bro. Eugene Blosser, both recently returned from China. Sister Dora Taylor, missionary nurse in Honduras, after a recent illness was recovered through an anointing service. Bro. Noah K. Mack has received recogni- tion from the British Government for his medical work in Tanganyika. He is to re- ceive an honorary degree and a medal from the King of England. Sister Phebe Yoder, on furlough from Afri- ca, is now taking work in Biblical Seminary in New York City. She is preparing to trans- late parts of the Bible into Kijita. The following is taken from the financial report of the Detroit, Mich., Mennonite Mis- sion: “Our congregational and special offer- ings in 1951 amounted to $4,141.84. Congre- gational and special offerings in 1950 amount- ed to $2,783.34, giving us an increase of $1,- 358.50, which amounts to $25 per week more over the previous year. The average giving for the entire Mennonite church, according to the latest figure I have, is $55.20 per mem- ber per year. The average giving per mem- ber for our church amounts to $120.82, or twice as much as our “big brother.” A week-end service unit from Goshen Col- lege participated in the Sunday services at the Chicago Home Mission on Jan. 27. The preceding day they did physical labor around the mission. Address please — Florence Nafziger, R. 2, c/o Howard Nafziger, Nampa, Idaho. Bro. and Sister E. M. Yost, pastor and su- Spring Missionary Day March 16, 1952 It is the high privilege of every par- ent, teacher, and superintendent to make missionary day a meaningful, memorable occasion for every pupil in our Sunday schools. Parents lay foundations for mission- ary interest, activity, and participation in the home. Teachers capitalize on the founda- tions laid by parents by making avail- able adequate avenues for the expres- sion of a missionary interest. Superintendents provide direction and resources for teachers so that the very best may be accomplished for MISSIONS. perintendent at Denver, Colo., recently drove to Gulfport, Miss., to participate in the or- dination of Bro. Paul Holdeman on Jan. 20. Sister Linda Reimer, missionary on fur- lough from Puerto Rico, may be addressed at 1524 South Tenth Street, Omaha, Nebr. Bro. J. Ross Goodall, from the House of Your Treasurer Reports There is a growing concept in mission work that the person who can best take the Gospel to the people of any country is one of the natives of that country who has learned to know Christ as his Saviour. For this rea- son, it is believed that our National Pastors and Evangelists in South America and India offer a very vital avenue of expanding our church in these countries. The General Mis- sion Board is now helping to support a larg- er number of Native Pastors in Argentina and Evangelists in India. The support given for this purpose makes possible a larger in- digenous program. This, we believe, is ef- fective mission work. Funds are constantly needed for the support of these workers. Those who would like to encourage this type of mission interest can contribute to the fol- lowing funds: India Evangelist Support Argentine National Pastors’ Support Your prayers and support of our native brethren in these countries will be appreciat- ed. H. Ernest Bennett, Treasurer Mennonite Board of Missions and Charities Elkhart, Indiana MENNONITE RELIEF COMMITTEE (M.R.C.) Bro. Levi C. Hartzler spent Feb. 4, 5 visit- ing the Service Unit in the General Hospital, Kansas City, Mo. Following this, he was on the Hesston College campus for two days interviewing and counselling students who are interested in entering Voluntary Service. Plans have been made for similar visits at Goshen College and Eastern Mennonite Col- lege in the near future along with leaders from other service programs. Another orientation program for outgoing service workers will be held at the Elkhart Headquarters from Feb. 18-23. This pro- gram is organized to help the young people with information and concepts that will make their time of service more meaningful. The discussions include the mission and service program of the Church, Bible study, our Mennonite Heritage, and specific details re- garding the life and work in a service unit. Plans must be made to have each summer unit prove an experience of good Christian service. The number of stations that will be helped this summer depends on volunteers. Arrangements for food, housing, Bible schools, surveys, etc., depend on the number of workers assigned to each station. Because of the uncertainty of the plans of our draft age young people, we encourage all Chris- tians, and especially the young men and cou- ples over draft age (26 years) to consider a definite period of Christian service this sum- mer. Good news from Youngstown, Ohio! Through the efforts of the local superintend- ent, and the co-operation of the Youngstown Board of Education, this summer’s Bible school will be held in the Jefferson Street school building. Because separate class rooms, desks, and blackboards, in addition to the playground space will now be available, a more thorough solicitation program and an enlarged enrollment is anticipated. Christians are encouraged to pray for and help in this new opportunity to expand our outreach among our American Negro population. Lo- cal interested persons may contact Mrs. N. G. Bauman, Leetonia, Ohio. Other applicants should write to the Office for Service and Re- lief at 1711 Prairie St., Elkhart, Ind. Friendship, Kitchener, Ont., participated in the midweek services at the Lima, Ohio, Mennonite Mission on Jan. 31. Bro. and Sister Paul Kniss, missionaries in Bihar, India, plan to move to Bethet on the first of March to take up the work of build- ing along with Bro. John Beachy. This will give them an opportunity to become acquaint- (Continued on page 164) 158 GOSPEL HERALD Convinced, but Not Converted By Anna H. Byler “If we CONFESS our sins, he is faithful and just to FORGIVE us our sins, and to CLEANSE us from all unrighteousness” (I John 1:9). When we preach the Gospel in Argentina, it is not so difficult to come from a series of evangelistic meetings with a number of con- verts. It is not so hard to convince people that they are sinners, and therefore they need to confess their sins — to Christ. That they can also understand, since they have been doing it — to the priest. But here the difficul- ty arises — the difference between being con- vinced, with a willingness to confess their sins, and being converted, with a willingness to have Him truly CLEANSE them from all unrighteousness and make of them a new creature. There was Mrs. Marino, an intelligent young woman who as a child had attended Sunday school. For years she had lost con- tact with the church and now she was mar- ried. Someone invited her to church for spe- cial meetings, and she came. She became convicted of her sins, and was “converted.” Here was one, we felt, who understood the step she professed to take. She entered the converts’ class and for two or three lessons showed all the outward signs of a real con- vert. Then she missed church — she had been sick. She missed a lesson, and then another — she had been to the country. We prayed with her and for her, but we could not see past the excuses she was giving us. Finally, she no longer came to the door to invite us into her house, when we went to see her. Where was our convert? Converted? — these were not the evidences of a “new creature” ! And Mrs. Gonzales, who some years ago had moved into a house across the street from the church. She had no interest in the evan- gelical church nor its people, although her neighbors, Elsa and her mother, took an in- terest in her and tried to be true neighbors in every sense of the word. Over a year ago, a tragedy came into her life. One afternoon the news suddenly flashed through the town that a taxi driver had been murdered and his body thrown out of his cab a short distance out in the country. The taxi was gone with the murderer. The whole town was out on the streets discussing the terrible crime and trying to guess who might have done it, and why. Finally, a bomb was set off at the courthouse, announcing that the criminal had been caught. All ears were open to the announcement, but Mrs. Gonzales could not believe her ears, while her whole body went numb with the realization that it must be true — her only child, her son who had left her that morning to return to military camp —he was the criminal. Her world crumbled at her feet. There was nothing to live for; even her friends deserted her. That is, all MISSIONS SECTION except Elsa and her mother. Days and weeks followed in which they tried in every way possible to show that they were still her friends. Bricks from the wall between the two back yards had been removed to form an opening where they could go back and forth without going out onto the street. Finally one Sunday she came to church with them. She found out that the “Evangelicos” did not look at her with lifted eyebrows as did the rest in the town, but they welcomed her back to other services. At last she was convinced. This was the true way. Beyond a doubt, these people and the things they thought and believed were the right way and in response to an invitation given, she decided to become one of them. She attended regularly, and started her les- sons in the converts’ class. What happened? Nothing. She did not completely yield her- self to the Lord, casting her burdens upon Him. Instead she kept her grief and her worries and gave them first place in her life. “I find I can’t go on now,” she said. “Later, I hope to, but right now I am too preoccupied with my troubles.” Then, too, there was Alba. For a year she came regularly to the house of her grand- mother to listen to the Bible readers who came there each week. The Gospel story ap- pealed to this young girl, and each week the Bible readers found her waiting at her grand- mother’s. Then she accepted the invitation to come to church. There, for the first time under the sound of the Gospel, she made her decision. With much zeal, she began her new Christian life. She seemed to have found real joy and satisfaction in spiritual things. But Satan was not sleeping on the job, and soon some of the “faithful” mem- bers of the church were warning those who had taken a special interest in her — “Did we not know what kind of a girl she had been? Were we not aware of the fact that her past had a most doubtful reputation? After all, one must be careful with whom he associ- ates, etc., etc.” What a disgrace for those who claim to be followers of the Friend of Sinners! To the credit of those who were working with her, it must be said that this did not affect their desire to help Alba grow in her Christian life. But suddenly some- thing did happen. She was not smiling and pleasant as before. She began to miss serv- ices. When the girls went to see her and bring her to church, there was one excuse after another. Had Satan won another vic- tory? We were troubled for Alba. One afternoon one of her neighbors told the Bible readers, “Would you like to know why Alba doesn’t go to church any more? She is ashamed of her poor clothes. But this is strictly in confidence, of course, as she wouldn’t want me to tell you.” The Bible readers came with the news, happy to have found out what it was that was hindering. They were anxious at once to help her — one February 12 , 75)52 with a good jacket, another with shoes, and what shall we do for a dress? For it was true that she had always come in one skirt and blouse, and seemed to have nothing else to wear. Soon the things were ready to give to her, and she accepted them with promises that now she would be back to church. Those who had come to love Alba were sad indeed when the truth gradually dawned that we had been deceived. A new dress on the out- side made no change on the inside, and Alba was growing farther and farther away and resisting the call of the Spirit. Is that what happens to all the converts in Argentina? No, thank God. But it happens too often for us to feel at ease about it. It happens far too often for us to be content with our results in mission work. It hap- pens when it should NOT happen. Lest you think we face only discourage- ments in Argentina, I should like to tell you yet about Antonio and his mother. He is about twelve years old and was brought to Sunday school for the first time a couple years ago. He paid attention to what he heard and what he saw, and seemed to have a genuine interest in spiritual things. He is the only child in the family and was anxious that his mother come to church too. Each Sunday he would tell her about what he learned at church. Then in tent meetings he accepted the Lord as his Saviour, and be- gan in earnest to try to win his mother. When the tent was moved nearer to their home for a second series of meetings, she came with him. Antonio had convinced her with his testimony and his life that this was the true way. Under the sound of the Gos- pel, she too yielded her life to the Lord. The two always came together and seemed a help to each other in their new Christian life. Antonio was quick to learn Scripture verses. He and his mother both seemed to be able to understand the Scriptures and make applica- tions to their daily living. Antonio took tracts to school and gave them to his teach- ers and schoolmates. He and his mother wit- nessed to their relatives, only to find the family withdrawing from them and treating them very cool. Still they continued. They were baptized and continued growing in the grace and knowledge of the Lord. Today they are an inspiration to us when we are tempted to wonder what is being accom- plished in our mission work. We would not discredit the work of the Holy Spirit by being ungrateful for what He is doing in the churches here. There are souls saved. There are victories won. There are lives consecrated to His will. But when so many converts slip through our hands back into their former life of sin and darkness we feel there is something wrong. We as mis- sionaries know the fault does not lie with the Holy Spirit and what He is able to do for us. Therefore, it must be we who are not allowing Him to work through us in His fullness. This realization has been one factor in making us long for a real revival in Argentina, where the Holy Spirit might work with power to the saving of souls. Will you pray with us to that end? Bragado, Argentina. February 12, 1952 GOSPEL HERALD 159 A Brief Visit to Our Chaco Work By Mrs. Amos Swartzentruber How glad we were to return to the In- dian work in the Argentine Chaco for an- other brief period of one month. These few weeks were full of rich experiences for us. At once one is impressed with the simple- ness of the missionaries’ homes: no electric lights, no telephones, and no doorbells such as we are used to here in the province of Buenos Aires. The butcher, baker, and vege- table man do not appear on the scene either, for Nam Cum is simply the name of the colony where our missionaries live with a group of Indian believers. the place where we hoped to help a large group of Indian women. So I waved good-by to Amos who was on top of the roof of one of the mission houses helping to repair it, and off we were, happy to have a small part in the sowing of the precious seed. Sister Una has long since learned that pre- vention is better than cure, and so she or- ganized a strange type of women’s meetings. These meetings were held twice daily. To my surprise there were more than twenty who could already knit garments for them- selves and their families. Others came to These Indian mothers and their babies live at the Nam Cum mission in the Chaco. Many mothers have learned to knit sweaters and other garments for their families. Sister Cress- man has also given them health attention and instruction. The missionaries need to make trips to town (Saenz Pena), about twenty miles, sev- eral times a week to furnish supplies for themselves and the Indians. In case rain sets in and these trips become impossible, the missionary sisters have their own practical way to improvise food and prepare palatable dishes even for guests. The practical mis- sionary is really the only one that can live unflustered. I refer now to the kind that doesn’t need all the kitchen gadgets on the market and the one that can hum a tune un- der circumstances anything but ideal! One of the high points during my month’s stay was a visit to League 17 with Sister Una Cressman, one of our nurses there. I couldn’t help in the preparation for this trip, for only Una knew how to pack those boxes with the necessary articles for several days’ light house- keeping in our one-room house in the woods. I know she took a supply of bread and drink- ing water to last us. We forgot our flash- light, and even our clock, and I was happy, i! for we learned to gauge ourselves by the sun i as the Indians always do. Through the kind- ness of Bro. Miller, we were taken by car to learn the first stitches. Just to look at them one would say they are not intelligent enough to learn, but how mistaken I was. After a reasonable period, all knitting is laid aside while time is spent in singing, prayer, and eagerly listening to a spiritual lesson given in very simple words and using very simple illustrations. After each service, there was a call for medicine and pills of all sorts for every type of ailment imaginable. As at home, some people need the doctor or nurse at night. One evening as we were ready to settle down for the night, there was a knock on the door. It was none other than one of our Indian friends who came with a very bad toothache. While Una applied the oil, I held the lantern and in a few minutes he went on his 'way rejoicing. These simple, insignificant happenings I mention only to show you dear readers that through these little contacts a large door of opportunity opens for our missionaries to speak of the plan of salvation that includes the unlearned Chaco Indians. -. Pehuajp,- Afgentinac ;c - ; *' And the Lights — ? By Beatrice Hallman Bzzzz . . . “110 please. La Usina? Will you please do me the courtesy to send out a man to fix the lights? I’m washing and all of a sudden the current went off. . . . Oh, I see. . . . Well, for how long do you think that will be? ... Oh, for two or three days or maybe that many months? . . . Well, thank you very kindly.” — All right in the middle of a big washday and company for dinner ! Weakly, I hung up the receiver. . . . What will we do? We have the big tent meetings all planned for, everything is arranged, prac- tically. Well, maybe it won’t be so bad after all. In the houses we can use lamps and candles, but what will we do about the street lights? Several weeks went on. . . . After the first disorganized attempts to tell us citizens when we will have lights in our section of town, the Electric Power Plant Co. (La Usina) de- cided that we would have lights for two days and then be without for one day. But the street lights would not be on except on the main street leading to the railroad station. That was that much. Previous to the evangelistic meetings in the tent, we had a week of meetings just for the members. We had similar meetings in July by the same Argentine Mennonite preacher. At these meetings we had the joy of seeing many of our members revived. Others en- joyed special outpourings of the Holy Spirit. The nights that we did not have lights for the church we were loaned Aladdin lamps, and a foul-smelling kerosene lantern. None of these things detracted from our meeting together: not even the black, unlighted streets. We had a time of rejoicing which prepared us in suitable and needy ways for the evangelistic meetings. Now, it was November. Still we had lights for two days and none the third day. Still we had to feel our way around on the streets unless it was moonlight. But it was mar- velous how the Lord went on preparing the plans step by step. The police station gave us permission to put up the tent, and as it was very near the presidential elections they offered to send two policemen out there to stand at the street entrance. The Municipali- ty was most co-operative in giving permission to use the loud-speaker (equipment belong- ing to the Christian and Missionary Alliance Mission, and operated by one of their men) on the street, and to have open-air meetings at the Plaza (the central square) if we wished. Doors opened everywhere for these meetings except the needed lot for the tent- Special prayer was made, and at the last minute, a fine and important corner lot was loaned us only three blocks from the Plaza! And the lights? We made that a matter of prayer, too. You know, the Lord likes to enter into all the details of our plans; in fact, the Bible says that He delights to do just that. Only one night, and it was a black MISSIONS SECTION 160 cloudy night, did we have to use the Aladdin lamps and the smoky lantern! And the streets? Oh, they remained dark, until 10:30 or 11:00 o’clock, unless it was moonlight . . . but the people came anyway, the tent was always full . . . people were standing around outside and overflowed onto the sidewalk, sometimes. The loud-speaker was used and many heard the Gospel for the first time. People as far as three blocks away could un- derstand, or at least they heard! We could feel the Spirit working even though we had a different evangelist the sec- ond week. Since we were given lights, the evil one had to hunt up something else to spoil our meetings. The details of all this would be too long to give here. Suffice it to say that in spite of the fact that the elec- tion propaganda was getting “wilder” and louder, and that two days had to be taken out for “All Saints’ Day” and “All Souls’ Day,” and one night there was no meeting because of a heavy rain and wind storm which nearly blew the tent away, the Lord definitely blessed us with thirty-six children (a goodly number between 11 and 15) and thirty adults who turned to the Lord for sal- vation. Some experienced a real conversion while others are still learning what it means to be saved. To God be all the glory as we lean on Him to help us to lead these babes in Christ into a real experience with Him. Trenque Lauquen, Argentina. The Gospel Transforms Attitudes Grace Nachtigall, Palo Hincado, Puerto Rico, tells of an incident that brings smiles to the faces of the members of the Palo Hin- cado church every time it is told. Even though it has its amusing angle, it demon- strates the power of the Gospel to transform lives and attitudes. In Palo Hincado lives a veteran of World War II who managed to save and borrow enough money to purchase a dilapidated auto- mobile. It caused the owner more trouble than satisfaction. One day it came to a dead stop on a curve in Palo Hincado some dis- tance from his home. All the mechanical ingenuity of the owner was insufficient to get it moving again; so it was abandoned until he could find help. Later a gang of teen-age boys, looking for something with which to occupy their idle hours, decided to try their mechanical skill on the car. Piece by piece they began to dismantle the motor. Later the horn was carried off, and the battery was re- moved. A neighbor stood by, observing the entire proceedings. When the owner re- turned and found his automobile in such a sad condition, he went angrily to the court and swore out a warrant for the arrest of the boys. The star witness in the case was the neighbor who had observed the entire pro- ceedings. The day of the trial arrived. The defendants were the two boys who had been the ringleaders of the gang. The plaintiff confidently announced that his car had been ruined by certain individuals, and that the MISSIONS SECTION GOSPEL HERALD “star witness” in the case would make a de- claration as to who had been responsible. When the “star witness” was called to testify, he merely stated that he had seen a group of boys dismantling the automobile, but that he was unable to identify any of them. The judge dismissed the case! The paradox of the story is the fact that the “star witness” and the two boys who were defendants were all converted on the same night in the Palo Hincado church, and they are faithful mem- bers of the church, each of them having served as a Sunday-school teacher. The plain- tiff, whose automobile suffered so much, was converted a few months later, and is regular in his attendance together with his wife and daughter, and is under instruction for bap- tism. No wonder whenever the “case of the car” is mentioned at Palo Hincado, everyone smiles! Palo Hincado, Puerto Rico. Every Man a King Studies in Personality Vijan Narayan P. A. PENNER How well I remember when shortly before we left for America, Vijan Narayan told me his life story under a large Mauhua tree. He comes from a high caste family. His father was an Associate Judge. His brothers are all in good responsible positions. He is the youngest of the family. How he contracted the disease, he does not know but, naturally, when Narayan and his family saw that he had leprosy he had to leave home and friends. He went to Saipur, a city about one hun- dred miles from Champa, and there took in- jections from an Indian doctor. When there was no improvement he contemplated sui- cide. However, something within him re- volted at the thought and on the suggestion of the Indian doctor he came to Champa. I cannot recall the day on which he came, but on the following Sunday, when he was in church, I preached on Naaman. Said Nara- yan: “From that day on I saw hope for my body.” (Body, mind you.) So, Narayan stayed and took his regular treatments. He cost the mission nothing because his family paid all his expenses. He even had a special cook because he was a well-to-do Brahman. He found more than healing of the body. He found the Lord Jesus Christ; and even his mother’s pleas to leave Christ could not move him from his decision to follow the Lord. As a Christian he has much to suffer from his relatives, who have cast him off. This is a poem he composed and read at a Thanksgiving Festival: The Gift of Love The broken pieces of my heart I bring, a gar- land fair, O Lord. Accept it, Saviour dear, for I come with pur- pose true. What have I, a leper lad, to give to Thee, O King? A suffering sinner, I depend on gifts and grace divine. Can this garland, not of joy but born in tears. February 12, 1952 Add to Thy majesty, O King of earth and sky? Ah, yes, receive this bruised and contrite gift, my Lord, For gifts of love extol and bless Tliy holy name. — “Song After Sorrow.” Medical Work in Tanganyika By Noah K. Mack The original plans of the mission were to carry on medical work through dispensaries and not to build hospitals. This was found to be unsatisfactory and the mission found that it would have to build a hospital at Shirati. The Nyabasi station has continued as a dispensary. The staff at Shirati will be very busy dur- ing the coming year. Bro. Merle Eshleman, in addition to hospital duties, is also station superintendent and will be responsible for the building of a U-shape hospital, 109 x 105 feet. This building will consist of a men’s ward and a women’s ward connected by a surgical unit. The most difficult part of this program may be the obtaining of materials. An African contractor is employed, but he needs considerable supervision. He himself is capable of doing good work. On a large project he has a tendency to save money by employing second class laborers, and unless one is watchful, serious mistakes may be made. Lester Eshlemans will be coming to Shirati. They can look forward to work in a well-organized hospital with two nurses and a trained African staff to assist them. They will be studying language, however, and will not be of any great help to Bro. Merle in his building program. At Nyabasi there has been some training in laboratory procedures during the past year. Africans from Shirati and Mugango came to the station for a refresher course. It has been difficult to turn people away for lack of bed space. We have six huts ten by twelve feet and have counted as many as nine patients crowded into one hut. Africans have been trained in laboratory procedures and in diag- nosis. They can care for many of the outpatients. The mission now faces the problem as to Dr. and Mrs. Merle Eshleman answering a medical call to an African village. February 12, 1952 GOSPEL HERALD 161 Patients at the Shirati hospital. whether it will expand its facilities to the point where a physician feels he can practice satisfactorily or whether it shall continue as a dispensary and maternity center under the supervision of a nurse. A nurse with a differ- ent type of training might feel happy in carry- ing on maternity work and overseeing the dispensary. Even this simpler work would require the building of a maternity ward. At Mugango the work is carried on by an African. He cares for about twenty-five pa- tients a day. His wife cares for normal ma- ternity cases while difficult cases are referred in the Proposed M.R.C. Summer Service Program for 1952 Write: 1711 Prairie Street, Elkhart, Indiana I. City Mission Units (10 or 11) Men Women A. Altoona, Pa. 2 4 B. Meadville, Pa. 2 2 C. Saginaw, Mich. 2 -5 D. Cleveland, Ohio 2 6 E. Chicago, 111. 1. Home 1 3 2. Spanish 2 2 3. Bethel 2 4 F. Hannibal, Mo. 4 G. Wichita, Kans. 2 2 1 or 2 others 2 6 II. Rural Mission Units (7) A. Fairpoint, Ohio 2 2 B. Minot, N. Dak. and Menahga, Minn. 1 4 C. Naubinway and Gay, Mich. 1 3 3 others 2 11 III. Child Welfare (5) A. Children’s Camps 1. Camp Ebenezer 3 7 2. Mennonite Youth Village 3 8 3. Camp Tel-Hai 4 1 B. Children’s Homes 1. Kansas City, Kans. 1 4 2. Mercy Home, Birmingham, Ala. 1 IV. Homes for the Aged (2) to the Government hospital at Musoma. He was one of our best trained boys, but has been discouraged sometimes because of the poor supervision and help we have been able to give. Travel to his station is difficult because of the five-mile ferry crossing and the diffi- culty of obtaining reservations on short no- tice. We deeply appreciate the work of the Africans and could not do without them. There is evidence of deterioration when they lose contact with the ones who have trained them. The refresher course gave some en- couragement.-— Africa Annual Report A. Eureka, 111. 1 3 1 other 1 2 V. Student in Missions A. Chicago, 111. 6 4 VI. Mennonite Youth Team A. M.Y.F. Team (Ohio) (Filled) 2 3 VII. Music Team (Filled) 3 3 Sponsored co-operatively by Music Com- mittee of Mennonite General Conference and Mennonite Relief Committee. VIII. Builders’ Unit A. Chicago Spanish Mission (Increased by 2 workers) 2 53 90 Approximate Total Projects: 28 or 29 Approximate Total Personnel: 143 Women’s Activities You will soon be reading the February is- sue of the Missionary Sewing Circle Monthly, filled with challenging, personal messages from our missionaries in Japan. Will you please share your copies with your friends who are not receiving the “Monthly”? If each reader who appreciates these intimate messages from our sisters on the mission fields would tell one or more about them, the interest would grow, funds would increase, and the prayer support would be doubled. Also, if each one who knows of a distant sis- ter who is not supplied with our sewing circle literature would send her a gift subscription or send us her name, our circulation would be greatly increased, resulting in greater spir- itual interests in the work of our sisters serv- ing in our institutions and missions. # # # Have you planned your Day of Prayer program as suggested in the January 8 Gos- pel Herald? If not, there is still a little time. May we not fail in this great privilege of pray- er which is still ours. Our missionaries are depending on us. Important, significant is- sues are dependent on prayer. * # * Have you written up that good idea for the April “Monthly” your sewing circle is using to promote interest and activity? We want suggestions for girls’ work; suggestions for mothers with young children; suggestions for older women who want things to do but can no longer attend the sewing; suggestions to interest those who are thoughtlessly in- clined to leave the work to a few faithful ones; suggestions for things to do by those who say they can’t sew, and so don’t take part in the circle work; suggestions for pro- fessional women who cannot attend the one sewing circle meeting of their congregation. Whatever you have, please write it in para- graph form or in itemized lists. Let’s fill the April issue so full with good ideas for all kinds of Christian activities that every sister will be inspired to help in this joyful service of ministering to Christ through their sewing circles. Let’s work for one hundred per cent in- terest and activity in every congregation! Send your ideas and suggestions now to Mrs. C. L. Shank, 904 College Avenue, Goshen, Indiana. In the Master’s Name “The blind receive their sight.” Just this week another woman who came in with two cataracts, had them removed, and left us seeing. This elderly woman and her elderly husband are overjoyed in her new-found sight. She is one of many blind who have left the woman’s hospital in Amarah seeing. “The lame walk.” A young woman came to us walking on all fours. After some time of hospitalization and treatment, she now walks normally. The husband, who left her because she became ill, taking their two small children with him, will be reconciled to her now that she is well again. “The lepers are cleansed.” Ajeela, our leper convert, continues her quarterly visits to us for spiritual rejuvenation and physical checkup. The diosine which was sent us has done wonders for her and she is showing great improvement. Our blessings in the women’s medical work here in Amarah have gone far beyond our expectations and hopes. Women have left our hospital of whom the doctor has said, “According to all medical rules, they should be dead.” But to this statement we add, “With God all things are possible.” Our outpatient clinic has more than doubled, there being an increase from twen- ty-one to over forty-three thousand this year. MISSIONS SECTION Your Help Will Be Needed 162 THE KINGDOM TO THE SOUTH IV By J. D. Graber You would be surprised at the geographical extent of our mission work in Argentina. I wrote last week about the Chaco. It takes five or more hours by plane or two nights and two days by train from Buenos Aires just to reach the place. The distance is not much less than a thousand miles. The Cordoba district likewise lies far to the northwest. Since this is somewhat of a vacation and resort area due to a higher alti- tude, the highways in this direction are paved. We started back for the capital from La Falda, some distance beyond Cordoba, one Sunday night after services, and the mile- post readings by kilometers were just under 800. Multiplying kilometers by six tenths gives the approximate distance in miles. All night long we drove steadily and at com- paratively high speed. For the first fifty miles the road was winding, then it flattened out across the endless pampas of Argentina. The black-top was smooth. Only occasionally we met a lone truck or an intrepid tourist who, like we, preferred driving in the cooler night air, for January in Argentina is midsummer. With a regularity that almost became monotonous, the car thumped across the cat- Women with their children leave their morn- ing household duties and patiently — or often impatiently — wait their turn. They come from all corners of Amarah and many travel great distances on foot, by car, or by boat to see us. The marsh Arabs, who come dis- tances, are interesting folks and easily rec- ognized as a different type of Arab; even their language differs from that of the town Arab. Many have come this year from dis- tant towns for surgery, having heard of our doctor and his work. The inpatient department had an increase of fifty patients. The people are learning the advantages of hospitalization. Often it is only when they have tried all their own meth- ods to no advantage that they will finally come to us. Consequently we get them when they are very ill and demand much care. It is a real thrill and joy then, when they are ready to leave us, to have them leave us in a greatly improved condition. It is with heart- felt gratitude and many a smile that they and their relatives bid us good-by. “And the poor have good tidings preached to them.” The Arabs are helped not only physically but spiritually as well when they come to us. The clinic patients as they gather have the good tidings brought to them. They listen intently and marvel and drink in the messages that we have come to give them. “Never before have we heard such words.” they say. Jeanette Boersma, R.N., Arabia. Reformed Church in America. MISSIONS SECTION GOSPEL HERALD tie guards, pipes or rods across the pavement with an open culvert underneath, as we passed border after border of the great estancias that occupy this rich cattle country. The big impression, however, was distance: we did not get to the mission headquarters in Buenos Aires until 10:30 the next morning. After this I started westward on what was formerly called the Western Railway. This was the F.C.O. (Ferro Carril Oeste) which until a year or two ago, was a part of the postal address of many of our older stations. The government has now changed the name of the railway, since the railways, formerly managed by the British, were nationalized. A great patriot had to be honored; so the rail- way is now abbreviated F.C.N.D.F.S. (Ferro Carril Nacional Domingo Faustino Sarmien- to). Like our railways in North America, usually only the significant single name is used and the rolling stock is identified by the word “Sarmiento.” But I am still on the subject of distances and geographical extent. Bragado is fairly near the capital; Carlos Casares a bit farther on, followed by Pehuajo and then Trenque Lauquen. The pavement ends somewhere be- tween Casares and Pehuajo. After that we are back in the early decades of our own great open spaces of Western United States and Canada as far as roads are concerned. When it rains there is the endless mud and the water holes. When it is dry, as it is in these hot summer days, clouds of dust mark the passage of every car. It was over these roads that we traveled westward and south- ward until we reached the farthest outpost of our Mennonite work in this country at Santa Rosa, over 300 miles from Buenos Aires. But, outpost does not describe the city. It is the capital city of the Pampa pro- vince and actually has a population greater than Trenque Lauquen, Bragado, and other of our better known and larger “Mennonite” towns nearer the capital. The implications of this large geographical extent are twofold. In the first place, it un- derscores the vast opportunity and responsi- bility our church has in this country. When we remember that in most cases ours is the only non-Catholic church in the town, and when we realize that many of them are large towns, we see how great is the field. The far reaches of rural territory between these towns has scarcely been touched. The dis- tance between estancias and farms is large and the population per square mile is sparse, but even so, here are unreached thousands, some of whom would certainly respond to a Gospel of life through a living Saviour. In the second place, the vast area creates an administrative problem for both mission and church. How to tie these far-flung cells of life and faith together into an effective whole is difficult indeed. Already much work is done by zones and at the most recent church conference further steps were taken February 12, 1952 to place more responsibility and authority in J the hands of the local congregation. More I local government with constant efforts and some safeguards for maintaining the larger fellowship seems to be the solution. Certainly the Mennonite Church in Argen- tina is “in a large place,” and this spells large opportunity, large challenge, and large re- sponsibility for them as well as for us in the mother church of North America. Via Elkhart, Indiana. M.C.C. Weekly Notes Funds Needed for Relief Shipping Often a community is not aware that there are inevitable processing and shipping costs incurred in getting relief contributions of - food and clothing from the donor to the re- cipient. At times quantities of relief goods have had to wait further processing and movement because of a lack of funds. Only 254^ per pound of food and 7^ per pound of clothing takes care of this expense. When the government on June 30 discon- tinues to refund the ocean freight on relief shipments to certain countries, it will be nec- essary to add 5^ per pound for food to the above costs. We are naturally making every effort to ship the materials on hand before the June 30 deadline. Contributions designated for processing and shipping should be sent directly to Men- nonite Central Committee, Akron, Pennsyl- vania. A recent communication from South America presents an appeal for Gesangbuch mit Noten and Gesangbuch den Mennoniten for use in the colony churches. Any of these books should be sent to: Mennonite Central Committee, Ephrata, Pennsylvania. Another V.S. Group Assigned Nine young people have spent one month ; in training and now are assigned to service projects as follows: Robert Friesen and Levi Siebert of Henderson, Nebr., and Vernon Plenert of Lehigh, Kans., to Topeka State Hospital, Topeka, Kans.; Eugene Peifer of Christiana, Pa., and John Jantzen of Plym- outh, Nebr., to the Industrial Home School Annex, Washington, D.C.; Austin Bender of 1 Meyersdale, Pa., to Bethesda Mennonite Hos- pital, Vineland, Ont.; Carl Thieszen of Hen- derson, Nebr., to Wiltwyck School for Boys, Esopus, N.Y.; Orletta Brandt of Hillsboro, Kans., to the NSBRO Office in Washington, D.C.; Allen Linscheid of Freeman, S. Dak., to the M.C.C. Regional Office, Reedley, Calif. These young people have enrolled for an as- signment in the M.C.C. Voluntary Service program in order to serve in a place of hu- man need. These, of course, are not assign- ments under the draft law, for the regulations on C.O. draft service have not yet been issued. The next orientation schools are scheduled to begin Feb. 29 and sometime in June. Young women volunteers are particularly needed in a number of service units. Released February 1, 1952 Via Mennonite Central Committee Akron, Pennsylvania February 12, 1952 GOSPEL HERALD 163 CHURCH CORRESPONDENCE GARDEN CITY, MISSOURI (Sycamore Grove Congregation) Christian greetings to Herald readers. In the past several months we were privileged to have a number of visitors with us. On Nov. 4 Bro. Joe Hartzler of Flanagan, 111., preached in our morning services; and in the evening Bro. and Sister Lester Hostetler from Bethel College, Newton, Kans., had charge of the meeting and told of their experiences in Berlin. On Missionary Day we had as our guest speaker Bro. Peter J. Dyck of Moundridge, Kans. His theme in the morning service was “Each One a Missionary.” In the afternoon and evening services he told of the work among the refugees in Berlin and of how they transferred them to South America. Nov. 22 we had our annual Thanksgiving service in the morning and in the evening the opening of young people’s institute, which lasted over the week end. Bro. and Sister Paul Erb, of Scottdale, Pa., were the instruc- tors and Bro. W. C. Shantz, Hydro, Okla., music director. Delbert and Ruth Erb, who since have sailed for South America, accom- panied their parents here and helped with the meetings. Nov. 26 Sister Arlene Sitler, representing La Junta Mennonite School of Nursing, was with us. On the evening of Nov. 28 we had our an- nual business meeting, at which time the fol- lowing officers were elected: Miss. Bd. Mem- ber, John Kauffman; Children’s Home Rep., Frank Roth; Trustee, Ralph Yoder; Church Chor., Junior Yoder; Subscriptions Agent, Bernita Kauffman; Chairman of Ushers, Al- bert Schrock; Ushers, Junior Zook and Mau- rice Smith; Missions Committee, Ruby Zook; Y.P.M. Treas., Ralph Hershberger; Singing Comm., Walter Yoder, Wilmer Yoder, Al- bert Schrock. Emery Yoder, who had been treasurer of the alms fund for thirty years asked to be relieved of that office and Ralph Yoder was elected to serve for five years. Each Wednesday evening we have Bible study, with John Kauffman and Ruby Zook as leaders. Mrs. Earl Roth and Mrs. Roy Yoder at- tended the funeral of Mrs. J. G. Hartzler Nov. 28, near Windom, Kans. Mrs. Nancy (Yoder) Byler, ninety, died Nov. 18 in Green Bay, Wis. Her parents, C. P. Yoders, who came from West Liberty, Ohio, were among the earliest Mennonite settlers in Cass County. Her husband passed away in 1927. Surviving are two sons (Earl, of Casper, Wyo., and Leland, of Green Bay, Wis.), four grandchildren, two great-grand- children, and one sister (Mrs. Ida Morrell, at the Baptist Old People’s Home, Ironton, Mo.). Funeral services were held Nov. 21 at the Methodist Church in Garden City, Mo., in charge of Walter Davenport. Dec. 16 Bro. and Sister Frank Raber of the Kansas City Mission had charge of our young people’s meeting and gave a Christmas mes- sage. Christmas morning we enjoyed a children’s program followed by a sermon by Bro. Glen Yoder of the Children’s Home in Kansas City. We were happy to have our Hesston stu- dents, Orvil Stutzman, Earleen Roth, Esther Hartzler, and Florence Hershberger, with us during the holidays. Wilma Roth and Ethel Hartzler accompanied them back to Hesston and are attending Bible school. Bro. W. E. Helmuth, one of our ministers, has been unable to be in our church services since the latter part of October. At present he is able to be up and around in the house. Bro. Frank L. Yoder is in the state sani- tarium at Mt. Vernon, Mo., for a lung opera- tion and will be there for quite some time. His birthday is Feb. 13 and a card or letter would be very much appreciated. Bro. John Klopfenstein, who was a patient in the Memorial Hospital in Harrisonville, was taken to the hospital in Goshen, Ind., by his son-in-law and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. Glen Miller. Others who haven’t been able to be with us in our church services on account of illness are: Mrs. Elhanan Byler, who has been an invalid for a number of years, Jake Smith, who is blind, Mrs. Levi Zook, Mrs. D. J. Mil- ler, and Sadie McDorman. Jan. 1 the South Central Conference mo- bile canner, operated by Marvin Musselman, Gettysburg, Pa., and Willis Snyder, La Junta, Colo., was here. A total of 2,278 cans of pork, lard, beef, and chicken were canned and labeled at the home of Elba J. Yoder. This is to be sent to Korea. All soup and meat not canned was given to the children’s home in Argentine, Kansas City, Kans. Jan. 13 a group from here had charge of the evening program at the Gospel Center in Kansas City, Mo. Jan. 16, 1952. Nona Yoder. SOUTH ENGLISH, IOWA (Liberty Congregation) “The eternal God is thy refuge, and under- neath are the everlasting arms: and he shall thrust out the enemy from before thee” (Deut. 33:27). This was the text of a very treasured sermon given by Bro. Silas Horst on Jan. 6. A precious verse to think of often during the coming year. We are glad to have Bro. and Sister Sam Hoylman worship with us. They are here visiting their daughter, Mrs. Roy Birky, and others. We rejoice in the privilege we have of gath- ering together once a week on Wednesday evening in prayer meeting. We receive many rich blessings as we fellowship together in the study of God’s Word and in prayer. Our hearts are saddened in the passing of Sister Ada Blosser. We planned on having a basket dinner at noon and singing in the afternoon on Jan. 13, in honor of Bro. and Sister Perry Blosser’s Golden Wedding Anni- versary. God called Sister Blosser home Jan. 10 and her funeral was Jan. 13. May God comfort the family in the loss of their loved one. God’s ways are often different from our ways; may we fully trust Him for the future. Jan. 18, 1952. Leda Grove. WELLMAN, IOWA (Wellman Congregation) Greetings to all Herald Readers. On Dec. 2 the brethren P. J. Blosser, D. J. Fisher, and J. Y. Swartzendruber were with us for an ordination service. Bro. Fisher brought the morning message on “Qualifications of a Dea- con,” and Bro. Swartzendruber brought the evening message on “The Duties of a Dea- con”; after this Bro. Blosser officiated in or- daining Bro. Wilford Stutzman. This, as all ordination services are, was a very impressive service. We should not forget to remember in prayer our young men whom the Lord calls into active service that they may con- tinue in the “Faith of our fathers.” On Jan. 1 our annual business meeting was held when church officers and committee members were elected: Trustee, Omer Yoder; Sec.-Treas., Glenn Guengerich; Chor., J. D. Hartzler; Correspondent, M. Swartzendru- ber; Extension, Leo Swartzendruber; Y.P.- B.M., George Miller, Jr.; Food Comm., Alvin Stoltzfus; Ushers, Lois Swartzendruber, Phyllis Whetstine, Oliver Yutzi, Glen Hersh- berger, Willis Roth; Moderator, George S. Miller; Sec. for quarterly and business meet- ings, Walter Marner. Appointed by the trus- tees: S.S. Sec.-Treas., H. J. Wenger; Head usher, Glenn Guengerich; Janitor, Melvin Roth. On the evening of Jan. 6 Bro. Blosser was with us and received fifteen young souls into the church by water baptism. These, too, need our prayers very much in these days of doubt and unbelief. As a token of appreciation to Bro. and Sis- ter Blosser for their labors among us, a love offering was given them for their Golden Wedding Anniversary Jan. 9. Early in the morning Sister Blosser suffered a cerebral hemorrhage and went to be with her Lord the following day. True, we cannot under- stand the ways of the Lord, but we know He doeth all things well. We covet your prayers for this congrega- tion. Jan. 18, 1952. Magdalene Swartzendruber. SARASOTA, FLORIDA (Tuttle Avenue Mennonite Church) Dear Herald Readers: Greetings in Jesus’ name. We thank the Lord for His blessings which He bestows so abundantly. On Jan. 1, 2 Bro. and Sister Josef Hersch- kowitz, Harrisonburg, Va., were here, and he gave instructive and inspirational messages each evening. We were glad to have Bishop Truman Brunk and his wife and daughter Margaret with us from Jan. 4 to 7. Preparatory serv- ices were held Friday evening. After a heart- warming message on Sunday morning, six 164 GOSPEL HERALD February 12, 1952 members were added to the church, five by letter and one by baptism. The same after- noon communion was held. Eighty-one took part in this sacred ordinance, and our hearts were warmed and blessed by the observance. Sunday evening Bro. Jacob Yoder gave an interesting account of the work at Camp Ebenezer, and Bro. Brunk told about their last trip to Sicily. We rejoice that the Gospel is being spread both at home and abroad. Jan. 6 marked the first anniversary of the Sunday school at this place. 126 were present a year ago, and 301 a year later. At the present time the Brunk brothers’ tent revival is in progress near the church and is being well attended. Pray for us. Jan. 18, 1952. Mary C. Barbe. WINDOM, KANSAS (West Liberty Congregation) Greetings to the Herald Readers. The re- organization of our Sunday school in October resulted as follows: Supt., Clifford Miller, James Cooprider; Sec.-Treas., Ivan Schrock, Ralph Hosteder; Chor., Helen Hostetler, Ernest Zimmerman; Primary Supt., Frances Ely, Beulah Bontrager; Chor., Lloyd Miller. We were favored with messages at various times during the summer by C. J. Garber, Jackson, Minn.; Amos Gingerich, Parnell, Iowa; Leo Miller, Ivan Lind, and I. Mark Ross from Hesston. Bro. Kenneth Good from Elida, Ohio, was our evangelist during Thanksgiving week. He gave very helpful messages. The primary department gave a Christmas program which was enjoyed by all. Our Bishop J. G. Hartzler’s wife passed away in November. “Blessed are they which die in the Lord.” Sister Phebe Yoder, a returned missionary from Africa, will be in a school in New York the last semester of this year. Jan. 17, 1952. Sue Miller. FIELD NOTES (Continued) at Olive, Elkhart, Ind., Feb. 23-24. Hyman Appelman at Freeport, III, Sunday morning, Feb. 24. John R. Mumaw, Harrisonburg, Va., at 184th Quarterly Sunday School Meet- ing at Slate Hill Church, Shiremanstown, Pa., Feb. 17. Mid-term Christian Life Conference, Ontario Mennonite Bible School, with J. N. Hostetter, Clarence Center, New York, and Milo Kauffman, Hesston, Kans., speaking Feb. 12-14. John Ruth will speak on “The Consistent Christian and His Community” at Hess Young People’s Meedng on Feb. 17. A report on the draft issue will also be given by the secretary of the Peace Problems Com- mittee. Visiting Speakers Jan. 20: Enos Yoder, Plain City, Ohio, at Castleman River Conservative congregation, Grantsville, Md.; Shem Peachey, Kirkwood, Pa., same place; Noah D. Miller, Burton Sta- tion, Ohio, at Plain City, Ohio; Alvin Becker, Northern Bible Society, at Oak Grove, West Liberty, Ohio; Ernest Martin at North Lima, Ohio. Jan. 27: David Stutzman, Maysville, Ohio, and Tobias Byler, Apple Creek, Ohio, at Cas- tleman River congregation, Grantsville, Md.; Ira E. Miller, Harrisonburg, Va., at Steelton, Pa.; Don Snapp, Elkhart, Ind., at Canton, Ohio; Paul T. Guengerich, Parnell, Iowa, at Lone Tree, Iowa; Jacob M. Moyer, Souder- ton, Pa., at Perkasie, Pa.; Gerald Studer, Smithville, Ohio, at Orrville, Ohio; Harold Bauman, Orrville, Ohio, at Pleasant Hill, Sterling, Ohio; E. J. Yoder, Topeka, Ind., at Benson, Ind.; Vernon Bontreger, Goshen, Ind., at Roselawn, Elkhart, Ind.; Melvin Bishop, Blooming Glen, Pa., at Easton, Pa.; Wilbur Yoder, Middlebury, Ind., at Bethel, Mummasburg, Pa.; I. W. Royer, Orrville, Ohio, at Wooster, Ohio; Oliver Roth, Mil- ford, Nebr., at Pennsylvania, Hesston, Kans.; Amos O. Hostetler, Topeka, Ind., at Clinton Frame, Goshen, Ind. Jan. 30: J. Harold Sherk, M.C.C. Secretary Peace Section, at Lima, Ohio. Feb. 3: J. Harold Sherk, Akron, Pa., at Roanoke, 111.; Ray F. Yoder, Nappanee, Ind., at Yellow Creek, Goshen, Ind. Evangelistic Meetings E. B. Peachey, Belleville, Pa., at Pleasant View Church, Berlin, Ohio, Jan. 17-20. Ray F. Yoder, Nappanee, Ind., at Fairview, Mich., during Bible school. Harry Y. Shetler, Da- vidsville, Pa., at Tedrow, Ohio, Feb. 17-24. B. Charles Hostetter, Harrisonburg, Va., at Johnstown, Pa., April 10-20. Kenneth Good, Elida, Ohio, at Metamora, 111., beginning MENNONITE MUTUAL AID A venture in Christian stewardship and an expression of the principles of Christian brotherhood. Write to Mennonite Mutual Aid, Inc., at 1413 South Eighth Street, Goshen, Indiana, for further details. April 13. E. M. Yost, Denver, Colo., at Wads- worth, Ohio, Aug. 1-10. Oscar Burkholder, Breslau, Ont., at Olive, Elkhart, Ind., Mar. 23- April 1. Richard Birky, Cheraw, Colo., at Thurman, Colo., with 15 responses. Jess Kauffman, Colorado Springs, Colo., at Chap- pell, Nebr., April 14-25. MISSION NEWS (Continued) ed with the folks there before the Beachys leave on furlough in May. Sister Esther Ulrich, the cook at the Eure- ka, 111., Home for the Aged, left for Puerto Rico on Jan. 30 for one month’s vacation. Pray for a young Mohammedan boy in Bihar, India, who is definitely interested in becoming a Christian. He claims to have first heard the Gospel in the Chandwa bazaar meetings conducted by Bro. Allen Shirk and an evangelist. Pray for his mother who was contacted previously and has shown some in- terest. Also pray for the rest of his family as there is here a great opportunity to gain entrance into the fairly large number of Mo- hammedan families living in Bihar. The Walnut Creek and Farmerstown, Ohio, Mennonite churches, who have been sponsoring the extension Sunday school at near-by Sand Run for nearly two years, have recently decided to transfer the mission to an adjacent community. Grey Ridge, where an empty building is available. More than fifty people are living in this community who could be reached. The present attendance at Sand Run is near fifty. This promises to be a growing church community. Pray for the work. These are touring days in India, and most of the missionaries in the Bihar area who are under evangelistic appointment have been out in the villages preaching. Great interest is reported from a number of villages, but it is difficult for many to make the decision. Pray that the Spirit may continue to convict, and that many may accept Christ. The workers at the Eureka, 111., Home for the Aged are beginning a course in personal evangelism to be studied in their weekly prayer meetings. A few India calendars are still available at 25 'ng. — To Orville and Luella (Liechty) King, Archbold, Ohio, a daughter, Joyce Ellen, Dec. 21. 1951. Martin.— To J. Harold and Janet (Mellinger) Martin, New Holland, Pa., a son, John Clair, Jan. 21, 1952. Martin. — To Weaver W. and Kathryn M. (Weaver) Martin, Reinholds, Pa., a daughter. Rosalind Dawn. Dec. 17, 1951. Mast. — To Ellsworth and Kathleen (Schulz) Mast, Embreeville, Pa., a daughter. Carol Ann, Dec. 24, 1951. Mellinger.- — To Wilbur H. and Mary (Her- shey) Mellinger, New Holland, Pa., a daughter, Connie Lou. Jan. 18, 1952. Miller. — To Junior W. and Esther (Ging- erich) Miller, Harrisburg. Oreg., a daughter, Janice Elaine, Jan. 13, 1952. Miller.- — To Verton and Pearl (Brenneman) Miller, Kalona, Iowa, a daughter, Kathleen Lynn, Nov. 18, 1951. Moyer. — To Raymond and Mabel (Stoner) Moyer, Manheim, Pa., a daughter, Betty Ann. Dec. 4, 1951. Newcomer. — To Earl L. and Ruth (Barkle) Newcomer, Lancaster, Pa., a son. Nelson Eu- gene, Nov. 11, 1951. Shank. — To Charles W. and Velma (Good) Shank, Harrisonburg, Va., a daughter, Eileen Joyce, Jan. 19, 1952. Shank. — To Luke J. and Anna (Metzler) Shank. Fayetteville, Pa., a son, Duane Allen, Jan. 18, 1952. Shank. — To Melvin and Katie (Horst) Shank, Hanover, Pa., a son, Enos Melvin, Jan 24 1952 Shelly. — To Earl and Mabel (Halteman) Shelly, Telford, Pa., a daughter, Carol Eileen, Jan. 10, 1952. Steiner. — To Samuel and Orpba (Neiien- sehwander) Steiner, Dalton, Ohio, a daughter, Miriam Irene, Jan. 22, 1952. Stoltzfus. — To LeRoy and Myrlie (Rufe- nacht) Stoltzfus, Archbold, ()hi>, a daughter, Brenda Jean, Jan. 20, 1952. Weaver.- — To Paul W. and Laura (Martin) Weaver, Lititz, Pa., a sou, Gerald Lee, Jan. 9, 1952. Yoder. — To Henry J. and Irene (Thomas) Yoder, Goshen, Ind., a son, David Leon, Jan. 20, 1952. Yoder. — To Mervin and Phoebe (Hollopeter) Yoder, Mennonite Youth Village, White Pigeon, Mich., a son, Jonathan Ray, Jan. 14, 1952. Ziegler. — To Albert and Mabel (Holloway) Ziegler, Columbiana, Ohio, a daughter, Wanda Louisa, Nov. 29, 1951. MARRIAGES May the blessings of God be upon the homes established by the marriages here listed. A year's subscription to the Gospel Herald is given to those whose address is supplied by the officiating minister. Amstutz — Steiner. — Milton Amstutz and Li- na Steiner, both of the Kidron congregation, Kidron, Ohio, by Reuben Hofstetter at the Kid- ron Church, Jan. 26, 1952. Bare — Ranck. — John Jacob Bare. Stumptown congregation, Bird-in-Hand. Pa., and Ruth M. Ranck, Strasburg congregation, Strasburg. Pa., by Jacob T. Harnish at the home of the bride, Jan. 1, 1952. Cutrell — Sommers. — Samuel Nissley Cutrell, First Mennonite Church, Denver, Colo., and Waneta Louise Sommers, Marion Mennonite Church, Howe, Ind., by V. V. Mclntire at the home of the minister, Karval, Colo., Dec. 16, 1951. Delagrange — Wagler. — Amos Delagrange, Jr., and Rosa Wagler, both of the Cuba C. A. Men- nonite Church, bv Edwin Albrecht at the church, Jan. 17, 1952. Guhr — Roupp.- — Adolf Guhr, Emmaus con- gregation, and Elda Roupp, Pennsylvania con- gregation, Hesston. Kans., by Earl Buckwalter at the Pennsylvania Church, Dec. 27, 1951. Leichty — Miller. — Joseph W. Lpichty, Leo Mennonite Church, and Amelia Miller. Cuba C. A. Mennonite Church, bv Edwin Albrecht at the bride’s home, Nov. 9, 1951. Martin — Martin. — Simeon L. Martin and Dor- othy S. Martin, both of the Krall congregation, by Simon G. Bucher at the home of the bride, Jan. 19, 1952. Pellman — Brenneman. — Charles W. Pellman, Cross Roads congregation. Richfield, Pa., and Anna Mae Brenneman, Warwick River congre- gation, Denbigh, Va., by Aldine Brenneman, uncle of the bride, at the home of the bride’s parents, Dec. 22, 1951. Yoder — Delagrange. — Dan Yoder and Viola Delagrange, both of the Cuba C. A. Mennonite Church, by Edwin Albrecht at the church, Oct. 6, 1951. OBITUARIES May the sustaining grace and comfort of our Lord bless these who are bereaved. Bickel. — Merle J., son of Bertha and Louis Bickel, was born in Goshen, Ind., Aug. 5, 1922; passed away Dec. 8. 1951 ; aged 29 y. 4 m. 3 d. On Oct. 1, 1947. he was united in mar- riage to Mae Welty. Three children were born to this union (Carrie and Jerry, twins, and James). Others surviving are his parents, one brother (Louis. Goshen, Ind.), and 5 sisters (Freda — Mrs. William Fisher. Elkhart. Ind. ; Donnabelle — Mrs. Arthur De Knikker, Goshen, Ind. ; Eleanor Jane — Mrs. Harold Nesbitt, New 166 GOSPEL HERALD February 12, 1952 Paris, Ind. ; Doris — Mrs. Lloyd Schrock, Go- shen, Ind. ; Betty — Mrs. Albert Hershberger, Nappanee, Ind.). A few weeks before his death, Bro. Bickel and his wife reconsecrated their lives to the Lord. During the closing days of his life he expressed peace with God and a willingness to depart this earth and meet his Master. Funeral services were held Dec. 12 at the North Goshen Church with the local ministers in charge. Burial was made in the Oak Ridge Cemetery. Blough. — W. Warren, son of Mr. and Mrs. William Blough, was born near Goshen, Ind., in 1895 ; passed away Dec. 17, 1951 ; aged 56 y. At the time of his death he was living with a niece, Prudence Leer. Surviving, in addition to his niece, are a sister (Mrs. Hallet Rood, Nappanee, Ind.) and one brother (Nelson Blough, Syracuse, Ind.). Bro. Blough united with the North Goshen Mennonite Church in August of 1951 and was zealous in his testi- mony for Christ. Funeral services were held at the North Goshen Church Dec. 20, and burial was made in the Yellow Creek Cemetery. Paul Mininger and Russell Krabill conducted the service. Bontrager. — Enos I., son of Isaac and Fan- nie (Keim) Bontrager. was born near Middle- bury. Tnd., June 25. 1882: died Dec. 18. 1951; a^ed 69 y. 5 m. 28 d. He accepted Christ in 1908 in the Old Order Church and remained faithful until death. On Feb. 16. 1905. be was united in marriage with Lydia Ann S^hlabach. To this union were born 6 daughters and 3 sons, five of whom preceded him in death. Sur- viving are his bereaved wife. 3 daughters (Clara — Mrs. Ezra Schrock: Sarah Ann — Mrs. Enos Cross; Betsie — Mrs. Perrv Nisley), one foster daughter (Vivian — Mrs. Rudy Bontrager). one son (’Tobias), 21 grandchildren. 2 foster grand- children. 9 sten"randchi]dren. 2 brothers, and many other relatives and friends. The bereft wish to express their gratitude for the sympathy and interest shown to them during the time of sickness and death. Funeral services were held at the home D°c. 21 in charge of Samuel Hoch- stettler assisted by Ira Johns and Ira Nissley. Camn. — Anna M.. daughter of Christian and Magdalene (Smith) Camp, was born Oct. 2. 1881, on the Camp homestead near Metamora, 111.; died after an extended illness Dec. 2, 1951, at the Washington Nursing Home; a"ed 79 y. 2 m. She united with the Metamora Mennonite Church in her youth, remaining a member until death Surviving are 3 brothers (Peter B . Hess- ten, Kans. ; John .T., Roanoke, 111., and Samuel D . Metamora, 111.) and many nieces, nephews, relatives, and friends. Her parents. 2 brothers, and 3 sisters preceded her in death. Funeral services were in charge of H. R. Schertz. Ganger.— Elizabeth, daughter of Henry and Dora (Fisher) Defrees, was born in Locke Twp., Elkhart Co., Ind., July 3, 1879; passed awav at her home near Nappanee, Ind., Dec. 5. 1951 : aged 72 y. 5 m. 2 d. She was united in marriage to Milo Ganger on Nov. 14. 1899. B°sides her companion, she is survived bv 8 children (Ralph, Leonard, and Earl of Goshen, Ind.: Mrs. John Mitchelen, Bristol. Ind.; Mrs. Wilbur Lehman. Nappanee. Ind.; Russel, Camp Roberts. Calif.; Willard, Wakarusa, Ind.: Mrs. Paul Mellinger, Bremen, Ind.). one brother (Samuel Defrees), 16 grandchildren. 3 step- grandchildren, and one great-grandchild. Two children (Inez and Henry) preceded her in death. In her youth she accepted Christ as her Saviour and united with the North Main St. congregation in Nappanee. Funeral services were conducted at the North Main St. Mennon- ite Church Dec. 8 by Homer F. North and Herbert Fisher. Burial was made in the Union Center Cemetery. Herr. — Elizabeth Landis, daughter of Ru- dolph and Magdalena Herr, was born March 14, 1857, near Lancaster, Pa.; passed from this life Dec. 18, 1951, at her home ; aged 94 y. 9 m. 4 d. She was a member of the Mennonite Church. Elizabeth was the last of her family. Surviving her are 2 sisters-in-law and 28 nieces and nephews. Four brothers and a sister pre- ceded her in death. Funeral services were held at Millersville Church Dec. 21 by Landis Shert- zer, Jacob Hess, and Daniel Gish. Burial was made in the cemetery adjoining the church. High. — Maria B., daughter of the late Chris- tian and Phebe (Weaver) High, was born near Mechanicsburg, Pa., July 3, 1868 ; departed from this life at her home in Mechanicsburg, Pa., Dec. 15, 1951; aged 83 y. 5 m. 12 d. In her early life she united with the Mennonite Church at Groifdale, Pa., and retained her faith until death. She was the last, of her family. Services were held at the Overly Funeral Home and the Groffdale Mennonite Church Dec. 18 in charge of Lloyd Eby and David Landis. In- terment was made in the adjoining cemetery. Hochstetler. — Noah S., son of Samuel and Rosa (Schrock) Hochstetler, was born May 3, 1870, on the farm home of his parents in John- son County, Iowa : died Jan. 15, 1952 ; aged 81 y. 8 m. 12 d. Surviving him are one sister (Lizzie) and 2 brothers (Aaron S., Wellman, Iowa, and Lewis, Grants Pass, Oreg.). His parents, one brother (Mahlon), and one sister (Mrs. John Hochstetler) preceded him in death. Noah became a member of the Amish Mennonite Church when a young man and remained in this faith until death. Funeral services were held Jan. 18, conducted by E. G. Swartzendru- ber at the home and by Jake J. Miller and E. G. Swartzendruber at the Fairview Church. Burial was made in the Lower Deer Creek Cemetery. Hoober. — Aaron B., son of the late Jacob R. and Lydia Ann (Burkholder) Hoober. was born near New Holland. Pa., June 6, 1906 ; passed away Nov. 17. 1951 ; aged 45 y. 5 m. 11 d. He was united in marriage to Esther M. Sny- der June 6. 1929, to which union were born 2 sons (Mervin and Aaron, Jr.) and one daughter (Doris). Also surviving are 4 brothers (Clem- ent E., Intercourse, Pa.; John. Lancaster, Pa.; Charles, Intercourse. Pa.: Lewis, Paradise, Pa.) and 3 sisters (Hattie — Mrs. David Nolt, Enh- rata. Pa.: Emma — Mrs. .7. Adam Weaver, New Holland. Pa.; Mary — Mrs. Ervin Peiffer. Lan- caster, Pa.). One sister. Evelyn, preceded him in death. Fonera1 services were held at the heme Nov. 20 bv Eli Sand°r and at the Groff- dale Mennonite Church bv Mahlon WOmer and John Martin. Interment in the adjoining ceme- tery. Jones. — .Tosenh H.. son of the late Griffith and Esther (Shaddinger) Jones, wn ” '2*** udrUbULuJU J-& - J* M 4 176 GOSPEL HERALD OUR SCHOOLS Til Take My Stand [A chapel address at E.M.C.] By J. Mark Stauffer “If we could first know where we are, and whither we are tending, we could better judge what to do, and how to do it.” With these immortal words, Abra- ham Lincoln began his speech, “A House Divided,” delivered at Springfield, Illi- nois, June 16, 1858. This is an emo- tional’ outburst— a fathomless yearning from a great heart in the midst of an un- precedented national crisis. Abraham Lincoln loved his country as few men have loved a country; his love was a passion that drove him to earnestly seek her unity and purification. Lincoln loved his country; I love my church. But what can I do? I’m not a theologian; my age is still against me; my experience is limited; I’m just an ordinary, common Mennonite layman. As one of the great composers said, “I just keep blowing my little whistle and no one hears me.” Does anyone care that I wake up in the middle of the still night or early in the gray dawn, thinking of the future welfare of the church that has mothered me from spiritual infancy? Does it make any difference that I have spoken to hundreds of enterprising Men- nonite youth and written scores of letters urging consecration to God and fidelity to the Mennonite Church? I have speculated already in a semi- serious frame of mind as to what I would do if my church should ever depart from the faith. I fear that it would force a cruel decision— a decision from which I turn and pray that it may never come. I could never subscribe to the ignorant slogan, “My church, right or wrong”; my religious patriotism is not that blind. I suppose there has always been a certain halo of courage around the man who deliberately goes down with a sinking ship, but there can be no practical or ethical good from such an act of martyr- dom. I would not care to leave the church and father another Mennonite division; we already have entirely too many Mennonite branches jutting out in devious directions from the main stem. I do not know. I cannot but recall the words of Lincoln as he closes a letter to George Robertson, Lexington, Ken- tucky. “The problem is too mighty for me. May God in his mercy, superintend the solution.” I do not care to suggest that our church is face to face with some unfore- seen, novel crisis; the spiritual careless- ness and lethargy existing in our church today has enveloped years. The Men- nonite Church must rededicate herself in a united determination to preserve the basic, original doctrines of the Scrip- tures and the godly traditions of our historic church; this must be done, if we are to pass on to the succeeding genera- tions the pure faith that our godly fathers bequeathed to us. Someone has suggested that the church needs a great, strong, intelligent, spirit- ual leader to command us in our present situation; let us concede this responsi- bility to the Captain of our salvation, Christ Jesus. Another may say that our greatest need is a definite directive from God on our current church problems; let us find this directive in the Holy Bible and may we allow the Holy Spirit to be the guide of our church. In yielding the spiritual leadership of our church to the blessed Trinity, we shall persevere till the very end; if we deviate from its injunctions, we shall lose our spiritual power and unity and we shall head for a place in some denomi- national cemetery where Protestant pop- pies grow. In the ensuing lines, my readers will kindly permit me to suggest a few pres- ent-day issues upon which, with utmost humility and honesty, I propose to take my stand. The Word of God As a denomination, we have always believed that in this great book are found the words of the Lord; its truth has been soul-satisfying and has been the creed of every great Christian. The Word has kept us in the straight and narrow way and has blessed our lives with a profound respect for the “Thus saith the Lord.” Many professing Christians indicate, by word or action, that they doubt whether God really means what He says; Mennonites are not immune to this mal- ady. Of all spiritual illnesses, this is one of the most vicious. Belief in the literal, authoritative message of God’s Word is the only safe basis for unity within the Mennonite Church. Let us return to our Bibles and find there the unalterable, eternal Word of God. Individual Responsibility When Christ proclaimed His Great Commission, He was not addressing an organized committee or mission board; He was speaking to individual Chris- tians. In saying this, I am not reflecting unfavorably on the work of our church organizations so nobly dedicated to the spread of the Gospel. What I do mean to say, however, is this: every Christian has a place of some type or description in the great work of world-wide evangelism. May the Lord help us to find this place. February ip, 1952 Then, there is the area of personal life and conduct. The judgment, as depicted in Scripture, is not a trial of nations, denominations, communities, or fam- ilies; it is a trial of every single individ- ual. Every person must give account of himself before God. The immediate im- plication is this: God’s standards for His redeemed children are considerably higher than those currently tolerated in many of our churches. A simple adher- ence to the outward form and practice of the church is absolutely inadequate, if the inner purity and holiness is lacking. Conclusively, we must say then, that everything we Christians think, say, and do must meet the approval of God if we are to live the most virtuous life and pre- pare for judgment. Scriptural Discipline The spirit of lawlessness, so character- istic of our age, is catching. The general breakdown and, in many cases, the com- plete absence of discipline is producing its harvest of men and women, boys and girls who know nothing of self-control and proper conduct. The pernicious, modern philosophy of letting the child “grow up,” unhindered, uninhibited, and undisciplined, is devastating. The typical American is said to be a person “who wants what he wants when he wants it” and no code of ethics seems strong enough to discipline his ambi- tions. Discipline is never a pleasant task, but it remains a necessity. In our church we have frequently hesitated, procrasti- nated, and postponed indefinitely in mat- ters of discipline, till now our church is constituted of “living and dead stones”; this ought not so to be. There is dead wood within the denomination, so much so that the church labors beneath its load. As in David's time, the sins of many professing Christians and Men- nonites, dare I say, are “causing the enemies of God to blaspheme.” May our church leaders, “who watch for our souls,” be blessed of God in responding to the urgent need for Scriptural dis- cipline. Church Leadership Today, the men who lead the various segments of Christ’s church need conse- cration; they need the spirit of aggres- siveness; they need an enlightened con- servatism. The ministry of our church must be men of the Bible, Spirit-filled men who love Christ and His church. In a day when the world, the flesh, and the devil are knocking at the church, we need men with holy boldness— men who are unfettered by the ties of salary or personality. Some time ago a church leader stated that our church must have theologically trained ministers. This is true if he meant spiritual ministers who preach the Word, who promote evangelism, and who have regard for the stranger-pilgrim concept in Christianity. Any profes- sionally trained theologian who lacks the February 19, 1992 177 more basic essentials of the Christian ministry is dangerous. Along with a strong preaching em- phasis on spirituality and obedience to God’s Word, there must be a kindred plea for separation from the world in all its areas, including attire. Our ministers should shepherd an engaging program of Christian service for their congregations. In return for all the manifold re- sponsibilities of our ministers, we as congregations are called upon to support them with prayer, love, and our material blessings. A Pure Life The Holy Bible abounds with injunc- tions for purity among God’s children. The very essence of the new birth ex- perience suggests a complete break with the shameful sins associated with impu- rity. Those who would ascend the hill of the Lord must have, among other things, clean hands and a pure heart. Christian men are admonished to lift up holy hands; in the same place (I Tim. 2:8, 9) Christian women are enjoined to adorn themselves in modest apparel. No one can hope to maintain purity of life unless he has a strong desire for a pure heart, for holy hands, and for mod- esty, particularly as it relates itself to attire. With billboards, newspapers, mag- azines, and our streets and highways featuring immodesty as they do, we can hardly expect the unsaved to think or act in purity. The child of God must combat these ever-present evil influences by a resolute reliance upon divine aid and his own rigorous self-discipline. Immodesty initiates and develops im- pure thoughts; impure thoughts are the germ of immorality; immorality is sin and, when unconfessed, leads to spiritual death. The Mennonite Church record is marred with entirely too many cases of immorality; it has brought sin within the camp and has damaged our testimony in many communities. The sin has led some young people to the sacred mar- riage altar prematurely or, in other cases, has followed them throughout life only to recur in the individual’s pos- terity. May the Lord help us to keep ourselves pure. Nonconformity to the World This Biblical doctrine is the over-all principle of the life of the Christian; from the beginning, God has called out His people from the sin of the world to a life of holiness. The areas of noncon- formity are legion and significant; they must all emanate from within. The basic foundation is the new birth experience, which is an absolute require- ment of the one desiring divine sonship; this new birth experience calls for a walking in newness of life. “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new crea- ture: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” (II Cor. 5:17). GOSPEL HERALD Nonconformity to the world enters in- to our social life— the conduct and char- acter of our associations; it gives direc- tive on the amount and the kind of rec- reation; it enters into our business prac- tices and involves the matter of steward- ship. It applies to our personal lives in all ethical areas. Regarding nonconformity in attire, I want to publicly declare my commenda- tion to those Christians who, as an ex- pression of their inward life, wear non- conformed attire. It is a serious thing to give outward witness of inward holiness; unfortunately many of our members are not able for this public testimony. In wisdom, our beloved church has recom- mended a dress standard for her mem- bers who are able; this is as it should be. The veiling for Christian women, be- sides being a definite Scriptural com- mand, is a symbol of nonconformity and we cannot expect to hold fast to this unless we maintain a comparable testi- mony in other items of dress. Christian women who deliberately fail to wear their veiling on opportune occasions for- feit their right to pray or speak to edi- fication according to the Scriptures. I pray that the spiritual young men and women of our church might rise as a body to embrace the doctrine of non- conformity to the world in all its areas; this we must do if we are to survive. Nonresistance to Evil Carnal man comes into the world with an inborn nature to fight, to maintain his own rights, and to resent submission to his fellow men. The new birth ex- perience does not eradicate this nature, but it does place within a stronger power which enables the individual, with divine aid, to triumph over sin. The way of love, taught so dramati- cally by Christ in His passion, stands as an eternal witness against the resistance to evil and the resort to force. The sons of God should exemplify, in all their dealing with their fellows, the love of their Father and Saviour. The use of untrue, unkind words, threats of re- taliation, resort to law and the produc- tion and bearing of arms— these we be- lieve, according to the Scriptures, are outside of Christianity and should not be found among our people. Positively, we must dare to identify ourselves with Christ, the Prince of Peace. His immortal prayer, “Father, forgive them . . . ,” must abide on our lips to bless the injustices- of both friend and foe. Dear youth of the Mennonite Church, in this timely hour, you must build your life on the eternal Word of God; you must pay the price of consecration; you must serve your generation according to the will of God. Draw your line between right and wrong on the safe side and de- clare, “Here is where ‘I’ll Take My Stand’ if God will be my helper.” Harrisonburg, Va. LA JUNTA MENNONITE SCHOOL OF NURSING Clyde Mosemann, chaplain of the Mennon- ite Hospital, served as special speaker at the January meeting of the faculty. His talk centered in the teaching aspects of spiritual ministry to patients as it related to the stu- dent nurse and her curriculum. W. J. Dye, Administrator, and Mrs. Maude Swartzendruber, Director of Nursing Serv- ices and of the School of Nursing, have been assisting with the building plans of the Rocky Ford Hospital which is to be administered in connection with the Mennonite Hospital at La Junta. The January faculty social featured a trave- log by Emma Hess in which she related ex- periences in her past summer’s trip to Eu- rope. Edna Amstutz, Betty Rice, Bernice Lehman, and Marcella Albrecht were the hostesses. A number of the faculty attended District #18 Colorado Nurses Association meeting at Rocky Ford on January 14. Edna Amstutz and Mary Mayeda have completed the Red Cross Home Nursing course given in Rocky Ford. Marie Kauffman, Director of Extra-Cur- ricular Activities, with Martha Grove spent the week end of January 19-20 in Denver and also visited the students on affiliation. The Student Council met on January 21 at which time Faire Stuckey, physiotherapist, gave an illustrated talk of her participation in the Student Tour group to Europe in the summer of 1947. This tour is sponsored an- nually by the Association of Mennonite and Affiliated Colleges. The Freshmen Quartette visited Pueblo February 3 and participated in tract distribu- tion and also sang in the evening service at the Pueblo Mission. Members in the quar- tette are: Leabelle Troyer, Mary Slagell, Viola Diener, and Pearl Good. Joanne Keller and Rose Ortiz also accompanied the group. A number of students, now on affiliation, have visited the School recently: Juanita Det- wiler from Denver and Phyllis Snyder, Agnes Eby, and Leta Oyer from Pueblo. The Mennonite Nurses’ Association met at Miller Hall, February 3. Alice Eichelberger, President, conducted the business session. The devotional period was led by Betty Rice and centered around the theme of the home of Mary and Martha and Jesus’ commenda- tion of Mary in having chosen the things of the spirit. Irene Slagel, chairman of the pro- gram committee, introduced the program numbers. An excellent review of the new biography of Florence Nightingale by Cecil Woodham Smith was given by Leabelle Troyer. Arlene Sitler gave an informal talk on the sidelines of her past two months’ deputation for the School of Nursing in the South Cen- tral, Virginia, Southwestern Pennsylvania, and Ontario conference districts. Musical numbers included “Prayer Perfect” by a quartette of Freshmen. Virginia Gomoll, (Continued on next page) 178 GOSPEL HERALD February 19, 19 52 FAMILY CIRCLE A Father’s Prayer By Edna Hull God , do bless this small son sleeping— Make him good and wise; May I live so my shortcomings Won’t show in his eyes ! Oklahoma City, Okla. Teaching Church Loyalty to Our Children By Minnie Graber A certain author waited for a number of years to publish a book on home life, until his own sons were fully grown. He wanted first to see them develop into fine Christian characters. He did not wish his book to testify to his own fail- ure. One approaches a subject of this nature with a great deal of humility, but this should not restrain us from encour- aging one another in working out an ideal very personal and precious to every Christian parent. Bringing up our chil- dren in the fear of the Lord, inspiring them in a love for Christ and the church, is indeed a great concern. A most basic consideration in develop- ing church loyalty is first of all to see that they are led to a love and loyalty to Christ Himself. Christ is after all the Head of the church. He is the Leader, the Saviour, the Helper. It is for His worship and His service that we go to church and take part in promoting the church’s program. A personal experience with Christ is of greater importance in recruiting young people to follow Him than stressing the benefits they are like- ly to derive from being included in a Christian fellowship. Christ thus be- comes the Ideal, the One loved, whose precepts and commands “are not griev- ous.” The Christian life makes sense be- cause it is lived in deference to a Per- son and is not a mere set of rules which must be obeyed. Nor is it entrance into a safe society where people love you more than you can be sure of being loved in the world. To be sure, there is joy in Christian fellowship, but a consciousness and unwavering love for this Person who has done so much for us is a mightier force for loyalty to His church. Children can soon decide that life is more inter- esting attending school functions or, more thrilling, attending ball games, but love for Christ as a personal friend helps them to relegate other even good and legitimate interests to their right place of importance. Church loyalty finds natural expres- sion in children whose parents are sin- cerely loyal. We should not think that our children will consistently through the years give attendance to the church if we ourselves find it more convenient to loll at home than to make an effort to be at the services and on time. Oh, yes, it may be that while they have special friends, or up to a certain age the church will be able to interest and hold them, but the casualties, by and large, are to be found among this group where par- ents have failed in a warm, loyal support of the church themselves. To be sure, there are exceptions. A young girl liv- ing in a vicious home environment, older sisters making sport of her, parents with- out one word of appreciation for her struggle to live a pure life, has in a year and a half not missed one occasion to go to the mission church. The Lord can bring her safely through the years ahead, but she is in a precarious situation. The father, who after a day’s hard work drove a long distance to take his children to church-sponsored activities while he waited for them in the car outside, doing this year after year until they were old enough to drive for themselves, has his reward today. His six children are all loyal Christians. We should not forget that sacrifice is required here in a real way. Today there are many mission out- posts to which workers, leaving the home church, give their services. Many of these have growing children. It is a sacrifice on their part, and yet we see that when done in the right spirit the Lord blesses those children in a special way. An ado- lescent boy from such a worker’s family described to the M.Y.F. group in the home church the progress of the Chris- tian movement in the new outpost. It was inspiring to hear him identify him- self with the work and to see his under- standing of this evangelistic effort. Many children in the Mennonite Church have fathers who give a great deal of their time to the church away from home. Here it is a problem of having the chil- dren sympathetic to the sacrifice in- volved. The mother dare not fret and the father must be thoughtful in sharing his experiences with them so that they come to feel it is a task in which the entire family is engaged. Yes, being loyal to the church is more than mere attendance at staged meetings, although too many parents are even lax in this. If attend- ance on the parents’ part is so sporadic, fluctuating with the condition of the weather or the state of feelings, it can point only to disinterest and a begrudg- ing, selfish spirit within. We are not set to be judges over why this one does or doesn’t attend church, but if church loyalty is to be taught by parents it can best be set by example. It is another of those illusive lessons better caught than taught. Children can soon detect what is considered important or what is held with halfhearted allegiance just by lis- 1 tening and watching how the parents talk and act about it. Following is a series of questions which, if answered and lived with the right answer, contribute to help mold children to love and devotion for Christ and His church. Have you led your children to know Christ as their ever-present Friend? Does the Bible hold a prominent place in family life? Are decisions, large and small, made in the light of God’s Word? Is there a family altar? Do church lead- ers, missionaries, Christian brothers and sisters .have prayer support? Are the in- terests of the church spoken of sym- pathetically and constructively? Are calls for help involving sacrifice of time, en- ergy, or money answered cheerfully and wholeheartedly? Are the church publi- cations read and discussed with interest? Do your children find church-sponsored activities a pleasant source of spiritual and social release? I am conscious that implanting a loy- alty for Christ and the church as I have mentioned it reflects directly to the par- ents’ responsibility. Every man shall give answer for his own soul, but there is so very much that parents can do in help- ing to prepare the right answer. We are to bring up the “child in the way he should go”; we are to teach and talk when we sit, when we walk, lie down, or rise up. It is a full-time task— the par- ents’ “task.” Elkhart, Ind. EXPRESSIONS OF APPRECIATION I want to thank the many friends and rela- tives for their prayers, flowers, cards, and shower sifts during my stay in the hospital and since my return home. May the Lord bless you all. — Mrs. Ivan D. Martin, R. 4. Waynesboro. Pa. * * * I wish to express appreciation and thanks to my many kind friends for remembering me with _ their prayers, visits, cards, letters, flow- ers, fruit, and other gifts during my stay in the hospital and since my return home. May the Lord bless each one of you is my prayer. — Mrs. John It. Kraybill. R. 1. Elizabethtown, Pa. * * * I wish to express my sincere thanks to my many friends for the beautiful cards and flow- ers and visits and all the prayers offered for me during my illness at the Ephrata Community Hospital and while convalescing at home. May God richly bless you for your kindness. — Mrs. Reuben B. Widdus, R. 2, Lititz, Pa. OUR SCHOOLS (Continued) •Martha Grove, and Mrs. Marvin Rhodes were hostesses of the evening. A large number of students, faculty, and hospital personnel attended the meetings of Josef I. Herschkowitz at the East Holbrook Mennonite Church. A wedding of interest to alumnae was that of Geraldine Hansen to Kirk Wagner of Los Animas, Colo., on January 27. — Arlene Sitler. February 19, 1952 GOSPEL HERALD 179 TO BE NEAR TO GOD BASED ON THE DAILY READINGS FOR THE SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSONS Sunday, February 24 Faithful unto Death. Acts 12:1-5. James had been the quiet one among the upper three, but to him was given the honor of being the first martyr among them. And when Herod saw the Jews were pleased that James was killed, he took Peter. The time had come that they might die tor Jesus. And they went willingly one by one until only one was left. John, we are told, was dipped in boiling oil but miracu- lously saved from death. Later he was ban- ished to Patmos and, tradition says, made to work in a salt mine. But he was later at Ephesus and died a natural death as far as we know. “Follow thou me,” Jesus had told Peter after an inquiry that did not concern him. And He might have added, “I have died to finish the work the Father had for me to do. You follow me to do your work.” Monday, February 25 Son of Encouragement. Acts 4:32-37. We need more Barnabases — those who give everything they have to the Lord and are always in the thick of the hard work. They usually have only one talent, or at best two or three, but they use what they have to help others, who can do more than they can. They do not covet others’ gifts, are not envious of some folk’s opportunities, and encourage new believers and see that they have a part in the Lord’s work. They are always the peace- makers, for they never seek their own ad- vantage or comfort. Here Barnabas sold his land and gave the money to the apostles. He was letting noth- ing keep him from going all the way with the Lord. His example would encourage others to trust the Lord fully. Tuesday, February 26 Recognizing Sincerity. Acts 9:26-30. Being sincere himself, Barnabas did not distrust others. When Saul, a converted per- secutor, came to Jerusalem, others were afraid of him. Barnabas told the Christians of Saul’s great experience, which linked him with them as Christians. Then they joyfully re- ceived him. How much better this way is than watch- ing new Christians to see if they make some misstep. If we are sure they understand our standards and know we pray for them, the pathway of Christ will be made a road of victory for them. Barnabas was sure of Paul’s convictions. He kept up on the doings of the church and had heard of the persecutor’s great change. Lord, help us to rightly evaluate our fel- low men. Show us that our trust will often keep them on the right road. Because others trust us we have been kept in the household of faith. Amen. Wednesday, February 27 A Man Full ol Faith. Acts 11:19-24. Since Barnabas was a man full of the Holy Ghost and faith, he was sent to Antioch to teach new believers. Faith is one of the gifts of the Spirit. I Cor. 12:9. The blessed Spirit in us gives us the things we lack, whether they be faith, love, or hope. It takes faith to see the good in new con- verts who have been out in sin. But Barna- bas was able to see the good in his pupils and gave them time to develop into full- fledged Christians. He knew that since they had been born from above they were like a newborn baby — perfect, yet almost helpless. They needed food and encouragement that they might grow. By faith we are enabled to see, Heb. 11:1; through hope have boldness for God, Rom. 5:5; by love serve one another. Thursday, February 28 Selecting a Co-worker. Acts 11:25-30. Since Barnabas had the leading of the Lord, he knew how to handle the situation. He went to get Saul, who knew the Hebrew Scriptures, and was now established in the Christian faith. Did he know Saul or Paul would soon outshine him? If he guessed it, he was undisturbed from his selection. A whole year they worked with these new be- lievers at Antioch. At the year’s end, they were so well established in the faith, they gladly and spontaneously sent a gift to the mother church at Jerusalem. What a team Barnabas and Paul must have been! Some one has said, “If I can’t do some- thing great, maybe I can train some one that can.” That was the result of Barnabas’ se- lection. Friday, February 29 A Missionary Team. Acts 13:1-12. The workers at Antioch had increased to five. These still fasted and prayed that the Lord’s will might be done through them. Are we sure that we are in the will of God ? If not, maybe we haven’t prayed and fasted enough. Fasting gives us more time for pray- er. It also lets our bodies rest that our minds may be clearer. Real prayer changes things, starting with ourselves and reaching out to whoever we may be led to pray for. After their fasting and prayer the Lord asked that Barnabas and Saul be separated from the work they had begun to greater labors. At last their great call had come! They were trained and ready. Once more they fasted and prayed and sent them away as a missionary team. One might wonder how soon they would have been called if they had only used a formal prayer, instead of really praying for God’s blessing and lead- ing. Henceforth, Saul, the Destroyer, was known as Paul, the Worker. Saturday, March 1 Risking His Lite for Christ. Acts 15:22-41. The converted Levite, who left all to fol- low Christ, had instructed many, set the great Apostle to the Gentiles on his lifework, and now insisted on reclaiming a backslider. As a result there were two missionary teams that would be risking their lives for Christ. But of Barnabas’ labors we hear nothing after this. We only know that he proved faithful and still was a good friend of Paul. In the unfortunate incident that parted them, Barnabas went out of his way to keep peace. He could disagree in brotherly love with as fiery a man as the Apostle Paul. — Mary Alice Holden. “OUR BELOVED BARNABAS” Sunday School Lesson for March 2 (Acts 4:32-37; 9:20-27; 11:19-30; 13:1-4; 14: 8-15; 15:1-6, 22-39) Who gave Barnabas this good name? Who loved him so much? Acts 15 tells us it was the Jerusalem church leaders. Perhaps James wrote this out of his own heart’s attitude to Barnabas. In Cyprus, in Jerusalem, in Anti- och, and in some of the uttermost parts, Barnabas showed himself a true follower of Christ. And God gives him a great tribute when He calls him “a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith.” Goodness is here, by God, related to faith in God and the work of the Holy Spirit in the life. Gal. 5:22. The picture of Barnabas given in the Word will define goodness as it is found in a fol- lower of Christ. He “brought the money, and laid it at the apostles’ feet.” Very generously did Bar- nabas contribute to the common treasury of the early Jerusalem church. He probably labored afterward to support himself. “Barnabas took him [Saul], and brought him to the apostles . . . .” He rejoiced in Saul’s conversion to Jesus Christ. He was bighearted to take in all who had seen the Lord. He really was trusting the Lord to have changed Saul. It was for this reason that he did not fear Saul. The apostles trust- ed Barnabas or they would not have taken his word. “Men of Cyprus . . . [came] to Antioch . . . preaching the Lord Jesus.” Might they have been influenced by Barnabas at home? “Barnabas . . . when he . . . had seen . . . was glad, and exhorted . . . .” Barnabas was not prejudiced against Greeks. He be- lieved in Christ for all the world, which was a sure proof of his belief in Christ. This good man rejoiced in what the grace of God could do. Again the church shared their con- fidence in Barnabas to send him to this con- troversial situation. “Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus, for to seek Saul.” This good congregational build- er knew when he needed help and was will- ing to get help, even a greater than himself. In this crisis Barnabas, in Christ, yielded all his pre-eminence to Paul and the great bridge between Judaistic Jerusalem and the kingdom of God in the world was passed over. Only (Continued on page 189) 180 GOSPEL HERALD February 19, 1992 FIELD NOTES Items to appear in this column ior any issue oi the following Tuesday must reach Scottdale by Wednesday morning. Bro. Ford Berg is at his home awaiting en- trance to a Pittsburgh hospital for surgery. Bro. Tilman Martin will serve as assistant pastor at St. Jacobs, Ont., this summer. Bro. Perry J. Miller and several students from Puerto Rico gave the evening program at Yoder, Kans., on Feb. 3. Bro. J. C. Clemens, Lansdale, Pa., is await- ing surgery in the Montgomery Hospital, Norristown, Pa. Bro. Daniel M. Smucker, Jr., was ordained to the ministry on Jan. 6 at the Ridgeway Mission in Harrisonburg, Va. The brethren J. L. Stauffer and D. W. Lehman were in charge of the ordination. Bro. Smucker has been laboring among the people in eastern Harrisonburg since the mission was built in 1946. Bro. D. A. Yoder and wife, Elkhart, Ind., are spending several months in Florida with hopes that Sister Yoder’s health may improve. Their address is 3741 Bayshore Drive, Sara- sota, Fla. Knollwood Park Gospel Center is an ex- tension of the First Mennonite Church of Kitchener, Ont. In addition to Friday eve- ning Children’s Hour and Sunday-morning Sunday school, evening worship services were begun on Jan. 27. Bro. Elmer Gerber is sup- erintendent. Table of Contents 169— A Hebrew Christian Testifies Only the Crumbs (Poem) 170 The Number of Church Members Per Family Unit in the Mennonite Church Our Readers Say 171 — Some Editor's Problems The Conscience of the First Speaker 172 — Spontaneous Witnessing How the Seven Continents Rank It Happened 173 — Flesh and the Law Our Service in the Upper Room 174 — So Strangely Silent Empty Vessels (Poem) Is Tithing Necessary? 175 — Church Paper Speaks A Prayer on the Death of a Friend Prayer Requests 176— I'll Take My Stand 177 — La Junta Mennonite School of Nursing 178 — A Father's Prayer (Poem) Teaching Church Loyalty to Our Children Expressions of Appreciation 179 — To Be Near to God Sunday School Lesson for March 2 180— Field Notes 181 — Mission News 182 — First Experiences — Shirati Missionary Children's School 183 — That the Works of God Should Be Manifest Bones — Mugango 184 — The Saints of Bumangi 185 — "By Little and Little" — Nyabasi From India Women's Activities 186 — The Kingdom to the South V M.C.C. Weekly Notes 187 — Church Correspondence 190 — Births Marriages Obituaries 191— The Book Shelf 192 — Items and Comments The Pigeon and Pigeon River congrega- tions in Michigan had a conjoint service the evening of Feb. 3. Bro. Christian E. Charles is leading the Monday evening Bible study of the Landis- ville and Salunga congregation in Lancas- ter County, Pa. The young people of Elmira, Ont., gave a program at Floradale on Feb. 13. A Mennonite Youth Fellowship meeting was held at Rohrerstown, Pa., on Feb. 16 with a panel discussion on nonconformity. Church Hymnals have been placed in the Bay Shore Church by an anonymous donor. Representatives of the Mennonite Central Committee have been calling on the State Selective Service Director in various states to prepare for the coming alternative service program. A Christian Life Conference was held in connection with the Bible school at Berlin, Ohio, Feb. 1-3 with Orrie Kaufman, Vassar, Mich., David Beachy, Marilla, N.Y., and Alvin Swartz, Talbert, Ky., as speakers. The Atglen Winter Bible School enrolled 145 students, of which 75 were men. Ap- proximately 40 were from other districts and states. Instructors were Nelson E. Kauffman, principal, Hannibal, Mo., E. W. Kulp, Bally. Pa., Christian Charles, Salunga, Pa., and Isaac G. Kennel, Atglen, Pa. Illinois ministers met at Peoria on Jan. 22 for a prayer service. Oddvar Berg, a Nor- wegian missionary from Tanganyika, gave the opening address. Bro. John Lantz is providing an appreci- ated opportunity for the boys of the Zion congregation, Broadway, Va., to engage in woodworking projects. A quartet from Goshen College, together with Edward Stoltzfus as speaker, were scheduled to give a program at the Beech Church, Lewisville, Ohio, on Feb. 17. The enrollment of the winter Bible term at Hesston College totals 47 representing 13 states. Illinois leads with ten students. Sec- ond semester enrollment shows a net gain of seven, with a total of 276. More than 50 ministers from nine different states attended ministers’ week at Hesston College Jan. 29-Feb. 1. Spring term at Hesston College will extend from April 21 to May 30. Instructors will be Walter E. Oswald, Mary M. Miller, J. P. Duerksen, and Melva Kauffman. Bro. Carl Kreider and family were sched- uled to sail from Los Angeles for Japan on Feb. 24. The Mennonite Gospel Hour has added another station, WOHP, Bellefontaine, Ohio, T.00 to 1:30 Sunday afternoon. The broad- cast is heard from Worthington each Sunday morning at 8:30. Bro. Nelson Kanagy is di- rector and speaker. Music is provided by a men’s quartet and mixed chorus. The pro- grams are tape-recorded. A three-week Bible school closed at the Locust Grove Church, Belleville, Pa., on Feb. 1. A few more than sixty students were reg- istered and a number of others attended part time. Bro. Ross Metzler, Lewistown, Pa., served as principal. Other instructors were Nevin Bender, Greenwood, Del., Harold Brenneman, Scottdale, Pa., and Paul Yoder, Belleville, Pa. A discussion of alternative service at the First Missionary Church, Fort Wayne, Ind., was held on Jan. 31 with Harold S. Bender and J. Harold Sherk as speakers. Visiting Speakers Jan. 27: Erie Renno, Belleville, Pa., at Bart Chapel, Bart, Pa.; Harold S. Bender, Goshen, Ind., at Salem Church, Nappanee, Ind.; Allen H. Erb, La Junta, Colo., at Fairview Mission School east of Lebanon, Oreg., also 3 previous evenings, with 3 decisions for Christ; Joy Schrock, Upland, Calif., illustrated talk on European relief work at Los Angeles, Calif.; George R. Brunk, Harrisonburg, Va., at Bay Shore, Sarasota, Fla.; John Friesen, Eureka, 111., illustrated talk on China relief work at Pleasant Hill, East Peoria, 111. Feb. 3: John B. Zook, Belleville, Pa., at Oakdale, Salisbury, Pa., and Maple Glen, Grantsville, Md.; Oliver Roth, Milford, Nebr., at Yoder, Kans.; Arthur Gingrich, at St. Jacobs, Ont.; Roy S. Koch, at Geigers, Manheim, and Baden, Ont., in interests of O.M.B.S.; E. F. Hartzler, Marshallville, Ohio, at Tampa, Fla.; John A. Kennel, Parkesburg, (Continued on page 188) Calendar Mennonite Publication Board, Annual Meeting, Way- land, Iowa, Feb. 20, 21 Eastern Ohio Minister's Meeting, Leetonia Mennonite Church, Leetonia, Ohio, Mar. 4-5. Annual Ministers' Meeting, South Central Conference, Greensburg, Kcms., March 11-13 Southwestern Pennsylvania Conference, Ministers' Meeting, Place Undecided, Mcach 21, 22 Conference on Christian Community Relations, Tis- kilwa. 111., March 27-29 General Council of Mennonite General Conference, including invitational Prophecy Conference, Elk- hart, Ind., April 2-5. Lay Evangelism Conference, Goshen College, Go- shen, Ind., April 5-7 Ohio Mennonite Mission Board Annual Meeting, Oak Grove Church, West Liberty, Ohio, May 2-4. Pacific Coast Conference, Western Mennonite School, Salem, Oreg., June 3-6. Mennonite Youth Fellowship Workshop, Iowa Men- nonite School, Kalona, Iowa, June 9-12 Mennonite Youth Fellowship Annual Meeting, Lower Deer Creek Church, Kalona, Iowa, June 13, 14 Mennonite Board of Missions and Charities, Annual Meeting, Lower Deer Creek Church, Kalona, Iowa, June 14-17 Laurelville Mennonite Camp, Mt. Pleasant, Pa. Boys' Camp (ages 9-12), June 28 to July 4 Girls' Camp (ages 9-12), July 5-11 Junior High Camp (boys and girls, ages 13-15). July 12-18 Missionary Bible Conference, July 19-25 First Family Week, July 26 to Aug. 1 First Young People's Institute, Aug. 2-8 Second Young People's Institute, Aug. 9-15 Second Family Week, Aug. 16-22 Victorious Life Conference, Aug. 23-24 Music Week, Aug. 25-29 Southwestern Pennsylvania Conference, Springs, Pa., July 20-23 Chesley Lake Camp, Allenport, Ont. Boys' Camp, Aug. 9-16 Girls' Camp, Aug. 16-23 Young People's Camp, Aug. 23-30 Ohio Mennonite Christian Workers' Conference, Mar- tins Church, Orrville, Ohio, Aug. 12-14. Iowa-Nebr. Conference, Bethel Church, Way land, Iowa, Aug. 13-15. Illinois Mennonite Conference, Flanagan, 111., Aug. 19-21 Mennonite General Conference, Place Undecided Aug. 26-30, 1953 February ip, ipp 2 GOSPEL HERALD 181 Go, Preach . ^ I S S I O N The General Board Headquarters for Missions, Relief and Service: 1711 Prairie Street, Elkhart, Mission News An increase of twenty for the monthly aver- age in attendance at Palo Hincado, Puerto Rico, during January has been the result of special efforts put forth by the Sunday school members. A new system to inspire enthu- siasm to come themselves and to bring new people is being used. Bro. and Sister Nelson Litwiller, mission- aries in Argentina, will be leaving on fur- lough early in April. The Annual Conference of the Puerto Rico Mennonite Church was held at La Plata Feb. 15-17. Bro. J. D. Graber, who arrived in Puer- to Rico from Brazil on Feb. 9, participated in the conference. He is scheduled to return to the States on Feb. 20 or 21. Pray for the work which the conference did. Sister Winifred Mumaw, one of the work- ers at the Detroit Mennonite Mission, is scheduled to speak to the congregation at the Belmont Mennonite Church in Elkhart, Ind., in both the morning and evening serv- ices on March 9. The sailing date for Bro. and Sister Alvin Hostetler, under appointment to India, has been delayed until Feb. 29, when they are to sail from New York to Bombay, with port calls at Port Said, Port Sudan, and Port Karachi enroute. A Bible training school for young Chris- tian workers has been started at the Ninth Street Mennonite Church in Saginaw, Mich., where Bro. LeRoy Bechler is in charge. The first meeting was held Jan. 5. Twenty-five are enrolled in the course. Bro. and Sister Raymond Ulrich and four children from Roanoke, 111., arrived in Puer- to Rico, Jan. 29, for a month’s stay. Sisters Esther Ulrich and Mary Ulrich, Eureka, 111., and Jeanette Kauffman, Rensselaer, Ind., ac- companied the Ulrich family to the Island. Feb. 26 and 27 are the dates set for the City Missions Roundtable to be held at the Chicago Home Mission. Bro. Milton Brack- bill, H. S. Bender, J. D. Graber, Levi C. Hartzler, Howard J. Zehr, and Paul Min- inger are scheduled to participate in these roundtable discussions. The Jefferson Street Mennonite Church in Lima, Ohio, has requested prayer for two young mothers who have accepted Christ, but whose husbands are unsaved; for a middle- aged man who recently came to Christ from Catholicism; for a young man desiring de- liverance from alcohol; for a young girl now placed in a T.B. hospital; and for a young married couple with five children who have recently accepted Christ. Seven members from the Betania congrega- tion at Pulguillas, Puerto Rico, are serving as Sunday school teachers. Five serve at Betania and two at Pedro Garcia and Coama Arriba, outposts of Betania. Spring Missionary Day March 16, 1952 Boys and girls — plan to invest quar- ters as a missionary project this sum- mer. Ask your superintendent about quarters. Young people — Organize your youth group to sponsor a youth missionary project. Contact your superintendent or write to the Mennonite Board of Missions and Charities, Elkhart, Ind., if you need capital. Parents — Encourage your children and young people to participate in the mis- sionary activity of your congregation and your mission board. Superintendents— Solicit the co-opera- tion of every teacher to see that every child, young person, and adult is pro- vided with an adequate opportunity for the expression of their missionary in- terest— Savings Banks, projects, mis- sion Sunday schools, etc. Teachers — Seek to bring every child or adult in your classes to a meaning- ful participation in the missionary out- reach of the church. The building work at Bethet in Bihar, In- dia, is progressing rapidly. The three serv- Your Treasurer Reports We have recently received requests from the Saginaw, Mich., and Mathis, Texas, mis- sions asking for funds to help purchase books for a church library. In both cases, the super- intendents feel that having Christian books available in the mission will be helpful in the mission work, particularly among the young people who have been attracted to at- tend the services. This is the type of project which is very much worthwhile and one which can be sponsored by Sunday school groups. There are many good books which can be purchased which will be helpful in mission work and would be of great assistance in the above programs. Anyone who would like to contribute funds to he used for this purpose can send them to this office and designate them for “purchase of books for Saginaw or Mathis missions.” When funds are received, they will then be forwarded to the superin- tendents who, in turn, can arrange to pur- chase the type of books which will be useful in their work. H. Ernest Bennett, Treasurer Mennonite Board of Missions and Charities Elkhart, Indiana Give, Pray Indiana. Telephone. Elkhart 2-2786. MENNONITE RELIEF COMMITTEE (M.R.C.) Bro. Don Snapp visited the Michigan Men- nonite Bible School, Fairview, Mich, on Feb. 10 and 11 in the interests of voluntary service. He spoke in the daily chapel service at the Canton Mennonite Bible school, Canton, Ohio, on Jan. 28. A nurse is needed at the Kansas City Chil- dren’s Home. A request has also come for a practical nurse, an assistant cook, and a maid for general cleaning and laundry work at the Braeside Home, Preston, Ont., which is oper- ated by the Mennonite Mission Board of On- tario. Jesus taught his disciples to follow His example in ministering to others. If you are interested in answering the call to service, write the Secretary for Service and Relief. A summer service unit at the Hannibal, Mo., hospital is dependent upon our finding a Mennonite nurse willing to serve there for wages during the summer vacation period from early June to the end of August. Three other persons will be accepted by the hospital if a nurse is available. This is an earning unit open particularly to students who need to earn for their next year’s school expenses. In addition to working in the hospital, the unit members have opportunity for fellowship in the mission program and in the Christ for Today evangelistic campaign. Is there a nurse who would accept this position and make possible the organization of an earning unit for other students at this hospital? ants’ houses are finished besides the garage. The foundation for the bungalow is also finished and a crew of bricklayers will prob- ably be laying the walls by the time this is in print. Praise the Lord for this rapid progress. Students from the Canton, Ohio, Bible school held at the First Mennonite Church, presented programs at Walnutcreek, Kidron, and Pleasant View churches in Ohio on Sun- day evening, Feb. 3. The annual Christian Life Conference followed on Feb. 8-10, with Bro. Milton Brackbill and Stanley Shenk as the guest speakers. At the New Year’s Fellowship held on the mission compound, the Indian brethren of the Chandwa church in Bihar decided to construct a new church house after the rainy season. The new church at Hisri is ready for the roof. This church is being built by con- tributions of the Bihar Mennonite Church. The second issue of the “Children’s Home News” is being printed. Anyone interested in receiving this paper quarterly as it comes out may have it for the asking by writing to Glen Yoder, Mennonite Children’s Home, 1620 South Thirty-seventh Street, Kansas City 3, Kans. (Continued on page 188) 182 GOSPEL HERALD February 19, 1952 The nurses’ residence at Shirati station. First Experiences-Shirati By Mary Harnish One year ago the Victoria Lake Steamer on which I was traveling glided into the Muso- ma pier. As I stepped for the first time onto Tanganyika soil many things crowded my attention: missionary friends, natives, the lit- tle town, flowering trees, and the wonderful rock formations. The lake breeze was warm under the hot noon sun. Soon at Bukiroba we joyfully met a group of African Christians who greeted us with “Jambo.” That first afternoon we had communion services in the mud-brick church with its arched open door- ways and windows. The songs were in a familiar tune but the words were unknown to me. At the closing school day at Mugango I was both surprised and pleased to see the ability the Africans showed in planning and pre- senting a program of drills, recitations, and music. The native food, ugali, was served to the crowd, but a table was set and European food served to the guest speakers. Being new in the country, I was seated at that table. We traveled by lorry from Mugango to Musoma. People, baggage, food, live chick- ens, bicycles, everything was put on back and top of the lorry. I was given the front seat. One more mother found room somewhere around the edges, but her two small children she placed in my care and before going far on that bumpy ride they were both asleep. I guarded them carefully as there was no door. To reach Shirati we had to cross the bay on the ferry. The wind was favorable that Saturday morning and the crossing was made on time. The remaining fifty-five miles we traveled by bus. While yet a distance from the station I got a glimpse of the hospital buildings. Monday morning I was eager to observe the hospital work. While there a mother was MISSIONS SECTION carried in who had given birth to a two- pound, seven-ounce baby and was to bear another. The second baby weighed three pounds. These immature babies could be kept alive only by external heat and frequent tube feedings with careful procedure. I took the twin babies to my room for several weeks and they were my first nursing charges. It was a battle for life but they lived. Today they weigh fourteen and seventeen pounds. Early one morning I heard loud prolonged crying and shouting. It was the heathen wailing over a departed one. The continual wailing is kept up by different groups of people as they come to the village. The Afri- cans call this a “crying.” It was Easter eve and as the sun was setting over the lake a group of African Christians walked quietly to the cemetery at the edge of the compound. Zephenia, a Shirati elder, carried the body of their darling baby girl who had passed away that afternoon. No wailing or crying was heard as the little form was laid beneath the sod. Instead there was a short service and singing. The parents helped to sing and the father gave a testi- mony, then helped to place thorns over the grave to protect it from the hyenas. What a joyful contrast to the former death! After the Africans had gathered their har- vest a service was held in the church, at which time the Christians brought a portion of the grain. After seeing the hard labor by which it is produced I was impressed to see the women come with large baskets of grain on their heads and place them at the pulpit as an offering to the Lord. It was my first time taking night calls at the hospital when a call came from the ma- ternity ward to help with a delivery. Labor progressed normally and the baby was de- livered, but my experience was one of defeat when, after trying everything we knew, the baby would not breathe. I realized anew that it is in the hands of the Lord to give life. Returning from Tarime at five o’clock p.m. we came to the Marari River and found it too full to cross. For several hours we watched the water rising, then it began to recede. Shortly it began to rise faster than before. This was my latest “first experience.” After sixteen hours of waiting we were able to cross it the next morning and reached home in three quarters of an hour. We were prepared with food, water, and blankets on this trip. God’s faithfulness during this first year in Africa has encouraged us to go on with con- fidence in Him. “Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy mercy, and for thy truth’s sake. Where- fore should the heathen say, Where is now their God” (Ps. 115:1, 2)? As we continue to live and work among these people may they see that our God is a Holy Spirit living within, and hear what His mouth has spok- en, and know that He has an all-seeing eye, and ears that hear, and a guiding hand, and that He walks where He will. Their idols are not so. — Africa Annual Report. Missionary Children’s School By Mrs. Samuel Troyer The school year of ’50 and ’51 found us filled to capacity with twenty-one pupils. This was the peak year for missionary chil- dren, as seventeen of the twenty-one pupils were from our own group. We had one child from the Africa Inland Mission and three miner’s children. This was also the first year we had all eight grades and so our schedule was also filled to capacity. In the beginning of the year we appointed officers for our school paper, “Hilltop Breezes,” which was published four times during the year. A program committee was also appointed to plan special features for each Friday afternoon. These features con- sisted of a variety of activities. Sometimes special programs were given or the afternoon was spent in drills. At other times the after- noon was given to storytelling or poetry. The Current Events and Weekly Readers also were enjoyed even though the news was no longer current by the time we received it. Whenever possible one period a week was spent in the swimming pool in Musoma where Dorothy Smoker taught the children to swim. By the end of the year every child could take at least five strokes. In December the children gave a public Christmas program which was attended by most of the parents and a few Europeans from Musoma. Our first commencement was held in May with three graduates. This was the high spot of the year. The term for ’51 and ’52 began August 29 with only fifteen pupils enrolled. Later we added two more to our family. However, in December one of our miner families moved to Arusha and so we lost a pupil, which now leaves our family numbered sixteen. This year there are only eleven children from our own group. Two children represent the Africa Inland Mission and Pentecostal mis- sions— one a miner’s child and one an agri- February 19, 1952 GOSPEL HERALD 183 cultural officer’s child — and our little Polish boy comes from Mwanza. One of the high spots in this year’s school life was the morning we ate a hurried break- fast and went to Musoma in time to hear the governor of Tanganyika address the Africans. Later in the day we were honored by having the governor’s wife, Lady Twining, visit our school and give a short talk to the children. This year instead of giving a Christmas program, as we usually do, we changed it to a Thanksgiving program as it was just as close to Thanksgiving as Christmas time. We have changed our school term into three-month periods, with three months of school and one month vacation. Our first term was extended to fifteen weeks so that our last term can be shorter. This will give those who go on furlough time to get home in time for the coming school term. This change has been made so that those having children in high school at Kijabi and also at our school will be able to have their children spend at least part of their vacation at home together. This will probably be the last year of school on the Bukiroba station. All are eagerly look- ing forward to the spacious new school and dormitory which the Lord has made possible through the help of so many of you. We are constantly praising the Lord for the way He is leading in the work. We crave an interest in your prayers that this school might be a little “lighthouse” in Africa and that it might always be “to the praise of his glory.” — Africa Annual Report. That the Works of God Should Be Manifest By Elva B. Landis We sometimes wonder and say “Why” when we see circumstances which bring pa- tients to us for treatment and into contact with the Word and the love of God. Here is an answer: “That the works of God should be made manifest” (John 9:3). Let us pass through the hospital and brief- ly look at a few of these cases. You may have read about Nyalomba who was struck with lightning and had third degree burns over practically her entire back. She has now ac- cepted Jesus Christ as her Saviour. Pray that she may taste a still deeper love. Several meningitis cases have been cared for by us in the past months. One delivered a 714-month baby when unconscious in her illness. She got well. Another one was at- tended by her old heathen father who at first was unco-operative but soon began to put his faith in our ability to care for his daughter. He made a marked change by the time his daughter died a month later. Pray that the Spirit may follow him until he is healed from his soul’s sicknesses. The parents of another girl caused considerable difficulty in the ward. Their daughter was unconscious for five days, but today is a robust, healthy girl. She recovered with defective hearing as a result of severe brain damage. Those par- ents saw the love of God manifested in a new way. Is it possible that 2*4 and 3-pound babies should live in Africa? Until recently the an- swer would have been “No.” However, many marvel at the way in which God used our hands to care for a pair of premature twins until today, when they are one year old, they are fourteen and seventeen pounds and are trying to walk. We feel that God has a place for them in His vineyard or He would not have spared them. They had every rea- son to die, but went ahead. The main in- struments by which they were helped were a gavage tube and a hot water bottle. We had no oxygen and no incubator. Why did they live? “That the works of God should be made manifest.” Last month a four-month-old child was brought to us for treatment. She had been beaten by a drunken member of the family. On first appearance one was sure she would die from injuries of a fractured skull, but now she greets us with a loving smile each morn- ing. Even our helpers marvel at the change. Cases like this just didn’t get well before the mission was here. The other day a prenatal patient went into convulsions. Her relatives thought cold wa- ter must be poured on her, and that she would die if she lay down. With God’s help we saved both mother and baby. I say “with God’s help,” for both were so nearly gone that we ourselves could do nothing. It was the “works of God . . . made manifest” to those heathen relatives. We have a man here at present with a deep laceration of the leg because of drink and argument. Another has a deep laceration on the arm to the extent that the bone was cut through. This was the result of a fight. These men in their sin were given opportunity in this way to hear of God’s love. Their healing will manifest His works. Both are on the way to recovery. Pray for healing of their souls. About one hundred leper patients are un- der treatment at the present time. They too came seeking for medicine for physical heal- ing, but are also receiving the Word of God each day. Pray that these patients may be brought into the fold. Each day our patients hear of God’s love. Each day we work with them and have op- portunity by our lives to witness to them. Pray that we may ever be faithful in His service. — Africa Annual Report. Twins delivered prematurely at the Shirati hospital in Tanganyika and cared for by Elva Landis. They were ten months old when this picture was taken. Bones — Mugango By Miriam Wenger Bones, bones, bones! Dry bones! A whole valley full of them ! Bones, disjointed; bones, worm eaten; without flesh, without life. Bones, too dead to hear the call of life; too dead to be concerned; too far gone to come forth! Oh, misery; oh, horrors of it all! But then a voice, a still small voice, a shaking, a coming together, a covering of flesh and life imparted! Blessed Lord, how marvelous! New joy imparted, new grace bestowed, new power given; a walking forth! One glance back and bones are seen lying there in the valley, still unmoved, untouched — but wanted, yea, longed for and prayed for too, but still too dead to move. God, awake and save them ere the eternal day dawn and meet them in this rotten decayed stage — too dry for life. I don’t like to write about dry bones. I like to write about hearts of flesh filled with the Spirit of God, but when the dry bones lie in so many places we must speak out about them and shout to Christians, Arise, believe, and pray. Some of these bones never had any flesh spiritually, and others had flesh but it was eaten off by the birds of the air until seem- ingly none remained. The above seems to be the picture of the Mugango area this past year. In general terms, there has been a growing coldness in the lives of a number of the Christians and believers, resulting, of course, in few con- versions and many neighbors still uncon- cerned. In the months of March and April the Lord spoke to a number of girls and gave them new release and sins were confessed. Then again in October and November the work went deeper and souls began to look to God for cleansing and forgiveness. Not all of these have paid the price of full surrender but we believe God will carry on what He has begun. A number were baptized and brought into church fellowship in the Mugango and Ma- jita area. Several Bible conferences were held and these were with blessing to those who attended. A number of women accepted the Lord and seem to have a desire to con- tinue faithful. One old man has separated himself from his old life and each Sunday morning finds him in the house of worship. He was one who never attended church. A good part of the year our station was without a pastor. Our ordained native breth- ren were in the pastor’s course; the Leather- mans were moved to Bukiroba several months before leaving on furlough in June at which time Sister Phebe Yoder also re- turned to the States. Since September Clyde and Alta Shenk have been stationed here. We are glad for their help. Necessity demanded that considerable time be spent in the building of the native teach- ers’ houses. Each year we hope these tem- MISSIONS SECTION 184 GOSPEL HERALD February ip, 195 2 poral buildings will suffice so that more time can be spent on spiritual buildings. We long more than anything else that foundations be laid in Christ Jesus rather than foundations in stone and mortar. Some buildings are necessary and so with this program we can only pray that Christ be glorified in the use of these buildings. Three natives are in charge of the dis- pensary work at Mugango. Their work is ap- preciated by those who come for treatment. The wife of one of the dressers does quite good work in midwifery and during the year her services were gready appreciated by a number of mothers. She has a little family of children herself but she is always willing to go out and help others. One new outschool was opened during the year at Nyakatende. Attendance has been good and a number of souls responded to the call of Christ. Now as for these other dry bones— we be- lieve God will cover them with skin, put breath in them, and that they SHALL live and that they SHALL know that He is the Lord. Ezek. 37:6— Africa Annual Report. The Saints at Bumangi By Elam and Grace Stauffer On many of our stations one of the first buildings you see as you enter the compound is the church. It is not so at Bumangi. You might be walking among the houses and sud- denly remember that you have not yet seen the church. Then we would tell you that it is down over the hill and we would walk down the lane lined by trees and see the grass- roofed church. But that is the building. Actually you would need to step inside and see the saints on a Sunday morning and help them sing Kizanaki to say you saw the church. The saints here number thirty men and twenty-two women. This number includes a few from the outschools. Their spiritual condition differs with each one, of course, for some are healthy, some are hobbling along, and a few are sickly. One of the sick ones asked for prayer yesterday and how we long that she might be completely whole again. Perhaps in summing up our needs as a whole, we might say we need to be shaken out of our complacency and have our eyes fixed more on the Saviour. Then things, such as farms, wages, and clothes, would grow dim and souls, needs, and Jesus would occupy our time and effort. The saints here are an interesting group as they work together. There is the church garden that is dug, planted, and cultivated by the group. That food is used for special con- ferences or the entertaining of guests. Some- times they are asked by some outside person to build a house or cultivate a garden and are given a cow. Last week when General Church Council met here they butchered the cow they had gotten for some work they had done, and with it entertained the church eld- ers. Just recently it was decided that each member (men and women) should pull a certain number of bundles of grass for re- roofing the church. We paid the car trips to bring it here and the men roofed the church. They also built the house for the Nutting girls. These girls have a European father and an African mother. The father is away off in Rhodesia and the girls wanted to live near the mission. They are dear saved girls and we thank the Lord for them. We thank the Lord, too, for the loving labor of the saints here in building that house. Some of the District School boys are in the group of saints here also. They, of course, are here only during the school term, and are not Wazanaki nor do they have their mem- bership at Bumangi. They attend prayer meeting, Sunday school, and church, and some come to fellowship. They are largely an adolescent group and so bring us the blessings and problems that are peculiar to that age. We remember them as saints grow- ing up in Him. The challenge that is before the Bumangi church is how they shall meet the crying needs for evangelism around them. No new outschools have been opened for some time, which is a reproach in itself. True, there have been many evangelistic trips, quite a few Gospel teams, and they see the need, but when they are together discussing the mat- ter they sit and wait and hope the other per- son will be ready to go and be an outschool teacher. They see the challenge of Kagina Keru, Kisaka, and to the Wanandi, but have not yet given themselves to meet that chal- lenge. For example, Amon and Esta are a dear, saved, prized couple. He says he was called to Kisaka in 1948 but they are still here running their little farm. His farm, his moth- er, etc., almost make him believe that perhaps after all he was not called, and so Kisaka is still without a leader. So in closing, we praise the Lord for the strides the church has made this year in the matter of giving. They have awakened in a new way in the giving of tithes and offerings. Contributions have stepped up. We note in them also a concern for spreading the Gos- pel. Now pray with us that the coming year may be marked by the giving of themselves for the ministry of evangelism.— Africa An- nual Report. The dilemma of British missionary so- cieties is illustrated by the report of the Bap- tists. In India and Pakistan, for example, the society faces increased opportunities with inadequate resources. Indian and British workers maintain existing programs and are physically incapable of taking on any more duties. The report reveals that the society today has only 165 European missionaries in India and Pakistan, compared with 230 ai quarter of a century ago. With the time ripe for advance, there are only enough recruits to replace the missionaries now retiring. Con- densed from Christian Century. utschool teacher Jona in the center anjl his wife Lea ^ h.s ngm- he woman beside Lea is Nyakatugu, weeks ago Brought Salvation,” which appeared a number ot weens ag from left to right. GOSPEL HERALD 185 February 19, 1952 “By Little and Little”--Nyabasi By Simeon The above promise of God to Israel before their conquest of Canaan to drive out the enemy by little and little came to my attention recently in thinking and praying over the Lord’s work at Nyabasi during this past year. Truly the Kuria people have been coming into the kingdom only little by little. The devil would try to tell us we might as well give up and go back to America as this tribe just doesn’t go in for religion and especially not for the deeper things of salvation like some other tribes. We know, however, that such lies come from the pit. Praise the Lord, at the end of another year we can testify to the fact that the power of the devil by little and little is being driven out of the hearts and lives of these people. More and more the Lord is revealing Himself to them as the mighty One to save from all sin and unclean- ness. . , There has been no startling increase in the church during the past year. There have been few men and women who through testimony and baptism have identified themselves with those who are on the way to the glory land. One sees definite new life and victory mani- fest in the lives of a few of the Christians. This has been evident in a closer relationship with their Lord, a greater oneness between them, and an increased burden for the lost. Several of the older sisters have been quite ill but have come through with a shining testimony of Jesus’ sufficiency even during times of trial. We are sorry to say, however, that not all the members here are in good spiritual health. Materialism, or in more simple language, a love for this present world is slowly sapping the life of some. Many who formerly were quite content with their few belongings have become awakened to the fact that money is something to be desired. The tremendous increase in prices has tended to make people money conscious so that jobs with higher wages are sought and evan- gelism is neglected. Praise the Lord, there are a few who have a vision of the lost multitudes. An evangelis- tic trip of several days was made to Bunjari, an adjoining land to Nyabasi. The people of this land have been in our prayers for several years. The greater part of one day was spent in visiting villages and an open-air meeting was held Sunday morning in the shade of several wild fruit trees. The group that gathered consisted of about seventy men, most of whom were old men whose good will means a lot when entering a new district. The Lord gave wonderful opportunity to tes- tify to these old men that there is a way of deliverance from the terrible bondage of sin. These folks seemed eager for a place of wor- ship. The prayer challenge is now before us for someone to move to that place as a leader among these people. Will you take up this as a challenge to you to pray forth one of God’s choosing? Bunjari is an exceedingly needy land where the darkness of heathenism W. Hurst is still reigning and it seems like an open door for the Gospel now. Another definite evidence of advance for the Lord’s church at this place has been the establishing of several Christian homes by young people of this tribe. The first wedding where both parties were baptized and where the marriage dowry was in accordance with the government regulation was held during this year. The devil has been trying hard to keep Christian homes from being established, but little by little the victory of our Lord is being manifest in this. Through the ministry of the school and work among the young A wedding at the Shirati church. people of this tribe a nice group of boys and girls have accepted the Lord as their Saviour. From among these we believe that more Christian homes will be raised up as a testi- mony to our Lord’s power over the enemy. As we look back over the eleven years of this station’s existence it seems so little has been accomplished and a mere handful have been saved from multitudes who are still go- ing on fulfilling the desires of the flesh and on the way to an eternal hell. Thank God, however, for the handful. Pray with us for this handful and pray for us also that we with them may be firebrands of the Lord, heralding forth the good news of salvation. By little and little the Lord is building His own church from among these people. May many more yet become a part of His bride ere He returns.— Africa Annual Report. We have been reminded in recent years that the Mennonites originally stressed the cross and martyrdom. Discipleship at any cost and obedience to the will of God were the focal points of faith and not so much a “cozy experience” of inner enjoyment. This faith when applied to peoples of different social backgrounds made them into closely knit brotherhoods that have been called prophetic and “forerunners of better things for all.” These brotherhoods expected to pass through persecution in order to form the body of their Lord. Today a shrinking world with its many peoples, made of one blood, needs such brotherhoods. — Grant Stoltzfus. From India On Sunday, November 25, we had the wonderful joy of witnessing the baptism of five men and three women from this village. Another woman has accepted but was sick, and another boy couldn’t be present. The following Sunday they will be baptized. There are others who are considering, but the cost seems too great for them. The cere- mony of baptism seems to be the big step to take in breaking from the past. At this time the men cut off their choties, the Hindu lock of hair which is left to grow out of the back of their head looking much like a pig’s tail. The women also remove silver bracelets from their arms, the jewelry in their noses and ears, the bracelets on anklets, and the rings on fingers and toes. They also go into their houses and clean out all the idols and remem- brances of the Hindu religion. Theirs is a literal cutting off from the things of the past and we pray that this may be more than a cutting off, but rather a renewing of life to live for the glory of God instead of for Satan. — Allen and Elsie Shirk. Women’s Activities The guests in our Homes for the Aged appreciate hearing from their friends and families. Only occasionally one seems to be forgotten or feels he has been forgotten. Re- cently the following card written by one of the members of one of our Homes was re- turned because of improper address: “My dear Sister: Will drop you a few lines. I am feeling very tough for awhile and if I don’t get to feeling better I will just keep staying put. It seems like none cares about coming to see me — not as much as writing. So why should I do all the visiting? Would you be like me? Well, I must close for now. Answer when you feel like it. As ever, Your brother.” What can our sewing circles do to bring cheer and comfort to one such as this who feels lonely? Could we write to the super- intendents of our Homes and ask for the names of persons who are particularly in need of companionship? If you know of members from your community or your con- gregation who are spending their closing days in one of our Homes, do write to them, stop and visit them when you can, remember them on special occasions, but also at times when perhaps no one else will think of pay- ing a visit or of sending a token of remem- brance. The guests in our Homes are well cared for and provided with comfort and se- curity, but there are always a few who spend their days wishing for the presence of their friends. For these we want to provide ad- ditional contacts with friends. MISSIONS SECTION 186 THE KINGDOM TO THE SOUTH V By J. D. Graber The other day I heard someone singing in Spanish, “God Bless America.” At first I thought they had pirated it from us. This is our song. America is our country. But I soon thought better. This Argentina is America just as truly as is the United States of North America. It is remarkable how well the song fits this country: “From the mountains to the prairie, To the ocean white with foam.” How well that describes the United States of North America! But it also describes Ar- gentina. In the center are the vast, fertile plains. To the west are the snow-capped Andes, higher than our own Rockies. Along the eastern border flows the mighty Parana River, with its near neighbor marking the Uruguayan border, the Uruguay River. And when we speak about ocean we must remem- ber that Argentina is also limited on the east by the same Atlantic Ocean. To the Argen- tine this is likewise “The land that I love,” and in patriotic fervor should he not also ask God to bless his America? You may have noted that I have referred to our own country as the United States of North America. In the first place we “Amer- icans” have a great deal of arrogance when we fill in the blank on a government or cus- toms sheet indicating that our nationality is “American.” One may fill in “U.S.A.” at that point. Even “United States” is not enough, for there are several united federa- tions of states in the world and unless we specify where our own United States are we are not clear. Just because we are big, rich, and powerful is all the more reason why we could well learn humility and not assume that “Americans” are citizens of the republic known as the United States of North Amer- ica. There are other respects in which Argen- tina is like our own United States and Can- ada. With the exception of a small aboriginal Indian population, everyone in Argentina has come here from some other country, mainly from Europe. I was impressed by this in the Mennonite congregation at La Falda a few Sunday evenings ago. Here I met a man whose parents had come from Switzerland. Since he was the only man present whose language I knew I chatted with him in Swiss German, for my mother had also gone from Switzerland to North America. There were two brothers, Armenians, who themselves had come from Turkey. Another Armenian and his family were there. Several had come from Italy, either in their own or a previous generation. There were those whose ancestors “came over on the Mayflower” as it were — descend- MISSIONS SECTION gospel herald ants of the earliest European settlers and now the rooted in, the real Crillos, the ones to whom this country belonged before the rest of the newcomers from Europe moved in. At Tres Lomas one of the members is an Eng- lishman, born in London. At Cosquin I met a brother born in Austria, while those from Italy, Spain, and other South European coun- tries are common. In a real sense Argentina is more of a “melting pot” than our own country. Here the Spanish language and the prevailing cul- ture are perhaps more dominant than our own so-called “American” culture. The Span- ish people are very slow to learn anyone else’s language. When you are here you speak Spanish. Why should anyone bother about another language? Nationalism, more strong than our now flourishing variety in North America, quickly melts down the various foreign languages and customs and makes of everyone a loyal Argentine. There are large ethnic groups in this country who preserve something of their own language and custom for a generation or two, but apparently this is much more difficult here than in the U.S.A. and Canada. Unless special effort is put forth our own missionary children do not even learn to speak English. There are not very many of them with whom I can talk. But why should they learn English? The answer to this question is not at all obvious when asked here. Establishing the national church is the rela- tive problem that concerns missionaries. We do not use the word “indigenous” here. It sounds here exactly as it would in Iowa or Pennsylvania. A national church — self-gov- erning, self-supporting, and self-propagating is the ideal we seek. To fuse men and women of all these diverse nationalities together into a common brotherhood is a big task, but the national melting pot process makes this easier. When missionaries first arrive in any coun- try there is no church. As they succeed in winning converts and establishing congrega- tions the total responsibility for government and control rests with the foreign mission- ary group. But the time comes, as it cer- tainly has arrived in the Argentine Mennon- ite Church, when definite steps must be taken to inspire greater congregational loyalty, create a renewed consciousness of brother- hood and community, thrust greater respon- sibility for government, support, and evan- gelization on the national church. The mis- sionary here will now more and more cease to be a pastor, and he will need to recapture his primary function. When the church is es- tablished the missionary moves on to new fields and new areas of pioneering evan- gelism. He may stay near by; he will con- tinue to be an active member of the church; but the center shifts from mission to church. It is gratifying to see this in process here. A truly national Mennonite Church with its February 19, 1952 Jj roots deep in the soil of “This other America” . is coming to birth, via Elkhart, Indiana. M.C.C. Weekly Notes Recent Shipments Nearly One-third Million The following shipments of Mennonite re- lief materials with a total evaluation of $323,394.07 left port during November, De- j cember, and January of this year: To Austria: 25 tons flour, 16J4 tons cloth- ing, bedding, shoes, and Christmas Bundles. 1 To Germany: 30 tons navy beans, 264 tons flour, 48 tons clothing, bedding, shoes, soap, • and 18 tons Christmas Bundles. To Formosa: 389 lbs. bedding, clothing, and school sup- plies. To Hong Kong: 4!4 tons Christmas Bundles, clothing, bedding. To Paraguay: 8 tons miscellaneous equipment. To Jordan: 16‘/2 tons Christmas Bundles, clothing, bed- ding, and shoes. The ocean freight expense for these ship- ments amounted to over $18,000. A con- siderable part of this will be reimbursed by the U.S. government and the United Na- tions, but the current outlay must be borne by the relief fund. M.C.C. Headquarters Personnel Notes David Karber of Blaine, Washington, has joined the M.C.C. office staff, to assist in the work of referring conscientious objectors to civilian work which is approved by the gov- ernment as work contributing to the "na- tional health, safety, or interest.” The Presi- dential Regulations on the conscientious ob- jectors’ draft are not yet released, but pre- liminary contacts have been made with a number of State Selective Service Directors to determine more clearly the nature of the service which the church may be able to render to young men in connection with their assignment to civilian work. Current personnel needs for the M.C.C. in- clude secretaries, particularly one with ex- perience in mimeograph operation and some art work. A cook is needed for one of the M.C.C. mental hospitals. More Espelkamp Books Available The M.C.C. workers in Germany have sent additional copies of the book Espelkamp by Emily Brunk, which are now available at one dollar each or five for $4.00. This book, described by many readers as “an excellent piece of work,” describes vividly the plight of the refugees for whom this new commu- nity is being developed. The part which the M.C.C. workers have had in changing this former Nazi munitions depot into a Chris- tian community is an example of the oppor- tunities for spiritual rehabilitation which characterize many of the present relief proj- ects in Europe. Released February 8, 1952 Via Mennonite Central Committee Akron, Pennsylvania There is no limit to what can be done if the Church will meet the present challenge with a program geared to the opportunities of the new day. — Minnie E. Sears. February /p, 195 2 GOSPEL HERALD 187 CHURCH CORRESPONDENCE WAUSEON, OHIO (Tedrow Congregation) Dear Herald Readers: Our fall Mission- ary Meeting was held Nov. 25 with an all- day program. Bro. John Mosemann was the visiting speaker. He especially stressed the missionary needs all over the world today and the fact that every born-again Christian is an ambassador for Christ. In December Sister Marie Yoder spoke to us of her work in Puerto Rico, and on Dec. 23 the children of the church gave a line Christmas program with a chorus in charge of Sister Kathryn Aschliman. At the present time our pastor, Bro. Roy Sauder, with his wife and small son, John, are in Johnstown, Pa., for the six-week Bi- ble school. Although they are greatly missed here, we are glad they have this opportunity for further study from God’s Word. During Bro. Sauder’s absence we have been privileged to have a number of visiting brethren with us. On Jan. 6 Bro. Henry Wyse spoke in the forenoon and Bro. P. L. Frey in the evening service; on Jan. 13 Bro. Wyse Gra'ber and Bro. Walter Stuckey; on Jan. 20 Bro. Nelson Kanagy and his radio quartet from West Liberty were with us. Last Sunday, Jan. 27, Bro. Olen Nofziger spoke in the morning service, and in the eve- ning a young man from Formosa, a men’s quartet from Goshen College, and Bro. E. B. Frey from the Clinton congregation brought us a very interesting program. We are looking forward to our revival meetings which are planned to begin Feb. 17 in charge of Bro. Harry Shetler. Pray for these meetings that souls may be won for Christ and the church at this place be strengthened. Jan. 30, 1952. Mrs. Lester Miller. GUERNSEY, SASKATCHEWAN (Sharon Congregation) Greetings in Jesus’ name. Bro. Clarence Ramer, Duchess, Alta., conducted winter Bi- ble school here from Nov. 27 to Dec. 25. Bro. Ramer’s ministry was very much appreciat- ed; four young girls accepted Christ during the meetings. Several of our number are visiting in On- tario this winter. Among them is our deacon, Bro. Arnold Shantz, and family. But with the return of spring, we are looking forward to seeing them all again. Our gardens and crops were very plenti- ful this past summer, but due to very rainy harvest weather considerable grain was left standing in the field or is lying in the swath, waiting to be harvested in the spring. The weather has been fairly nice. We haven’t had much snow or many storms so far, and the roads in most places are open yet. Our church services are from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Sunday, and when the weath- er is not too cold we have Sunday evening meetings in the church or in private homes. Both of our ministers have been assisting in teaching winter Bible school. Bro. Stanley Shantz has been teaching winter Bible school in Duchess, Alta., for three weeks, but due to the death of one of our oldest sisters (Mrs. H. C. Shantz) came home Jan. 24 to assist in the funeral services. Then he returned to teach for three more weeks. Bro. Howard Snider assisted in teaching Bible school at Tofield, Alta., Dec. 5-20. He also helped to conduct Bible study classes at Bluesky, Alta. Mrs. Fred Bowman. TOLEDO, OHIO (West Bancroft Church) Dear Gospel Herald Readers: We have many reasons for which to praise our Lord. Our evangelistic meetings were held Dec. 2-9. Bro. John Gingrich from Elkhart, Ind., was our evangelist. There were seven con- verts during these meetings and these seven, with two who had previously confessed Christ as their Saviour, are receiving instruc- tion. These great blessings, as well as Bro. Gingrich’s sermons, have been of great spirit- ual uplift to the Christians at this place. Con- tinue to pray for us here, and especially for the young converts who fellowship with us. May God’s blessing be upon you. Feb. 1, 1952. Mary Pomeranz. BIRDSBORO, PENNSYLVANIA (Zion Mennonite Church) Greetings to all Herald Readers. Since our last correspondence from this place, a number of guest speakers have brought us interesting messages from God’s Word. Oct. 21, 1951, Sister Marta Quiroga, one of Bro. Hershey’s converts in Argentina, gave her testimony and a talk on conditions in Argentina. Our group was privileged to give Y.P.B.M. programs at Oley and Worcester, and to hold jail services at Allentown, Pa. In the evening of Nov. 8 we met for prep- aratory services at which time five were re- ceived into church membership. Sunday, Nov. 11, we observed communion with our pastor, T. K. Hershey, in charge. Nov. 17, 18 we had a missionary confer- ence with Harold Thomas from New York City as guest speaker. Dec. 16 Rachel Becker and Clarence Stoltz- fus were received as members in the church and on Dec. 22 they were united in marriage by our pastor, assisted by Bro. Homer Bom- berger. We had an inspiring prophecy conference Dec. 26-30 with John Burkholder, Elmer Moyer, Abner Stoltzfus, and J. Otis Yoder as speakers. We were reminded of the duty of the Christian in evangelizing the world. Carl and Louise Setzkarn returned home from their trip to Germany on Jan. 5. Carl told us of some of their experiences on Jan. 13. The folks he contacted seemed hungry for the Word of God. Jan. 22 our pastor and wife left for Tam- pa, Fla., where he is to hold a series of meet- ings at the Ybor mission. From there they expect to fly to Puerto Rico to contact Puer- to Rican laborers that worked in Pennsyl- vania last summer and attended Spanish services. Jan. 23, 1952. Mrs. Paul R. Yoder. BIRCH TREE, MISSOURI (Berea Congregation) Greetings to all Herald Readers. Since our last writing we have been blessed with vtsiting ministers. On Nov. 25, Bro. David Hathaway and family and his sister were here. Bro. Hathaway brought us messages both morning and evening. On Dec. 2 we held our fall communion service at which time our bishop, Bro. Ray- mond Hershberger, wife and son were with us. Dec. 23 Bro. Levi Schrock, his wife and daughter from Iowa were with us. We were glad for Bro. Schrock’s messages. The same evening a Christmas program was given by the Sunday-school children. Dec. 27 Bro. T. C. Yoder and his sister, Sarah Yoder, worshiped with us at our pray- er meeting. On Dec. 30 Bro. and Sister Albert Miller were with us. Several needy families were remembered by Sunday-school classes at Christmas time. Next Thursday evening we are begin- ning a mission study class. We will study Japan. The new officers for church services are as follows: Mission Board member, Arthur Ebersole; Chor., Alice Detwiler and Natalie Hines; Cor., Mary Ann Ebersole; Y.P.B.M. Chairman, Esther Detwiler. Sister Nellie Hines has been very sick, but at this writing is much better, for which we thank the Lord. On Jan. 13 there were dedication services for the new hospital at Mountain View, Mo. We are thankful to have a good hospital so close. Jan. 25, 1952. Mary I. Detwiler. COLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO (First Mennonite Church) Dear Readers: A boys’ club has been or- ganized in this congregation to teach young boys some useful work and to keep them off the streets or from going places that are not conducive to Christian growth. Bro. and Sister Earl Yeackley of Thurman, Colo., gave talks in our church in connection with the series of Y.P.B.M. topics on the separated life. Marie Yoder, a missionary on furlough from Puerto Rico, was here and gave an il- lustrated talk on mission work in Puerto Rico. The part of her talk referring to the overcoming life of the Puerto Rican converts was especially appreciated. Early in January we had a day set apart for prayer in connection with our need for a revival. An endeavor was made to have special prayer for each family that attends services at this church. These meetings were fairly well attended. Jan. 22, 1952. Melva Brunk. 188 GOSPEL HERALD February 19, 1992 FIELD NOTES (Continued) Pa., at Tampa, Fla.; Andrew Jantzi, Marilla, N.Y., at Pinecraft, Sarasota, Fla.; Ray F. Yo- der, Nappanee, Ind., at Howard-Miami. Kokomo, Ind.; Edward Kenagy, Hubbard, Oreg., at La Junta, Colo.; Ezra Stauffer, To- field, Alta., at Zion, Hubbard, Oreg., Marlin Seitz, Slate Hill, Pa., at Steelton, Pa.; William G. Detweiler and Calvary Hour Trio at Mohican Church of the Brethren, Lattisburg, Ohio; Paul W. Histand, Langhorne, Pa., ac- companied by five J.B.S. students, at Mason- town, Pa.; John Stoll, Pleasant Lake, N. Dak., at Benton, Ind. Feb. 10: FL R. Schertz, Metamora, 111., at Robein Sunday School, Roanoke, 111. Feb. 17: William G. Detweiler and Calvary Hour Trio at Fairpoint, Ohio. Evangelistic Meetings Howard Hammer, Apple Creek, Ohio, at Freeport, 111., April 18-26. Roy S. Koch, St. Jacobs, Ont., at Eastern Mennonite College Feb. 17-24. Milo Kauffman, Hesston, Kans., at Clinton Brick Church, Goshen, Ind., Feb. 17-24. MISSION NEWS (Continued) Bro. and Sister T. K. Hershey and Bro. Homer Bomberger and his father from Lan- caster County, Pa., arrived in Puerto Rico, Feb. 7. Brethren Hershey and Bomberger are contacting the Puerto Ricans who have accepted Christ in the summer of 1951 at the Spanish meetings held in Lancaster County for the laborers from the Island. Paul Roupp, Hesston, Kans., was in Kan- sas City on Jan. 19 making preliminary draw- ings for the remodeling of the second floor of the east part of the main building at Men- nonite Children’s Home. A funeral service was held at the Calvary Church, La Plata, Puerto Rico, Feb. 3 for Sis- ter Adinn Rodriguez. She was baptized at La Plata Nov. 4, 1951. Sister Rodriguez, mother of ten children living, left a testi- mony of joy and peace and a request to sing the hymns of church at her funeral. Sister Margaret Kreider announces that the address for the Jewish work of Richmond is changed from 1601 Hanover Ave., to 6773 Dartmouth Ave., (Crestview), Richmond 26, Va. Bro. Paul Lauver, on furlough from Puer- to Rico, will speak at Freeport, 111., April 26. Bro. Robert Garber, recently ordained for missionary work in Ethiopia, spoke at Mel- linger’s Church, Lancaster, Pa., on Feb. 3 and at Landisville on Feb. 10. Bro. Rudy Stauffer, Mission Bishop of Ohio, spoke at Wadsworth, Ohio, on Feb. 10 concerning the plans of the Ohio Missions Board for work in southern Ohio. Newly elected officers of the Argentine Mennonite Mission are William Hallman, Pres.; Amos Swartzentruber, Sec.-Treas.; and J. H. Koppenhaver, Corresponding Secy. Bro. IL Raymond Charles, Lancaster, Pa., spoke at the Mission Conference at E.M.C. on Feb. 3. Bro. LeRoy Kennel, Shickley, Nebr., was appointed acting superintendent of the Iowa City Mission, Iowa City, Iowa, in an impres- sive service on Feb. 3. The service was in charge of D. J. Fisher, Bishop, and LeRoy B. Miller, Vice-chairman of the District Mis- sion Board. Bro. Kennel’s address is 728 Oakland Ave. Sister Marie Naffziger, Crystal Springs, Kans., is Director of Nursing at the Greens- burg, Kans., Hospital since Jan. 1. Sister Alta Mae Shetler, Kalona, Iowa, has been trans- ferred from the service unit at La Junta to Greensburg. CORRESPONDENCE (Continued) FAIR VIEW, MICHIGAN Dear Herald Readers: Our winter Bible school opened Jan. 7 with a smaller enroll- ment than last year. To date 92 have en- rolled. A Christian Life Conference at the mid- dle of the term, Jan. 26 and 27, was very well attended. The school and home folks en- joyed the presence of a large number of visitors from other congregations in Michi- gan and Indiana. Bro. Etril Leinbach from Moore Park was guest speaker. The theme of the conference was “Be Ye Witnesses.” Brother Leinbach brought us four very searching messages on different phases of witnessing. Bro. Ray Yoder from the Salem congrega- tion near Wakarusa, Ind., was the evan- gelist in a five-day series of revival meetings from Jan. 13 to 17. Many reconsecrated their lives to more faithful service. Bro. Yoder al- so conducted morning devotions for the school during his stay here. The evening of Dec. 30 was given to Menno and Delilah (Troyer) Chupp who had just returned from their term of service in Ethiopia. We enjoyed hearing of their ex- periences very much. While they were here they also showed pictures of their work to two different groups. Our annual business meeting was held Dec. 31. The following were elected. Trust- ee, Ellsworth Handrich; summer Bible school comm., Harvey Handrich, Harold Sharp, and Emerson Yordy; Mission Board mem- bers, Otis Bontrager, Harvey Handrich, and Ira Kauffman; Chor., Ira Esch; Business Manager of winter Bible school, Oren Det- weiler. Not Charity, but Brotherhood A mutual plan of sharing hospitalization, surgical, or burial aid benefits. Parents' membership includes all children up to the age of eighteen. Write for further information. MENNONITE AID, INC. 1413 South Eighth Street Goshen, Indiana Bro. Lloyd Miller will be ordained soon (D.V.) for work in the Upper Peninsula. Lloyd is Sunday-school superintendent, and we shall miss them very much. We pray that the blessings of the Lord may attend them as they go forth in their new field of service. Bro. John Handrich, who is serving in a service unit in a Kansas City hospital, was home for a week and gave us a very interest- ing account of the work there. Jan. 28, 1952. Nettie Detweiler. GLADYS, VIRGINIA Dear Herald Readers: Since June of the past year, Milton Hostetler, formerly of Greenwood, Del., has been called to take charge of the church with the assistance of C. L. Ressler. At the present time all our church services are held in a large hall at the home of C. L. Ressler until further arrangements are made for a church building. During October our evangelistic meetings were held in a heated tent for two weeks. They were conducted by Bros. Noah Miller, Middlefield, Ohio, and Jacob Berky, Spartans- burg, Pa. On several occasions special music was rendered by visitors from various Men- nonite churches who attended our meetings. The services were well attended by non- Mennonite people from the community. Some are attending our regular church services now, too. Two groups went to the various non-Men- nonite homes to sing Christmas carols which were gratefully accepted. A total of about twenty homes were visited. On Christmas Day a program was given by the Sunday-school classes followed by a talk by Bro. Milton Hostetler. Gifts were given to the children after the close of the service. Bro. and Sister Willis C. Glick and family, Elverson, Pa., moved to a farm near Rust- burg, Va., Dec. 1, 1951. Four of the family were received into the church Jan. 6, 1952. Church services are held every Sunday: Sunday school at 10:00, preaching at 11:00, and Sunday evening meeting at 7:45. Visi- tors are always welcome at any time — in our church services and in our homes. Jan. 28. 1952. Gwendolyn Zehr. GOSHEN, INDIANA (Yellow Creek Congregation) Dear Herald Readers: On Oct. 7 installa- tion services were held for the following Sunday-school officers: Supt., Curtis Hoover; Sec.-Treas., Doris Hartman; Chor., John L. Weaver; Jr. Supt., Herbert Maust; Pri. Supt., Annabel Christophel. On the morning of Oct. 14, our bishop, Bro. Ray F. Yoder, conducted counsel meet- ing, and Bro. and Sister Peter Wiebe were received as members of our congregation. In the afternoon, ordination services were held for Bro. Peter Wiebe, who was ordained to serve as pastor of our congregation. The fol- lowing Sunday morning we observed our annual fall communion service. Our pastor, Bro. R. R. Smucker, held re- vival meetings at Martinsburg, Pa., Nov. 8-18. Our revival meetings were held Dec. 2-9 with Bro. J. J. Hostetler of Canton, Ohio, as the evangelist. Souls were stirred, and one renewed fellowship with God; eleven young people accepted Christ and are now receiving instructions from our pastor before being tak- en into church fellowship by baptism. Our Missionary Day speakers were Bro. Peter Wiebe and Bro. and Sister Don Mc- Cammon. (Continued on next page) February 19, 1952 189 CORRESPONDENCE (Continued) At Christmas the sewing circles gave plates of fruit to the aged and shut-ins of our com- munity. Our mission station, Fish Lake, has an average attendance of 36. An instruction class of seven or eight are being taught by our pastor, Bro. R. R. Smucker. Remember this place in your prayers. fan. 31, 1952. Vera Culp. FILER, IDAHO The revival meetings in early December, led by Bro. Milton Brackbill, Paoli, Pa., con- tinue to be reflected in many of our services. References are frequently made to truths giv- en and interpretations of Scripture which have been a blessing. The following week Bro. E. S. Garber, Nampa, Idaho, conducted a very refreshing communion service. The following officers were elected for 1952 in our annual business meeting on New Year’s Day: Mod., Leland Shetler; Sec., Wil- bur Holderead; Treas., Clifford Slatter; Conf. M.B.M., Menno Nussbaum; Real Estate Board, foe Miller; Managing Board, Dan Shank; Chor., Beulah Kauffman; Asst., James Miller; children’s meeting leader, Lydia Schiffler; Asst., Lucy Miller; junior meeting leader, Wilbur Holderead; Asst., Beulah Kauffman; Y.P.B.M. leader, Robert Miller; summer Bible school, Clifford Slatter; Librar- ians, Helen Reeder, Irene Coons; Mission Supt., Alvin Kauffman; Christian workers’ Conference delegates, Alvin Kauffman, Le- land Shetler; Church Conference delegates, Jerry Gingerich, John Miller; prayer meeting leader, Alvin Kauffman; Correspondent, S. Honderich; Ushers, Charles Reeder, Dan Kauffman, Junior Roth. At this writing our Sunday morning serv- ices are devoted to messages on “The Revela- tion of Jesus Christ Which God Gave unto Him,” using the chart edited by the late J. B. Smith as a help. The return of Joan and Joyce Miller, John Nussbaum, and other visiting students from Hesston College over the holiday vacation added much to the joy of the season. S. Honderich. COLUMBIANA, OHIO This morning the sun is shining brightly. How changeable the weather can be! Last night we had heavy rains again. The past weeks have had above normal temperatures, with an unusual amount of rain. From all reports we hear other sections of the country too have had unusual weather conditions. And I suppose we should be thankful that we have not had floods and snowbound con- ditions. There has been some sickness, although nothing of an epidemic nature. Mrs. J. A. Burkholder, Sr., is in the hospital at present. Mrs. Lauren Bowman is ill at the home of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Arden Lehman, Greenford, Ohio. William Howell, who is suffering from arthritis, is home from the hospital and shows slight improvement. Mrs. Zorado Lehman is ill at the home of her daughter, Mrs. John Detwiler. GOSPEL HERALD The Christmas season which is just past brought with it the usual special meetings — chorus programs and union meetings. The mixed chorus from the Midway Church gave a program at their home church and at the Kidron, Ohio, Church. The three churches in this community each had a series of evangelistic meetings: at the North Lima Church, A. C. Good from Sterling, 111.; Leetonia Church, Aaron Mast, Belleville, Pa.; at the Midway Church, Nel- son Kauffman, Hannibal, Mo. Paul Yoder, pastor of the Midway Church, has sold his farm and will move in the near future to the new home they have built near the church. A number of young folks from this com- munity are attending the six weeks’ Bible school at Canton. They are David and Wil- bur Yoder, Emerson Blosser, Ellis Detwiler, and Ardith Cullar. Marjorie Witmer, six-year-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Enos Witmer of the Wisler Mennonite Church, was permitted to come home from the Children’s Hospital in Akron, Ohio, for Christmas Day. Marjorie has been in the hospital since May 14 recovering from severe burns on most of her body, resulting when her apron caught fire on an electric stove. She returned the same day to the hos- pital where doctors think she will need to spend an additional twelve months. Jan. 18, 1952. Mrs. Paul Yoder. WICHITA, KANSAS (Eureka Gardens Mennonite Church) Dear Christian Friends: When Bro. Merle Benders were called to Hesston in the middle of August, Bro. Leo J. Millers took their place here. Bro. Miller was ordained as our min- ister the first Sunday in September. Bro. Roman Hershberger was appointed superin- tendent of the Sunday school. He, with his wife and baby, drives down from Hesston almost every Sunday. What had been the mission home for sev- eral years really became mission property when the South Central Mission Board bought it from Bro. Allen White in October. Friends who love the Lord have made this possible. Our weekly schedule is much the same as it was when Bro. Merle’s were in charge. Each Tuesday evening we have Bible study and prayer meeting in the church. At this time we are studying the Gospel of Luke. Every other Thursday evening a class in crafts meets in the mission home. While Bro. Leo and his wife supervise this work, some girls who work in Wichita also help. Stanley Kuhns and Marvin Beare use their cars to bring in children and young people. Each Saturday Bro. Leo takes the church bulletin to the homes. Even the children watch for him to come with the new bulletin. Our Sunday school rendered an interesting program the Sunday evening before Christ- mas. Through the holiday season we were well remembered with gifts. Every one was appreciated. On New Year’s Eve the church group was invited to come to the mission home and watch the new year come in. The Millers made it plain that small children should come only if their parents came with them. The telephone was pretty busy that evening; children whose parents couldn’t come, won- dered whether an aunt or close neighbor would do as a substitute. The partition was pushed back early, and the large living room was well filled. One little girl was delighted to see her mother take her turn at being “Poor Pussy.” Twelve o’clock came while we were having a devotional service. We wished each other a Happy New Year in an orderly way. After our guests returned to their homes we had the sweet consciousness that the new year was begun in a Christian way. I doubt whether even Sam Hoskins would have seen many points in the evening’s procedure that should have been different. As is true at other places, so we here have both joys and sorrows. Shortly after the Mil- lers came, Mr. Girton, a barber who lived near our church, passed away. His wife asked that the funeral service be held in our church. Late in November Janet Harris, one of our little Sunday-school girls, was hit by a truck on her way home from kindergarten. Her funeral was a week later. This morning an- other call came to Bro. Leo to preach a fu- neral sermon. A mother who has been ill for a long time passed away. This is doubly sad because a son who was in an auto accident is also in the hospital. These people live by the side of the basement where our services used to be conducted. We covet vour prayers as we work for the Lord in Wichita. The address of the mission home is 632 S. Millwood. If any of you can come to visit us, you will surely be welcome. Jan. 17, 1952. Margaret Horst. SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON (Continued) the Lord could make Barnabas the co-opera- tive worker he was. If only, today, we had more leaders who would decrease for “a greater than” to increase. “Determined to send relief ... by the hands of Barnabas . . . .” Perhaps the com- mon treasury method in the Jerusalem church had failed, but bighearted Barnabas gave and took relief. His congregation gave too. “Separate me Barnabas and Saul.” How obedient was Barnabas to go on to “utter- most parts” ! What love for the unsaved ! “To send chosen men unto you with our beloved Barnabas.” It was when he was sent as an official delegate from Antioch to the council at Jerusalem that Barnabas got this precious title. Why was Barnabas sent? What influence do you suppose he had in the mak- ing of the decision sent to Antioch? Love for the Gentiles and Jews, love for the greater than he, love for the church, love for the unsaved, love for the poor — this love was what made Barnabas such a great or- dinary man. And all because he was filled with the Spirit of God and Jesus. Such love is the outstanding characteristic of a true follower of Jesus. — Alta Mae Erb. Lesson based on "International Sunday School Les- sons: the International Bible Lessons for Christian Teaching," copyrighted 1951 by the Division of Chris- tian Education National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. 190 GOSPEL HERALD February 19, 1952 BIRTHS Bachman. — To Russel and Feme (Imhoff) Bachman, Metamora, 111., a daughter, Janet Marie, Jan. 18, 1952. Baer. — To Joseph F. and Catherine (Neu- houser) Baer, Marilla, N.Y., a son, Joseph N., Jan. 19. 1952. „ /TT . . Benner.— To Merrill and Sara (Heebner) Benner, Souderton, Pa., a daughter, Linda Susan, Jan. 13, 1952. Breneman. — To Albert and Mary Jane (Hess) Breneman. Manheim, Pa., a fourth daughter, Harriet Hess, Jan. 1, 1952. Diller. — To Allen S. and Lillian Pauline (Jantz) Diller, Hesston, Kans., a daughter, Vivian Kay, (one brother), Jan. 27, 1952. Eby. — To Jonas E. and Marie (Showalter) Eby, Big Spring, Md., a son, Jonas Elbert, Jr., Jan. 23, 1952. Frey. — To Harold and Ruth (Snavely) Frey, Lebanon, Pa., a son, Dennis Lamar, Jan. 30, 1952. Gascho. — To Edwin and Edna (Miller) Gascho, Fairview, Mich., a son, John, Jan. 27, 1952. , , . , Geil. — To Earline and Betty Jo (Hawkins) Geil, Gulfport, Miss., a daughter, Catherine Sue, Jan. 17, 1952. . Gerlach. — To Willis H. and Catherine (Mel- linger) Gerlach. Mt. Joy. Pa., a daughter, Lois Jean, (second child), Feb. 4, 1952. Holsopple. — To Paul and Mary Jane (Short) Holsopple, Pettisvilie. Ohio, a daughter, Gay- lene Ann. Feb. 5, 1952. Hostetler. — To Marvin and Bertha (Eigsti) Hostetler, Roanoke, 111., a son, Marvin Duane, Jan. 21. 1952. Hostetler. — To Willie and Wilma (Kropf) Hostetler, Tampico, 111., a son, Arlin Lee, Jan. 29 1952. Kauffman. — To Curtis and Verna (Headings) Kauffman. Tampico, 111., a daughter, Ila Joane, Jan. 4, 1952. Kennel. — To Vernon and Shirley (Noel) Ken- nel, Bruning, Nebr., a daughter, Diane Kay, Jan. 6, 1952. King— To Sam and Esther (Nofziger) King, Albany. Oreg., a daughter, Jewel Leann, Dec. 14. 1951. Kurtz. — To Stephen M. and Vera (Stolfzfus) Kurtz. Morgantown, Pa., a son, James Eldon, Jan. 23, 1952. _ Landis. — To Paul R. and Evelyn (Wenger) Landis, Lancaster, Pa., a son, James Lawrence, Jan. 12, 1952. % Lehman. — To Harvey M. and Vera (Frey) Lehman, Chambersburg, Pa., a son, Donald Ray, Jan. 7, 1952. Martin. — To H. James and Ann (Swartzen- druber) Martin, Goshen. Ind., a daughter, Bar- bara Elaine. Jan. 25, 1952. Maust. — To Elmer and Marie (Swartzendru- ber) Maust, Bay Port, Mich., a daughter, Margie Ann. Dec. 20, 1951. Miller. — To Max and Marv (Hunsberger) Miller, Gulfport, Miss., a daughter, Carol Joyce, Dec. 13, 1951. Schertz. — To Eugene and Orpha (Bachman) Schertz, Metamora, 111., a son, Larry Gene, Dec. 31, 1951. Selzer. — To Merle and Lois (Nitzsche) Selzer, Canton, Kans., a son, Robert Merle, Jan. 20, 1952. Shenlt. — To Charles and Ruth (Frey) Shenk, Scottdale, Pa., a daughter, Gloria Jeanne, (one brother), Feb. 3, 1952. Shoemaker. — To Eugene and Eda (Eigsti) Shoemaker. Dakota, 111., twin sons, Jerrold Lynn and Ronald Lee, Jan. 31, 1952. Smoker. — To Arthur E. and Dorothy (Malin) Smoker, Malvern, Pa., a son, Robert Elvin, (3 brothers), Jan. 21, 1952. Sommer. — To Wayne and Joanne (Reber) Sommer, Foosland, 111., a son, Michael Wayne, Jan. 26, 1952. Thomas. — To Leon Myer and Jean (Miller) Thomas, Willow Street, Pa., a third child, a daughter, Nadine Louise, Feb. 2, 1952. Wenger. — To Daryl L. and Alice (Sutter) Wenger, Goshen, Ind., a daughter, Kay Marie, Dec. 31, 1951. Wenger. — To Samuel, Jr., and Velma (Burck- hart) Wenger, Orrville, Ohio, a son, Richard Dale, (one sister), Jan. 1, 1952. Yoder. — To Thomas E. and Doris (Mayer) Yoder, Table Rock, Pa., a son. Galen Ray, Dec. 27, 1951. MARRIAGES Bauman — Heistand. — Aaron Elvin Bauman, Kauffman congregation, Manheim, Pa., and Marian Elizabeth Heistand, Manheim congre- gation, Manheim, Pa., by Homer Bomberger at the Manheim Church, Jan. 19, 1952. Cullar — Goering.— John Allen Cullar, Mid- way congregation, Columbiana, Ohio, and Lillie Goering, Eden congregation. Moundridge. Kans., at the Eden Mennonite Church, Nov. 23. 1951. Frey — Louden. — Freeman Frey and Donna Louden, both of the Sharon congregation. Plain City, Ohio, by Abram Kaufman. Dec. 28, 1951. Hunsberger — Byer. — Wilson Hunsberger, Wa- terloo, Ont., and Edith Gertrude Byer, Mark- ham, Ont., by J. B. Martin, at the home of the bride, Sept. 22. 1951. Kandel — Schroek. — Roman Kandel, Dundee, Ohio, and Susie Schrock, Sugarcreek, Ohio, by Paul R. Miller, Jan. 24, 1952. Keller — Gehman. — Arden Landis Keller, Franconia congregation, Franconia, Pa., and Shirley Gehman, Rocky Ridge congregation, Quakertown, Pa., by Abram K. Landis, at the home of the bride, Dec. 24, 1951. Landis — Stoltzfus. — Howard G. Landis. Mel- linger congregation, and Lydia Ann Stoltzfus, Stumptown congregation, Bird-in-Hand, Pa., by Elmer G. Martin at the home of the bride, Jan. 26. 1952. Simmons — Wharton. — Paul E. Simmons and Bertha M. Wharton, both of Lebanon, Pa., by Homer Bomberger. Jan. 5, 1952. Weaver — Hershberger. — Joe E. Weaver, Mar- tins Creek congregation, Millersburg, Ohio, and Abbie Hershberger, Burton congregation, by Paul R. Miller, Jan. 28, 1952. Wyse — Stuckey. — Mahlon C. Wyse, Central congregation. Archbold, Ohio, and Valeria Stuckey, Lockport congregation, Stryker, Ohio, by Henry Wyse, father of the groom, at the Lockport Church, Dec. 25. 1951. Yoder — Kuhns. — Chris Yoder, Arthur congre- gation, Arthur. 111., and Katie Kuhns, Sharon congregation. Plain City, Ohio, by Abram Kauf- man, Jan. 27, 1952. Yoder — Weaver.— Dan R. Yoder and Marilyn Weaver, both of the Walnut Creek Mennonite Church, Walnut Creek. Ohio, by Paul R. Mil- ler, Jan. 19, 1952. OBITUARIES Blosser. — Ada Virginia, second of a family of 15 children, was born to Martin A. and Kate L. (Shank) Layman, Jan. 7, 1877, near Har- risonburg. Va.; departed this life in her home at South English, Iowa, Jan. 10, 1952; aged 75 y. 3 d. In her youth she accepted Christ and united with the Mennonite Church. Jan. 9, 1902, she was united in marriage to Perry J. Blosser of Concord, Tenn. Soon after marriage she and her companion moved to Tennessee, where they lived for two and one-half years and then returned again to Virginia. In 1906 they moved to the community near South Eng- lish, Iowa, where they have lived to the present. Nine children were born into this home. She leaves her husband and 8 children, the oldest son (Wilmer Dewitt) having preceded her in death. The children who survive are: Abbie, at home; Aquila, Dixon, 111.; Dwight, Well- man, Iowa; Menno, Parnell, Iowa; Oren. South English, Iowa; Mary Kate (Mrs. Oren Yoder), Parnell, Iowa ; Eugene, Goshen, Ind. ; Amos, Norristown, Pa. She also leaves 18 grandchil- dren and 9 brothers and sisters : Lydia (Mrs. James Shank), Dayton. Va. ; Michael, Harri- sonburg, Va.; John. Denbigh, Va. ; Hannah Mrs. Joe Brunk), Harrisonburg, Va. ; Ottilia Mrs. Luther Bowman), Roy, and Della (Mrs. Walter Hartman), Harrisonburg. Va. ; Isa (Mrs. Emory Coakley), Norfolk, Va. ; Weaver, Dale Enterprise, Va. Four brothers and one sister preceded her in death : Charlie, Joe, Byard, Emory, and Abbie (Mrs. Dan Shank). Memories are precious as we think of her as a devoted companion and a patient loving Mother. Her meek conscientious spirit, besides being an inspiration to her children and a Godly influence in the home, filled a vital place in the life of her husband with his responsibili- ties as a Christian minister. The morning of Jan. 9, the date of their fiftieth wedding anni- versary, her companion was unable to arouse ! her, a cerebral hemorrhage rendering her un- conscious. During the day she rallied slightly, but steadily grew weaker and the following day left this earthly tabernacle to be with her Lord. Funeral services were in charge of Simon Ging- erich assisted by J. Y. Swartzendruber and Silas Horst. Following is a selection she had chosen to share with the family on the day of their anniversary. “Peaceful Harbor’’ It has been many years since my husband and I embarked upon the Sea of Matrimony. Like most marriages, ours had its share of storms. Through it all we have kept our lives clean and have kept working at our marriage, each giving, taking, and most of all. adjusting. Now our family is gone from home, but in- stead of emptiness which we feared would come, we found companionship and love such as we had never known. At the time when we needed it most our ship has come into a peace- ful harbor. In order for a marriage to be suc- cessful it has to be worked at. The happiness and joys you find in a peaceful harbor are worth working for and waiting for. Souls shall be ever with the Lord : therefore the richest part of our life is still ahead of us. Christophel. — Jesse, son of Daniel and Anna (Wenger) Christophel, was born in Jackson Twp., Elkhart Co., Ind., June 23, 1886; was killed instantly while on his way to work Dec. 20. 1951 ; aged 65 y. 5 m. 27 d. On April 26, 1913, he was united in marriage to Naomi Culp. To this union were born 3 sons (Paul, Timothy, and James) and 2 daughters (Ruth and Es- ther). His daughter Esther preceded him in death. In early manhood he united with the Salem Mennonite Church, remaining faithful unto the end. Surviving him besides his sorrow- ing companion and children are one sister (Mrs. S. B. Metzler, Wakarusa. Ind.), 2 broth- ers (Enos, Goshen, Ind. ; and Wesley, Elkhart, Ind.), one grandson, and many other relatives and friends. Funeral services were held on Dec. 23 in charge of R. F. Yoder assisted by F. E. Freed. Deiter. — Elmer Frank, son of the late Harry and Lizzie (Shulty) Deiter, was born near Hessdale. Strasburg Twp., Lancaster County, Pa., on Feb. 21. 1903 ; passed away at the St. Joseph’s Hospital, Lancaster, Pa., Aug. 12, 1951 ; aged 48 y. 6 m. 9 d. At the age of 14 he accepted Christ as his Saviour, and was a faithful member of the Mennonite Church until death. He attended both the New Providence and Willow Street Mennonite Churches. He was united in marriage to Esther Mary Witmer on Feb. 21, 1923, and lived at Lampeter, Pa., until 1944 when he moved to Clearfield. He leaves his companion, Esther Mary (Witmer) Deiter, 4 sons (Mervin W., Lititz, Pa. ; Robert H., Ronks. Pa.; Paul W. and Elvin R. at home), 3 daughters (A. Irene. Anna E., and M. Joyce, at home), one grandchild, 2 sisters (Mrs. Abram Metzler, Strasburg. Pa., and Mrs. Raymond Brubaker, Ephrata, Pa.), his step- mother, 2 half-brothers, and many other rela- tives and friends. Funeral services were held at the home Aug. 15. 1951, with Rev. James Siegrist in charge, and at the Willow Street Mennonite Church with Jacob T. Harnish, John Brenneman, and Emory Herr in charge. Inter- ment was made in the adjoining cemetery. Hackman. — Sarah F., daughter of the late Jacob and Sarah (Frederick) Gehman, was born Jan. 17, 1896, in Franconia. Pa.; died sud- denly in her home Dec. 25, 1951 ; aged 55 y. II m. 8 d. She was married Feb. 3, 1917, to Samuel Hackman who several years ago became deacon of the Franconia Mennonite Church of which both were members. Surviving are her husband, 4 brothers (Jacob, Aaron, Isaac, and Paul), and 2 foster children (Clayton Detwiler, Dublin, Pa., and Alma — Mrs. Samuel Derstine, Souderton, Pa.). Funeral services were held Dec. 29 in the Franconia Mennonite Church with Elwood Derstine and Menno Souder offici- ating. Interment was made in the adjoining cemetery. Lee. — Theophilus B., son of Quaker parents T. Riley and Ruth Allen Lee, Friendsville, Tenn., was born Oct. 6. 1865; died Nov. 16. 1951 ; aged 86 y. 1 m. 10 d. He was united in marriage 57 years ago to Kate Neuhauser of Concord. Tenn., and in this community they reared their family of 2 sons and 2 daughters. He was a faithful attendant of the Concord Mennonite Church and taught a Sunday-school class there for years. Later the family moved to Slidell, La., where Mr. Lee was employed in the Neuhauser Bros. Store. On Nov. 3 he fell while at work in the store, fracturing his skull. February 19, 1952 GOSPEL HERALD 191 He died Nov. 16. He was preceded in death by a daughter (Katherin). Surviving him besides his widow are 2 sons (Joe R., Slidell, La., and John W., Whiteriver, Ariz.), one daughter (Ruth, Slidell, La.), one brother, one sister, 5 grandchildren, and 2 great-grandchildren. Fu- neral services were held in the home Nov. 18 with M. H. Fields, Slidell, La., officiating. In- terment was made in the Greenwood Cemetery. “T.B.” as he was known to his many friends, died as he lived, quietly and confidently. His consistent, faithful Christian life was appre- ciated by all who knew him. He was a “Friend” in deed as well as in name. Saltzinan. — Richard Elwood, son of William and Rosa (Kennel) Saltzinan, was born Oct. 1, 1931, at Limon, Colo. : died Dec. 27, 1951, at the Colorado General Hospital at Denver, Colo. ; aged 20 y. 2 m. 27 d. He was struck with Polio when but six months old and had been an in- valid most of his life. At the age of 14 he accepted Christ as his personal Saviour and was baptized and became a member of the Mennonite Church of Limon. One brother (James Olin) preceded him in death. He leaves to mourn his departure his parents, 2 brothers (Dale, Nampa, Idaho, and Larry Dean, Limon, Colo.), 8 sisters (Dorothy Svalberg, Denver, Colo. ; Mabel Oyler, Diamond Springs, Calif. ; Mildred Catlin, Manzanola, Colo. ; Ethel Yoder, Limon, Colo.; Inez Bryan, Monticello, Utah; Juanita Manis, Independence, Mo.; Rosella Darling, Long Beach, Calif. ; and Melba Ann, Limon, Colo.), one grandmother and one grand- father, 11 nieces and 12 nephews, besides a large circle of other relatives and friends. Funeral services wei'e held Dec. 31 at the Limon Mennonite Church in charge of E. E. Showalter assisted by Val Swartzendruber. Interment was in the Limon Mennonite Cemetery. Snavely. — Daniel B., son of the late Abraham and Annie (Brubaker) Snavely, was born April 25, 1865; died Nov. 22, 1951 at the home of his son ; aged 86 y. 27 d. He was united in marriage to Barbara Bucher. To this union were born 4 children, 3 of whom preceded him in death. He is survived by one son (Am- mon B., Manheim, Pa.), 8 grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren, 2 sisters, and one brother. He was a member of the Erb Mennonite Church at Lititz, Pa. Funeral services were held at the Hernley Church, Manheim, Pa., in charge of Joseph Boll and Homer Bomberger. Burial was in the adjoining cemetery. Stauffer. — Nancy B., daughter of Elias M. and Rebecca (Bauman) Gingrich, was born Feb. 22, 1910 ; passed away Dec. 19, 1951, at her home in Ephrata ; aged 41 y. 9 m. 27 d. On Oct. 27, 1928, she was united in marriage to Adam R. Stauffer. Surviving her are her husband, 4 daughters (Joanna — Mrs. Noah Zimmerman, Myerstown ; Erma — Mrs. Phares Martin, Ephrata ; and Lucinda and Violet at home), 2 sons (Leon and Elias at home), her parents, 6 sisters, and 3 brothers. She was a member of the Mennonite Church from her youth. Funeral services were held at the home in charge of Menno B. Weaver, and at the Springville Mennonite Church in charge of Henry W. Martin and Joseph O. Weaver. In- terment was made in the adjoining cemetery. Wenger. — John .1., son of the late Isaac and Lydia (Brenneman) Wenger, was born Nov. 16, 1866, at Wenger’s Mill, Va. ; died Nov. 13, 1951 ; aged 84 y. 11 m. 27 d. He attended pub- lic school in Rockingham County and college at Goshen, lnd. Following his marriage to Ida Nellie Bury Aug. 23, 1899, they made their home at the Wenger homestead. Then they sold it to devote their time more fully to Chris- tian service. He served as the first business manager of Eastern Mennonite College. His wife preceded him in death in 1944, and since then he has been living in Park View., He was the last surviving member of the family, but 2 foster children and a great number of nieces and nephews mourn his departure. Funeral services were held Nov. 16 at the Lindale Church in charge of J. R. Mumaw assisted by B. Charles Hostetter and J. L. Stauffer. Burial was in the family lot in the near-by cemetery. Zimmerman. — Ruth M„ wife of Joseph Zim- merman, was born April 19, 1898; departed this life Dec. 23, 1951, at the Lancaster Gen- eral Hospital ; aged 53 y. 8 m. 4 d. She is sur- vived by her sorrowing husband, one daughter (Rachel Forrey), one son (Simon), 2 grand- children, and one sister (Grace — Mrs. Ben Zimmerman). Funeral services were held on Dec. 27 at the Stauffer Mennonite Church of which she was a member. Bro. Noah Risser, Zylvian Myers and Frank Carper were in charge. The text used for the sermon was of her own choosing, Jn. 14 :3, “I will come again." Interment was made in Goods Cemetery. THE BOOK SHELF The Life of the Apostle Paul, by Albert Barnes; Baker; 1950; 496 pp.; $3.50. The title of this book in its early publica- tion was “Scenes and Incidents in the Life of the Apostle Paul,” which to the reviewer seems to be the better title, for the author goes into detail to explain causes and results of incidents as well as the philosophy of re- ligion in such cases. This volume is a re- print, having been quite popular in earlier days, and in these days of apostasy is a time- ly book. As stated on the jacket, it is a “scholarly and highly readable delineation of the history and character of the apostle.” Mr. Barnes had spent one year in the study of law when he was converted and felt such a keen sense of responsibility as a Christian that he prepared for the ministry. Being a hard worker, exact, honest, and very devout, he was well qualified to write his twenty volumes of commentary on different parts of the Bible, better known as Barnes Notes on the Old and New Testament. This volume of the life of the great apostle shows minute and untiring preparation. The book is clearly written, but in quite some detail, and one is inclined to feel at first that it is a little “wordy,” but as one studies and follows the great mind of this diligent author, one appreciates the details more and more as the book is read. One might take exception to a few state- ments, though not enough to warrant its re- jection. On page 99 he indicates that “the merchant, the artisan, the mariner, the soldier, the man of letters or science should be able to make it clear to his own con- science that his is the course of life in which his Maker intended that he should walk”; which may indicate that he had no conscience on service in the armed forces; yet later he says that if all nations would follow the Chris- tian philosophy of life there would be no need for armies and warfare (p. 248). On the point of “Calvinism” he indicates his belief in God’s sovereignty and His execu- tion of the plan of salvation in strict accord with His plan (p. 399) and in speaking of apostasies he says, “If there had been seem- ing [the word ‘seeming’ in italics] apostasies, even these have been extremely rare . . . .” Throughout the book the author attempts to bring to mind the reasons for Paul’s ac- tions and the responses of his hearers. The reviewer feels that the book is of great value and could be read with profit by Sun- day-school workers and Bible students. It is a classic of high order. — A. Lloyd Swartzen- druber. God Remembers, A Study of the Book of Zechariah, by Charles L. Feinberg; Van Kampen Press, 1950; 283 pp.; $3.00. Mr. Feinberg gives to the field of Biblical interpretation a fine, well-written commen- tary on a prophetical book upon which there is not much good material to be had. The style is good, fresh, and thought-pro- voking. The viewpoint is conservative, fun- damental, and premillennial. It is a commentary that is a “must” for everyone who wishes a more comprehensive viewpoint of Scripture, entering into the labors of others, enriching their own ministry. An important feature of the work is that at the end of every division, following the exposition, a summary is given, gathering up the main points, making comprehension of the author’s teaching very easy. Another point that makes the book of outstanding worth is the consideration that is given to other com- menters, quoting freely, the aim being, in the words of the author, “First setting forth the studied views of expositors, then present- ing his own conclusions.” While the book is futurist in interpreta- tion, the author seeks to make present-day application of the great spiritual principles. Throughout the aim seems to be fair, ad- mitting that there are difficulties which will not become clear until the time of fulfill- ment. The author, well qualified because of his Jewish background and training, as well as his scholastic training, makes much use of Hebrew terms and grammar. Therefore the reader without a knowledge of these terms will not receive the full benefit of the work, limiting the general usefulness of the book. It is well documented, having a complete Scripture and subject index, as well as a com- plete bibliography, all of which adds to the usefulness of the work. — John Burkholder. Separated unto God By John C. Wenger You may be young in years or young in heart. In either case Sep- arated unto God is a book you can’t afford to miss. You can read Separated unto God straight through or you may dip in here and there as your in- terests and needs dictate. It is a book for inspiration and for infor- mation. You will find in its pages direction for solving many prob- lems. Give yourself and your friends each a copy. 350 pages. $3.50. Mennonite Publishing House ScOTTDALE, Pa. 192 GOSPEL HERALD February 19, 1952 ANSWER TO WAR By Millard Lind What should a young man think? What should a young girl think? Or father, or mother? What should anyone think? What is the answer to war? Answer to War gives God’s answer to war. Beginning with a report of how man is first of all at war with God, the author tells us that Jesus Christ is the answer to war. Any solution to war requires trust in God and the continuing guidance of His Word. Here is a book for every young person interested in knowing what God has to say about war. It is a book for parents as well, parents who are responsible in help- ing others to understand God’s Word. Order your copy of Answer to War today. Let it speak for you— let it erase those questions which have plagued man since Cain slew Abel. $1.75 ea. Mennonite Publishing House, Scottdale, Pa. UilllMI MINI'S M V\! \S Manual By C. F. Yake Much careful, prayerful planning is behind the successful Bible schools. Today you superintend- ents and teachers are especially for- tunate. With the Superintendent’s Manual you can plan more wisely than ever for every part of the com- ing summer’s teaching program. Everything is there— beginning a Bible school where none has been before to evaluating the results afterward. Send for your copy of the manual today. .$1.50. Mennonite Publishing House Scottdale, Pa. ITEMS and COMMENTS Modern dancing is heathen in character and stands condemned in the light of Chris- tian ethics, says a memorandum drawn up by a Commission of the Dutch Reformed Church of the Orange Free State in South Africa. The Commission set up by the church to combat social evils estimated that 75 per cent of divorces began on dance floors. The stimulation of sex has become a dominant factor in the modern concept of dancing, and, opined the Commission, “It is small wonder that the serious devoted Christian, and even many non-Christians who value purity, are not found dancing.” — Youth on the March. # # * A postage stamp will be issued this year to commemorate the five hundredth anniversary of the Gutenberg Bible, the Post Office De- partment has announced at Washington. The Gutenberg Bible, the first book to be printed from movable type, was published by Johan- nes Gutenberg at Mainz, Germany, between 1450 and 1455. Its publication marked the beginning of a vast diffusion of knowledge through the printed word. Post-office spokes- men say this will be the first stamp ever is- sued to mark the anniversary of a Bible. They explained, howler, that the new 'Sjtarjqp 3 A V N N A G vi- t j * 3 Cj . | ^ J “i C was primarily designed to honor the new printing method inaugurated 500 years ago. * * * Secretary M. J. Tobin of the Federal De- partment of Labor recently told the Veterans of Foreign Wars, “Communist aggression can be fought with guns, but Communism itself must be fought another way. You can- not crush it with tanks, nor eradicate it by silencing the men who believe in it or by banning their newspapers or by breaking up their meetings. No idea in history has ever been destroyed by such techniques.” * * * Prohibition was abandoned during 1951 in areas of a population of more than a quarter of a million persons, marking the biggest twelve months’ shift from dry to wet senti- ment during the past eleven years, according to Howard T. Jones, Executive Secretary of the Distilled Spirits Institute. * * * The Chairman of the Editorial Committee of the International Council for a scientific and cultural history of mankind, widely pub- licized United Nations’ project, is noted as an atheist and was once dismissed from the University of Pittsburgh because his “attitude toward faith and toward spiritual growth” provoked a storm of protest from students and others. Vice-Chairman of the Commis- sion is Julian JFL Huxley, a noted skeptic. ^ v I H 0 V V 1 G 0 0 M v l 9 y I INBMb’VM V % ' v 2 i I NO NN 3W - 1 GOSPEL “In the defence and confirmation of the gospel " "1 dow beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace volume XLV TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 1952- number 9 Except You Turn BY FRIEDA The subject under discussion was a weighty one. In fact, it became an argu- ment within the apostolic circle. The consensus evidently weighed a little heavily in Lhe direction of James and John. Or else they were the most con- ceited of the group, for they seemed rea- sonably sure they would be the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Jesus startled them a bit that evening when they came into the house at Ca- pernaum. He suddenly opened the sub- ject again with the question, “ ‘What were you disputing about among your- selves on the way?’ But they held their peace.” Well might the silence be em- barrassing. Interestingly enough John changed the conversation as soon as he dared. While the apostles’ hearts pounded loudly with shame in that silence, Jesus sat down and deliberately called a young child to Him. He gathered him in His arms and said to the Twelve, “If any man would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all. Except you turn and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” The Shepherd By Lorie Conley Gooding Gently He leads out His flock day by day; Tenderly watches The lambs as they play; Graciously feeds them O’er valley and hill; Lovingly leads them Where waters are still; Walks by their side Where the mountains are steep; Goes before, as their Guide, Where the valleys are deep; Carefully seeks them Whenever they stray; Wisely He keeps them All in the way. So does He care for His well-beloved sheep; Grieves when they suffer, Weeps when they weep; Calls to them softly Wherever they roam; And through the deep shadows At last brings them Home. Holmesville, Ohio. AMSTUTZ It became a matter of getting into the kingdom at all, let alone being the greatest in it! How that object lesson burned! A little later on when children were being brought to Jesus, the sight of them upset the disciples and they hurriedly tried to shoo them off. The record tells us that Jesus in “indignation rebuked them.” More sternly than ever He added, “. . . of such is the kingdom of heaven.” Adults, parents and teachers in par- ticular, often in annoyance tell children, “Do grow up.” But Jesus reverses that and says, “Do become small.” What does He mean? Several things without a doubt. It is not a dwarfing in stature but a reversal of thought processes He was talking about. Children are sincere. They are thor- oughly genuine and honest. Who has not seen the humiliating halitosis ad- vertisement with the painful caption, “If you want the truth, ask a child.” Why must one ask a child to gain the truth? In the vernacular we answer, “Good question!” Parents who have seen the rude jolt a child receives with mental anguish when - he has been deceived, know very well why Christ said, “Let your yes be yes, and your no, no; for what is more is of the evil.” What is of the evil is not of the kingdom of God. A child is truly himself at all times. There is no sham or vain show about him. An observer of children notes that even when they play church, it does not occur to them that positions are honor- ary. They all take turns at being preach- er. The Apostle Paul caught the spirit of children and of Christ when he wrote, “Do nothing from selfishness or conceit, but in humility count others better than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.” Should differences come or quarrels arise, they are quickly spent. Children’s tolerance is only too often a marvel to older folk. They do not hate nor hold a grudge. They care not if your skin has color or not, nor about what you wear or do not wear. They just love you and like you for what you are. Paul said too, “Let love be genuine.” Because children are sincere and hon- est they have great faith and trust. They believe everything and trust everyone. What a challenge to skeptics are chil- dren! The deepest questions of life are accepted by faith. Tell a child God made it that way and it is enough. Tell him God says so and it is so. He is satisfied. Why torment himself with further ques- tionings? They are not afraid that tomorrow their heavenly Father and their earthly parents will not provide for their food and well-being. Neither do they fret and fear because of impending storms. If the sun shines, they play outdoors. Should it rain, all the better; there are now mud puddles to slosh in. Should the weather turn icy cold, better yet. Who has not heard the whoop of children with the first snow? But the snow is drifting badly. Still better. No school! This ability to take things as they come and turn them to their good gives children the contentment and peace of mind for which the world is madly in pursuit and which is attested to by re- cent best sellers on the bookshelves. Their peaceful falling off to sleep at the close of a busy, happy day, the revitalized, buoyant energy that restful sleep brings to them at the crack of dawn, their elders vainly try to purchase at a great price at the drugstore. Being sincere with God and your fel- low men, tolerant of their differences, The Sheep By Lorie Conley Gooding Closely they follow Their Shepherd each day, Careful that never They step from the way; Faithfully following, Loyal and true, All He has taught them, That will they do, Gentle and helpful To friend and to brother. Loving the Shepherd, Loving each other. High in the mountains His Presence is near. Down in the valley They go without fear. Quiet they rest Wherever He leads them, Gratefully pasture Wherever He feeds them. Always they follow, Leaving Him never, To the Home of the Shepherd To dwell there forever. Holmesville, Ohio. 194 GOSPEL HERALD February 26, 1952 thoroughly honest, without pride and pompous show, humbly teachable and lovingly trustful, does sound like conver- sion and the kingdom of God. The vying for power among nations, for position and key places in the chuich, for being served instead of serving that men are so guilty of at present, makes Christ’s statement pertinent to each of us, ‘‘For he who is least among you all is the one who is great.” The virtues as exemplified in chil- dren are primary to the kingdom of heaven and it is vain repetition to pray "Thy kingdom come” when we are not willing to “humble yourself as this little child,” the first requisite in its possibil- ity. There are other things that we need to see and acquire if we desire to become as children. We spoke of their tremendous energy upon arising. With that goes their great expectation of what the day will hold for them. Life is a wonderful experience to them. 1 oday thrilling things will happen! They cheerfully and enthusiastically expect them. Then- curiosity and eager, open minds make every day full of new experiences and joyous happenings. None of the gripes of bored adulthood here! Should the day be a bit less exhilarat- ing than he anticipated, nothing daunt- ed°he lies back down under the old apple tree, nibbling at a blade of grass, watch- ing ’ the clouds, and dreaming great dreams. Fleeing from reality? Wheie there is no vision, the people perish. Should life treat him at its worst, he comes back at it with remarkable cour- age. He tries yet again and again. Count the number of falls and recovering a child makes in one day while learning to walk. Is that discouragement in the face of a great and painful task? Isaiah spoke of a reign of righteous- ness and peace, saying, “And a little child shall lead them.” Whom? The leopard and the kid-archenemies. O world, find the answer by hearing the warning of the Lord, “Except you turn and become as a little child you will never enter the kingdom of God.” Lead on, O Child. Dalton, Ohio. Overcoming Obstacles By Stanley C. Shenk Nehemiah was a great overcomer. He didn’t know when he was licked. What some fellows would call “closed doors” and back away from, he called oppor- tunities and kicked wide open. When a near-by official (Sanballat by name) be- gan to raise a storm of protest about the wall-building project, Nehemiah prayed to God, and then just rolled up his shirt sleeves a little higher. When the wretchedly poor of the land began to cry aloud against the oppressions of the rich, he so put the offenders to shame that they took a solemn oath to turn over a new leaf. When Sanballat and his helpers tried to lure him into a trap, he said, “No, thanks, I’m not having any,” and kept right on working. When a close associate (who was on the pay roll of Sanballat) tried to scare him, he re- plied, “Should such a man as I flee?” and went ahead and finished the wall. “So the wall was finished ... in fifty and two days.”— Herald Youth Bible Studies. Our Readers Say — I am not sure if you write anything like this in the Herald or not, but will tell you what I have in mind and you may do as you please about U Dr. Menk, the pathologist in the local hos- pital here, has asked me to get a Mennonite young person to work as my assistant in the Blood Bank. He would prefer one who has had at least a high school education, preferably a boy. Even though the pay would not be too much while learning it is a good opportunity. After working under a pathologist for a given length of time, there would be opportunity for becoming a registered medical technologist. Anyone interested may get in touch with me. We enjoy receiving the Herald and feel the magazine is a real asset to our home. Raymond Detweiler, 207 College Dr., Staunton, Va. I would like to tell you how very much I enjoy each issue of the Gospel Herald. Its many messages and articles have been a great help and inspiration to me. I like the wide scope of interests it covers. There is something for everyone. I like also the church news that is published. This is the only way I have of knowing what the many members of our church are engaging in over the entire world. May God abundantly bless you and your helpers in this work, and may He also bless and give wisdom to the many who contribute by writing for the Herald. — Mrs. Dennis Lehman, Kidron, Ohio. I am not of the (Old) Mennonite branch of Mennonites but still have a deep regard for them and their beliefs. It seems to me knowledge of church history and if you please Mennonite History is sadly lacking in our average Men- nonite people of all branches. Perhaps that ac- counts for the seemingly little appreciation of articles referring to Mennonite History or the faith of our forefathers. To me it is essential to keep this knowledge alive, not that we think we are better than others, but after all if we choose to be members of this particular denomination we must feel it follows the teachings of our Lord. God forbid that we should ever put Mennon- itism before Christianity or keeping to the letter of the Mennonite principles before saving souls. However, in all our SAVING we cannot forget the SAVED and let them fall by the wayside. Therefore, I feel the Church Paper needs to keep alive the faith of our forefathers. On the other hand, it is very possible for any group of people to become overly interested in the past and what their forefathers did and believed to the extent that they never want to try anything new. There is a very real danger of this but I do not think the Gospel Herald has done this. Now and then there are articles printed that I do not agree with entirely. Per- haps I do not take so conservative a view on some doctrines, but if the persons who write these articles have such a conviction it is cer- tainly their duty and privilege to say so. After all, if we think the principles and doctrines of the Mennonite Church are right and true they should be worthy to be printed and kept alive rather than to be left to die a natural death. We have a number of Christian papers com- ing to our house at the present time and had still others in the past. They are all good but so far I have not found one to equal the Gospel Herald all around. Besides the many fine articles of a well-round- ed Christian nature I appreciate the news. At a glance on the “Field Notes” and ‘ Missions pages one gets a fair idea of what our Mis- sionary and other Christian Worker friends are doing. It is almost like reading a letter from them. — Mrs. David D. Schrag, McPherson, Kans. I enjoy the whole Herald. I cannot say which I enjoy more — the poetry, the good mis- sion letters, the topics: I enjoy all of it thor- oughly. I especially enjoy the letters Sam Hos- kins writes. Encourage him to write more often God bless him. And may God bless and help each of you in your work. — Mrs. V eldon J. Fleming Lynhurst, Va. The American Bible Society, 450 Park Avenue, New York 22, New York, is using this year the double slogan, “Share the Scriptures — Search the Scriptures.” Stamps with the above de- sign are being circulated. All the facilities of the So- ciety are devoted to dis- tributing Bibles and Scrip- ture portions and encourag- ing their reading. Donations to this cause will be well used. GOSPEL HERALD ESTABLISHED 1908 AS SUCCESSOR TO GOSPEL WITNESS (1905) AND HERALD OF TRUTH (1864) PAUL ERB, EDITOR J. D. GRABER, MISSIONS EDITOR CATHERINE HERNLEY, EDITORIAL ASSISTANT JOHN L. HORST, MILLARD C. LIND, associate editors THE GOSPEL HERALD IS A RELIGIOUS WEEKLY PUBLISHED IN THE INTERESTS OF THE MENNONITE CHURCH BY THE MENNONITE PUBLICATION BOARD, SCOTTDALE, ENTERED AS SECOND-CLASS MATTER IN 1908 AT THE POST OFFICE AT SCOTTDALE, PA., UNDER ACT OF MARCH 3. »». SUBSCRIPTION PRICE, *3.00 PER YEAR, THREE YEARS IN ADVANCE, *8.00, FIVE YEARS IN ADVANCE, *13.60. SAMPLE COPIES SENT FREE ON REQUEST. SEND ALL MATERIAL FOR PUBLICATION TO GOSPEL HERALD, SCOTTDALE, PA. PRINTED IN US. A. February 26, 1952 GOSPEL HERALD 195 EDITORIAL Children, Not Puppets God has called us to be His children, not His puppets. Being sovereign and all-powerful, He might, conceivably, have made us creatures of His direction, determining our every act, manipulating our every move. He might have sent us out on the little stage of our life to march to His music and to mouth His words. But for mechanical, irresponsi- ble puppets He could have had no real love; certainly in their fellowship He could have found no pleasure. A forced obedience gives no honor to its author. A puppet performance is not real life; it is only a show. God certainly did not make us His puppets; He just as certainly did invite us to become His children. He created us with such a mental and moral nature as makes sonship a possibility. He sent a Redeemer to save us from our condi- tion of rebellion and sin and to translate us into the kingdom of His dear Son. He sent the Holy Spirit to enter our hearts with regenerating power and make us, by a second birth, the sons of God. As sons we return the love of the Father. We fellowship with Him in sweet com- munion of spirit. We conform our lives to that which He reveals as His will for us. We serve Him because we delight to see His kingdom grow and prosper. In such a relationship dignity is pos- sible, as beings free to will their own course choose to live in harmony. There is joy and satisfaction as God delights in His own children and they find peace and rest in His presence. There is power as persons capable of action open up of their own volition to receive the inflow of strength from above. Praise God for the wisdom of His plan, and for our rich privileges in that plan. It is much better to be a son than a doll moved by strings. Christmas Giving Put this into your plan for a family get-together next Christmas. A brother writes of one family which took an: of- fering when they were together last Christmas. A considerable amount was divided and sent to various church caus- es. They did not spend themselves poor giving to each other, but gave liberal gifts to the work of the Lord. May God bless the person who got that idea. Im- itate it. There’s plenty of time to plan that way. Christianity for the World A church that would evangelize the whole world must understand the uni- versal character of Christianity. The in- carnate Christ was a Jew, and He preach- ed and died and rose again in Palestine. But Christianity is not therefore a Pal- estinian, Jewish cult. It is a faith for all men, applicable to every human need and adaptable to every era, every cli- mate, every social system. It deals with universals, which may be expressed in a great variety of particulars. It must be distinguished from everything that is national. It is not American, or Euro- pean, or Western, or Caucasian. When one leaves his province behind him in order to carry the Gospel to other peoples, he must also leave behind his limited, provincial concepts. He must see Christianity, not as a set of customs, but as a faith. Christian morality is based on universal moral principles, and not on a way of life that is locally grounded and determined. A missionary must say, “Here is the Bible principle; how can you best apply it in your own cultural manner?” The missionaries in all our foreign fields have given the teaching concerning the covering of a woman’s head in worship. But the form that cov- ering; has taken has been different in each country, being adapted to the local situation. It is unfortunate that so often in mis- sion lands Christianity has come to be identified with the Western Civiliza- tion from which the missionaries came. And so the faults of our culture have been laid at the door of our faith. It is now generally admitted that the conduct of the mission program in many ways contributed to that misunderstanding. In the East today the Christian Church is suffering from that confusion. The missionary today must understand what is happening in the world. He must know that people of other coun- tries do not want anything foreign fastened upon them. Their spirit of in- dependence also makes them want to keep free from foreign domination in the area of religion. The day of colonial- ism, whether of the political or religious variety, is past. The non-Christian na- tions do not want nor do they need a Western “Churchianity.” But they do need Christ. It is Christ we must bring to them. The missionary is not an evan- gelist of Americanism, of our high stand- ard of living, of democracy. He must go as Paul did, determined to know noth- ing but Christ and Him crucified. To barbarian and Scythian, to Jew and Greek, to bond and free the message is the same. Christ will save. Our customs may only confuse and repel. May the truth which sets us free deliver us also from the limited concepts which would hinder our testimony to the peoples of every tribe and nation. Save for Your Child’s Education MENNONITE BOARD OF EDUCATION OFFERS NEW STEWARDSHIP PLAN By Melvin H. Lauver, Treas. For some years the Mennonite Board of Education has been receiving requests that it provide a savings plan whereby the constituency can make regular de- posits with the Board to provide for the education of their children. These re- quests generally indicate two types of plans needed. Quite a number of fami- lies requesting help indicate that if it will ever be possible for them to finance their children’s education they will need some type of systematic savings plan whereby they can regularly lay aside, in relatively small amounts, money to build an educational fund. Others, of perhaps stronger financial circumstances, have funds over and above their regular tith- ing which they would like to contribute to the cause of Christian education but do not know how long present fair fi- nancial conditions will prevail. Perhaps by the time their children are of college age circumstances may be such that with- out their present surplus they will not be able to give them the education they would like them to have in preparation for serving the church and the com- munity. They desire a plan whereby the money could be set aside now, and in the event of need it could be used for their children’s education. Because of these requests the Mennon- ite Board of Education has, for some time, been developing plans to help our brethren in these two areas. It is now ready to announce and offer to the con- stituency two ways for providing for their children’s education. The one plan 196 GOSPEL HERALD February 2 6, 1952 Tract News Easter Tracts are ready. There is only one title this year, but it is a great fa- vorite with tract users: “Dead Man Lives Again.” This same tract is being featured in the April issue of The Way. Your tracts should be ordered early to avoid disappointment. Easter is April 13. Or- der “Dead Man Lives Again” at 60^ per 100; $2.50 for 500; $5 per 1000, postpaid. More than four million tracts were sent out in 1951. Donations amounted to $2,764.98. We were just a little over $1000 short in contributions from our friends to meet our budget last year. If you have not yet sent a gift to the Tract Fund, do so as the Lord prospers you. More than three million copies of The Way were sent out in 1951. 7,000,000 Gospel papers is a huge pile. This is our largest single missionary out- reach. Would it not be well to include this work in your daily intercessions? Many hundreds of Mennonite young people distribute these papers. Let us pray that (1) the Spirit may send each message as an arrow of conviction and (2) that each one giving out these papers may be a faithful and true witness. is called My Pre-enrollment Stewardship Plan and is designed to provide a means to lay aside regularly modest amounts or “payments,” as they are called, to ac- cumulate sufficient for a four-year college education. The second plan makes use of Educational Certificates issued in $100.00 denominations or multiples thereof. The Pre-enrollment Stewardship Plan operates very much like a regular savings account in a bank. A passbook is used for recording all transactions. It must be sent with each payment and is re- turned as the receipt. The minimum opening payment is $10.00. Additional regulations are briefly as follows: (1) On- ly one payment per month will be receiv- ed. There is no minimum or stipulated amount set for the monthly payments but the maximum is $50.00. Twelve pay- ments per year are not obligatory but the greater regularity observed the more el fective the system. (2) Interest will be credited semiannually at the rate of 3% on April 1 and November 1. Interest be- gins on interest crediting dates. (3) When the fund reaches a maximum amount of $2500.00 no further payments will be accepted, but interest credits will continue. (4) Accounts mature and be- come payable when the student enters a Board-controlled institution. Interest payments thereafter are on an annual basis using the lowest balance of the year, and are credited April 1. (5) Students must attend two full school years before any large remaining balance can be with- drawn without an interest adjustment. (6) Funds are available for board, room, tuition, fees, and other customary edu- cational expense common to similarly enrolled students. (7) Withdrawal prior to maturity is possible by furnishing 60 days’ written notice, signed by the stu- dent and parent or guardian. In such event all money paid in, plus only one third of the interest credited to the ac- count, will be refunded to the parti- cipant. (8) An unused remaining balance in an account after student has complet- ed his education can be transferred to a younger child’s account by properly au- thorized persons. If not closed out or withdrawn interests drops to 1 % per annum. In the Educational Certificate Plan no passbooks are used. Instead certificates are issued for amounts of $100.00 or mul- tiples thereof. They are issued in the name of the student whose education is to be covered by it. If it is not used by the time he or she reaches the age of 25 years, the money represented by the certi- ficate becomes a gift to the cause of edu- cation in the institution mentioned in the certificate. A receipt acknowledging the gift is then issued to the donor, which is deductible for income tax purposes. If the money is used for educational ex- penses for the student it bears 1% in- terest, payable when used. The Mennonite Board of Education makes these plans available to prospec- tive students of any of its three institu- tions: Goshen College, Goshen, Indiana; Hesston College and Bible School, Hess- ton, Kans; and La junta Mennonite School of Nursing, La Junta, Colorado. People interested in either of these plans should write for further information to the school to which they would wish to go or send their children. All payments are also made to the school of their choice. If at a later date plans would change so that a student who has signed up for one of the above schools would decide to attend another their account can be transferred upon request and without loss in any way. Funds deposited with the schools will be turned over to the Mennonite Board of Education for management by its In- vestment Committee, which committee also manages the Endowment Funds of its institutions. Persons interested should write immediately to the Board school they plan for their children to attend, and indicate which savings plan they wish to use. Akron, Pa. It is entirely possible for well-meaning peo- ple to maintain attitudes toward other races of peoples, whether at home or abroad, which lead to war rather than to the way of peace which we profess. — Guy F. Hershberger. It Happened — TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO ( From Gospel Herald, Feb. 24, 1927) On Thursday evening . . . Bro. Jacob L. Rutt was ordained to the ministry [Argentina]. It was also decided that Bro. Pablo Cavadore be ordained to the ministry. . . . Bro. Edward Diener of Larned, Kans., is making arrangements to move to . . . Daytonville, Iowa. Brethren Harry Diener, Hutchinson, Kans., and S. C. Miller, Jet, Okla., con- ducted baptismal services at Pleasant Valley, . . . Harper, Kans., . . . when a class of twelve was received into church fellowship. Bro. John Horsch . . . gave three very helpful lectures on “Mennonite History” [Kishacoquillas Bible School]. . . . Our principal, Bro. J. B. Smith, went from here to Waterloo Co., Ont., to assist in Bible Conference work. Bro. J. A. Ressler spent the . . . week at Goshen College assisting in the . . . Ministers’ Week. . . . Daddy Was So Good — He Couldn’t Be Lost! By Edna M. Mertz They stood there, two precious young people, looking into the dead face of a beloved father, lips quivering, eyes dark with pain and fear. Unsaved fathers, how would you have answered the cry of anguish wrung from their tortured hearts: “But what if he didn’t pray— what if he didn’t get ready to meet God!” Are you one of the “good daddies” who have failed to settle the question of your own eternal salvation? Have your children sobbed themselves to sleep praying for your salvation? Will they perhaps learn what it means to live an eternity in one night, one long night in which they stare dry-eyed, numb with terror, into a horrible darkness, the black darkness into which their loved one has just slipped? God grant that your sons and daugh- ters may never need to pass through such suffering, that this cry may never be on their lips: Which way did my daddy go, dear God, Tell me, which way did he go? The night is so dark, I can’t see at all, And I loved him so much, you know! Surely you care, and I prayed so long, Tell me, please, what I’m longing to know; He was so good! He can’t be lost! Which way did my daddy go? Ft. Wayne, Ind. February 26, 1952 GOSPEL HERALD 197 The Flesh and Spirit BY S. F. COFFMAN The Christian, by his faith in Christ, is not placed in a position in which it is impossible to live, or to enjoy his sal- vation. Yet there are many who experi- ence great difficulties in living a Chris- tian life, and they have not the joy of peace with God, nor the assurance of the eternal hope, because of the ever-present conflicts in their spiritual experiences. There are two elements existing in every Christian’s life— the flesh and the Spirit. Those who are born again possess the Spirit, because the new birth is ac- complished by His power and the new life continues by His presence. Let no one doubt this fact who has accepted Jesus Christ by faith, and has trusted His atoning blood for the forgiveness of sins, and has yielded his heart and life to Him for service. The Holy Spirit brings Christ to the soul, and He abides with Christ and God in the heart of all who love Him and obey His word. John 14: 15-23. The second element in the believer’s life is his flesh. It is the place in which we live, and the place in which the Holy Spirit lives with us. “Ye are the temple of God, and . . . the Spirit of God dwell- eth in you’’ (I Cor. 3:16). “Your bodies are the members of Christ” (I Cor. 6:15). This is the intimate relationship that is brought about through the new life in Christ, and the Holy Spirit within us. We live in the body which is flesh, and we live after the Spirit, who is the Com- forter within us. Our Obligations It is the Christian’s obligation to make use of his flesh, or body, in a service of righteousness. Rom. 6:12-23. “Let not sin . . . reign [be the master].” “Even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.” The Holy Spirit is the authority to whom we yield our bodies in service. Because of the judgment of sin by the law, in the body of Christ, we have no more obligation to the flesh to do its will. Rom. 8:12. It is reckoned dead and hence is no longer one whose will we are obliged to serve. Living with the Flesh The flesh is present with us, because of the nature of our bodies. The Greek makes no distinction between the fleshly and carnal nature. Our whole physical being and environment is fleshly or car- nal. It is not destroyed or changed in nature by conversion, which is spiritual. Because of Christ’s death for the body and for us, we account it, or reckon it dead, and hence a new master takes charge of it, even the Holy Spirit. The definite statement of Paul is, “Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would” (Gal. 5:16, 17). This is the most definite statement found in the Book concerning the conflicting natures of the flesh and Spirit in the Christian’s life. Paul does not say that at one time it was thus. He says, it is thus. The flesh lusteth— continues to lust, and so also the Spirit against the flesh. Both exist in the life at the same time and continue the opposition, the one against the other. This is the conflict which is so upsetting to many in their experiences. The Cure, or Victory There is no cure for this conflicting condition until one is delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the sons of God. Rom. 8:19-23. The redemption of our bodies will end the strivings of the flesh against us. But there is victory for the Christian. The first victory is that of the will. It is the yielding of the will to the leading of the Spirit ot God, rather than to the lusts of the flesh. Rom. 8:14, 15. “Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh” (Gal. 5:16). Has one the will to yield to the obedience of the Spirit? Then follow the Spirit. He alone will lead one into all truth and righteous- ness, for He was sent to us from God for that very purpose. John 16:13. The second victory of the Christian is that of freedom from the judgment of sin resting upon the flesh and its lusts. “They that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts” (Gal. 5:24). We live in the flesh with its affect- tions and lusts, as we live in our bodies. But Christ has died for our sins, for our bodies, and for the lusts that are associ- ated with them. The atonement has already been made for them. We are no longer under the condemnation of the law against them. It is a case of the past tense— have crucified, and hence atoned for. Righteousness is attributed to those who are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. Vineland, Ont. Our Covenant Goals Spiritual 1. An increasing ministry of prayer, that we may keep in contact with the source of spiritual power. 2. An increased consciousness of the value of worshiping our God; that there might be a more faithful at- tendance at both Sunday worship serv- ices and the Fellowship Hour on Wed- nesday. 3. A genuine conscious effort toward ho- liness of life, love of the brethren, and unity of the Body of Christ. Evangelism 1. A strong and growing emphasis on evangelism, that we might by all means save some. 2. An increased visitor-consciousness. 3. A congregational program for evan- gelism. This will include periodic evangelistic meetings, personal wit- ness and testimony, and the bringing back into church fellowship of those who have drifted away. Missions and Service 1. An increase in the number of mis- sionaries supported by our church in both the home and foreign fields. 2. The sending forth of missionaries, from our own church, to both home and foreign fieids. 3. The expansion of our missionary out- reach by expanding our S.B.S. pro- gram and the participation of whole families in home missions. 4. The use of whatever means necessary to awaken a greater missionary con- sciousness. Stewardship 1. A Biblical emphasis on the financial stewardship ot our people. 2. A growing concern for the steward- ship of one’s time and life as well as one’s money. Youth and Christian Training 1. An increasing seriousness of thought and conviction. 2. The preparation of our young people for roles of leadership and responsi- bility in the church. 3. The dedication of many of our young people to full-time Christian service. 4. Voluntary service participation. 5. May the adults assume their responsi- bilities by showing sincere interest, Christian example, and the provision of Christian activity for our youth. 6. Christian training in the home. 7. A more thorough patronizing of our church schools. 8. The exploitation of every opportunity in summer Bible school and Sunday- school work. Family 1. A more deeply spiritual home life. 2. The consciousness of the responsi- bility of family heads for the spiritual welfare of the home. 3. May we attain these goals by the fol- lowing: a. The establishment of family altars. b. A week set aside for “Family Week.” c. Church attendance by entire fami- lies. d. Family participation in Christian service. —Crystal Springs (Kans.) Bulletin. 198 GOSPEL HERALD February 26, 1952 The Hand of Our God By Edwin Raymond Anderson Good Ezra of the olden days paused in the midst oi holy work, and lilted his heart ol worship unto tiie neavens, giv- ing vent to splendid testimony lor all auout to hear and to proht by. “The hand ol our God was upon us, and he delivered us from the hand ol the en- emy” (Ezra 8:31). Two hands were pres- ent in tne arena, but there is always The One Hand to gatner tne fruits of vic- tory. The hand of the enemy is always stricken, and the “hand of our God” is exalted. Ezra learned that for the need and situation of his day, and his heart went forth in full praise, true worship. May many of the saints in this latter-day give more attention to the “hand of our God,” than to the “hand of the enemy,” and learn to trust HIM more, for the conquest that is always charted. We should not pay too much atten- tion to the “hand of the enemy.” In a certain sense, “we do not well” in sitting down to bemoan the “Saturday night” condition oi tire world. We do not need so much of “tearful crape-hanging,” with all oi the sighing lor the abominations which are wrought. There is a subtle danger in this, and it pleases the enemy no end! Some of the saints have been sitting down far too long, and looking too uarkly-hard at the world, so that they have come to whimper, “What’s the use? What are we against so many? See how hardhearted people are! How can there be any revival tor such a time as this? What can we do except just to sit here and pray for the Lord to come and clean up the mess? etc., etc., etc. . . .” It should not be too difficult to detect the hand of the enemy in this. Especially when the warriors become so weary as to worry a “what’s the use,” and disclaim any possibility of revival. Some of the saints have been sitting down far too long. A little more to the way of arising and activity would change the picture for them, not a little. But Ezra dwelt rather upon “the hand of our God,” and we would find it more delightful to dwell there also. There we leave the darkness for the delight of the way and strength of the Lord. There we catch the glimpse of conquest, and find the Unchanging One yet going forth without loss, without limit, accomplish- ing the victories marked out from before the foundation of the world. And when we dwell there, we find our hearts more settled and aright, for there will spring forth the better and more pleasing notes of praise, of adoration, and of worship. Moaning and “crape-hanging” and be- wailing is certainly a strange business and a strange melody from the lips and heart of those who have tasted and ex- perienced the greatest might and splen- dor and power in all the length and breadth of all times and universes! “The hand of our God was upon us.” That was simply said, but with all pos- sible praise. It gives HIM the full, glorious due. Our hand is less than nothing, for it only quivers, wherever it rests. Jbut HIS HAND!— ah! there the saints have everything. And to have the sweet consciousness of that Hand rest- ing upon them in strength, in power, in blessing, in encouragement, in enlight- enment—well! what else can be done than to give the simple, sincere testi- mony of praise. And to give it forth in such fashion, will be his pleasure in His people, for it glorifies Him, and exalts Him, in the center of all. It will be, “not I but Christ.” It will be “not by might nor by power but by my Spirit.” It will be “not of works lest any man should boast.” It will be “UNTO HIM that loved us.” It will be the Lord Jesus Christ alone and apart and exalted and supreme. And no lesser place would ever do. What a precious hand, when we see it latticed through the light of the New Testament. The hand that is upon us is the hand with the brand of Calvary. The steadying hand is the hand that saved us. The leaning hand is the hand that lifted us. The powerful hand is the precious hand indeed, for it has plunged and plumbed the very depths, “even the death of the cross.” It is the hand of grace that guards and girds. It is the hand of love that links and leads. It is the hand of mercy that marks and measures. Once that hand was upon us in con- demnation. We were lost in sin. Then that hand was upon us in conviction, through the pleading pressures of the Holy Spirit. Then came the happy day, My Father Knows By Ruth Sleeper My Father knows what’s best for me; He knows my problems too; He knows 1 long to be like Him In everything I do. He knows the lessons that I need To grow like Him each day; Lord, Thou art now my all in all, The Potter, Tm the clay. He knows the trials that I meet ; He knows when things go wrong; He guides me when I cannot see, And fills my heart with song. He knows how tired and worn I am When comes the close of day; He knows my heart’s sincere desire Before I kneel to pray. I know He knows, and that’s enough To fill my heart with peace. Why worry when your heart can trust ? For trust brings peace, sweet peace. Elkhart, Ind. when that hand was upon us in con- version, and Calvary became more than a song and a verse and a sermon. And now we have come thus far— and with the same hand. How it has changed! for it has wrought the change. Now it is upon us in compassion and correction and certitude. Beloved, that ought to mean so very much to us. It ought to make “Ezra” out of us, so that we stand forth in the midst with glad testimony of praise and worship for “our God.” And how much it really means will always be the matter for the quiet, solemn searching of heart in the prayer-closet, alone and apart with the Lord Himself. Waterbury, Conn. The Long Hair of I Corinthians 11 By J. C. Wenger 1. Why does the Mennonile Church teach that women should wear long hair? Because the Bible gives general teach- ing against worldliness in general and against worldly coiffures specifically. 2. Where does the New Testament be- come specific about women’s coiffures? In I Tim. 2:9 Paul warns Christian women to avoid the artificial braids and the jewelry of that day, and in I Pet. 3:3 the inspired apostle protests against wast- ing time braiding hair and adorning the body with golden ornaments. 3. What does the passage in I Cor. 11:6 mean? The Apostle Paul here argues that if the Christian woman wishes to refuse to wear a veil when praying or prophesying, she should be consistently wrong by also cutting off her hair, an act performed by sinful women of the street in that day. 4. What is the question in I Cor. 11:15 referring to? In verses 14 and 15 the apostle con- trasts the wearing of long hair by men and women respectively. What is a dis- grace to one, is an honor to the other. A man wearing long hair looks woman- ish; a woman with her hair cut short looks mannish: both are betraying their sex. 5. Suppose a man or a woman does not have the feeling ascribed to them in vers- es 14 and 15 of I Cor. 11? The born-again child of God aligns his conscience with the Word of God. If this passage is studied with an open mind, the conviction to obey it will come. 6. What are the Greek terms for “hair” and “having long hair” in I Cor. 11:14, The verb is used only in these verses in the entire New Testament, but was em- ployed in Greek literature from the period of Homer in the ninth century B.C. The verb is written komao, and the noun is kome. There is a similar word kometes which could mean either, “hav- ing long hair,” or a “comet.” February 26, 1952 GOSPEL HERALD 199 A Prayer for This Week Our God and Father, who hast created us by Thy power and hast redeemed us by Thy grace, we humbly thank Thee for delivering us from the night of sin. We praise Thee for the infinitude of that love that has found us and wooed us to Thyself. Oh, may it bind us to Thee forever! Deliver us from all sense of law and lead us into the shoreless freedom of love alone. Strip from us forever our ingrained heresy of depending on per- sonal merit and human goodness. Bathe away our selfishness, our carnality, and our pride. Accept, O Lord, the total dedication of our lives to Thee— all our mental abili- ties, all our emotional powers, and all our physical energies— that Thou mayest incarnate Thyself in us anew. May Christ be seen upon earth again in us in all His beauty and holiness. Hear us, O Lord, for we pray in the name of Christ. Amen. —Roy S. Koch. 7. What does the verb “komao” mean'? The best Greek lexicon (Liddell 8c Scott, revised by Jones, Oxford, 1940) gives several meanings: (1) to let the hair grow long; (2) by an idiom, to plume oneself; (3) of the manes of horses; (4) of the foliage of trees or plants, or waving grain; (5) of stars with tails (comets). 8. Does the noun differ from the verb in meaning? Very little, if any. It is used of a head of long hair; of a beard; of the vranchia of the cuttlefish; of the foliage of trees, herbs, or grain; and of the luminous tail of a comet. Other Greek-English lexicons, such as those of Pickering and Thayer, add noth- ing to the fuller definitions of the re- vised Liddell 8c Scott lexicon. 9. What is the deeper point of the apos- tle in I Cor. 11 in referring to woman’s long hair? Paul asserts that God has endowed woman with a beautiful head of hair as a mark of her sex, and He desires her to wear a veiling over this natural mantle as a sign that she accepts her place in the divine order for society. 10. Is this teaching applicable to all races and cultures? Is it legalistic? Any commandment for Christians finds application universally. The Chris- tian man should wear his hair short, and the Christian woman should let her hair grow long. Obedience to all New Testa- ment teachings is not legalism if done because of love for God, and with a desire to give a good witness for Christ. 11. Is it wrong to cut off some hair , but to leave it sufficiently long to be recog- nizable as long hair? God looks into the heart and is con- cerned with motives. If the basic motiva- tion is conformity to worldly styles, the act is wrong. (Compare I Tim. 2:9 and I Pet. 3:3.) If an emergency arises so that a surgeon, e.g., needs to operate on the brain, there is no ceremonial law against even shaving the whole head. It is the motive that determines whether the cut- ting is right or wrong. 12. How ought a minister, concerned with pastoral care, deal with the problem of women cutting their hair to keep in style? The same as with other sins such as materialism, gossip, sensuality, worldli- ness in recreation, etc.: by public teach- ing, pastoral visitation, prayer, and ulti- mately by discipline if disobedience to the Word persists. Goshen, Ind. Tax Reductions Increased for Gifts By Robert M. Hopkins In even more generous terms the Unit- ed States Federal Government offers in- creased tax deductions for gifts made in 1952 to religious, educational, and wel- fare causes. For a ten-dollar gift made in 1951 by one whose income was under $2,000 (if married, under $4,000) a de- duction of $2.00 was allowed. In 1952 the deduction allowed is $2.00. In broad terms, the deductions are approxi- mately 10% larger in 1952 than in 1951. As a result, a charitable gift will actually cost the donor 10% less in 1952 than it did in 1951. Proportionately the tax deductions again increase as the contributor’s in- come reaches the higher brackets. If the income of the contributor is $50,000 (if married, $100,000) a hundred-dollar gift in 1952 will cost the donor only $25.00 since a tax deduction of $75.00 is allowed this year. Still more liberal provisions are af- forded when securities are given rather than cash. If the contributor with an in- come of $2,000 (if married, $4,000) do- nates a fully deductible contribution of securities having a present value of $100, the actual cost of which to the contribu- tor was $10.00, there is a tax deduction of $32.20. This means that the net cost of such a gift is but $67.80. If such securi- ties are given by one whose income is $50,000, the contributor actually makes a profit of $4.00 by contributing them. Thus it will be seen that securities that have increased in value should be given as contributions to benevolent causes, rather than to convert the securities into cash before making the contribution. The Golden Rule Foundation, 60 East 42nd Street, New York 17, New York, will soon have available on request tables Prayer Requests — Pray that foreign missionaries in prison in China on false charges may be de- livered by God’s power, and that God may give their families His keeping in heart and mind, and impart courage and patience and unwavering faith. Pray that the curse of permanent mili- tarism may not come upon us through Universal Military Training. Pray that the way may be opened for effective witness in alternative service by our 1-0 men. Pray for the Mission and the Church in India as they prepare to operate unit- edly under a new constitution, begin- ning July 1. Pray for our young men of draft age, and their parents, that they may stand for Christian convictions on nonresist- ance, and be willing to make personal sacrifice in the interests of Christian witness. Pray for a husband and father of two small sons, that he may have a spir- itual experience and realize his duties toward his family. Pray that a sister may have courage and wisdom to speak to her unsaved broth- er, and that he may realize his unsaved condition and be redeemed from his coldness and indifference. (Requests for this column must be signed.) showing in some detail the new deduc- tions permitted in connection with gifts of both cash and securities in 1952. This should be a good year for increased giv- ing at decreased cost by those who sup- port the churches and all tax-exempt causes and institutions.— Golden Rule Foundation. When we go into our closet and shut the door, no one sees us, no one hears us, but God. It is not the place to make a fair show. No one is present before whom to make a little display of our devotion. No one is there to behold our zeal for the Lord. No one is there but God. We know we dare not attempt to make Him believe we are different from what we really are. We feel that He is looking through us, that He sees us and knows us thoroughly. If evil is lurking within, we instinctively feel that God is searching us; for evil shall not dwell with Him. Ah, it is a searching spot— alone in the presence of God! Little wonder so many beg to be excused from spending their time there.— Glean- ings. 200 GOSPEL HERALD February 2 6, 1952 CHURCH HISTORY “LEST WE FORGET” The Gospel of Christ is a great leveler. It deals with men as they actually are; not as the world views them but as God sees them. The highborn of earth, with all their cavalcade of rich trappings and pomp, and the humblest rustic and poorest laborer in the realm, fall into but one class in God’s sight. All are immortal souls who need the redemption which is in Christ. “Tell me,” said the dying Edward the Seventh to an evangelist, “tell me the same Gospel that you proclaim to men down in London’s East End. Kings and paupers need the same Saviour.” In the days of Whitefield and Wesley the Gospel was proclaimed in the private drawing rooms of lords and countesses and also among the rabble at Moorfields, Trophies of grace were won in both fields of action, but it was by the selfsame agency— the preaching of the pure Gos- pel. All who found God were saved by the atonement that Christ has made for man; by it alone were their souls re- deemed and kept from falling. All who love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity and truth, no matter what their station in life, must walk by the same rule. Every moment they must proceed with watchfulness and earnest prayer, obeying every precept of the Gospel of God. Christ, the great Shepherd and Bishop of our souls, has left us an example. In the days of His humanity He was sub- ject to temptation but He overcame and now is seated at the right hand of the Majesty on high. We must walk as He walked, clad with the deepest humility, looking above, al- ways aware that there are many pitfalls and quagmires along the route of our earthly pilgrimage. None ever can say, “I shall not be moved.” Present enjoyment of the high- est state of grace does not preclude the possibility, in this probationary state, of becoming like a leaking vessel or a with- ered branch. Oh, the need to cry unto the Strong lest, unawares, Satan gain the advantage and we fall from our own steadfastness. Said the saintly Fletcher when offered a preferment by the king for a service rendered, “Your Majesty, all I desire is more grace.” More grace, more of the fruit of the Spirit. Only by adopting this attitude can we hope to thrive spirit- ually. In the days when Great Britain ruled the high seas and was mistress of a vast empire, Kipling wrote those memorable lines that are so applicable to nations, to peoples, to the church of the first-born, or to an individual Christian: Still stands Thine ancient sacrifice, An humble and a contrite heart. Lord God of hosts, be with ,us yet, Lest we forget— lest we forget. —A. M. Editorial in The Burning Bush The History of the St. Jacobs Mennonite Church By Laura Bauman “He that would know what shall be, must consider what has been” (H. G. Bohn: Handbook of Proverbs, 1855). In order to understand the origin of our church, we must consider the early settlements in this province. Mennonites who had come to Ontario as early as 1786 were divided into different sects and had settled in various communities. It was in 1800 that the first settlers en- tered the now prosperous Waterloo County. In the Conestoga Old Order Mennon- ite Church, which was located approxi- mately two and one-half miles northwest of St. Jacobs, there was considerable dis- satisfaction by 1890. These people were Christians— yes, they were members of the church, but they were hungry. Their young people were not interested in the affairs of the church. Their children knew very little concerning the Bible and Christianity. They were vitally con- cerned in having the way of salvation through Christ taught to their children. Thus, after much prayer and sincere deliberation, these people left their church in 1890 and held services of their own on the Charles Koch farm near Conestoga. They would rise early on Sunday morning in order to reach the service on time because they had to travel with horse and buggy. In a short time, however, the Koch house was too small to accommodate everyone who came to the services. In 1893 these brethren started holding serv- ices in the near-by Old Order Church, built on the land which had originally been sold by a deacon for five shillings. The following year the Old Order Church erected a new building and sold their former one to our group. That first morning in their own church was a memorable one to our forefathers, and they rejoiced that God had given them this large house of worship. Although the assembly of about forty members now had a church building of its own, it did not have a pastor. Some brethren from other districts who min- istered during this time were Daniel Wismer, Jacob Woolner, Moses Erb, Amos and Menno Cressman, and Samuel Bowman. A summer Sunday school, which was established by the Waterloo and Cones- toga congregations, was held in the Mar- tin Schoolhouse, which stands by the highway between St. Jacobs and Water- loo. Since the Waterloo Church has been in existence for a longer time, she had more capable leaders and supplied all the officers and teachers for the school. In 1893 Brother Enoch S. Bauman was ordained as the first deacon of the new church. After he had faithfully served in this office for one year, he was ordained as the first minister of the con- gregation. In this same year Henry Musser was ordained deacon. Now for the first time this church had the blessings of having a church build- ing, a minister, and a deacon. The lives of these men were an inspiration to the congregation. Brother Musser, who lived five miles from the church and drove with horse and buggy, was noted for his punctuality. What would happen if we had to get up at four-thirty or five o’clock, spend several hours doing farm chores, get ready for church, and even spend forty minutes riding in a buggy on a cold, frosty winter morning? In spite of these inconveniences, Brother Musser was never known to be late for a church service. Brother Bauman was also a powerful witness by his speech and helped many Christians to become firm pillars in God’s church. After several years people who had great visions of what could be accom- plished in the future felt that they should sponsor a Sunday school of their own to teach the Christian life to their chil- dren. As a result, the Sunday school was organized in 1898 with Menno Bru- bacher and Simeon Good as its first superintendents. The school differed from ours today in that it started at nine o’clock and was held every second Sun- day only. There were no special books provided for each age group, but all who attended the Sunday school learned many new and challenging truths from the Bible. Because of a strong teaching program in the Sunday school, the members were no longer satisfied to be happy by them- selves, but desired to see others find peace in their hearts. As a result of this burden, they decided that special evan- gelistic meetings should be held at their church. In 1905 Brother A. D. Wenger was the evangelist for the first campaign held here. Because of the sincere prayers of the Christians, the fearless preaching of the Gospel, and the hunger of many souls for a Saviour, there were thirty-five conversions during this series. Since the Conestoga Church was not in a central location, a new brick church was erected in the village of St. Jacobs on Samuel Good’s land in 1915. Because some logs from the old church were to be used in building the new one, it was necessary to find a suitable place where services could be held while building progressed. Permission to use the Three February 26, 1952 201 Bridges Schoolhouse, which stood beside their church, was granted. Church serv- ices, Sunday school, young people’s Bible meetings, and even a Sunday-school con- ference were held in this building. To- day we are reminded of this period in our history, for the church cemetery is still located on this property beside the school. In November of that year the congre- gation was able to leave the schoolhouse to occupy its own church in the village of St. Jacobs. The new church was dedi- cated to the work of God on November 14, 1915. The first trustees were Samuel Good, George Musselman, and Henry Saucier. Enoch Bauman, who had been such a cheerful minister for almost twenty-four years, became ill and passed away on January 16, 1918. In June of the same year a young man, Moses Brubacher, was ordained to the ministry. Although Brother Bauman had only started preach- ing some English in his last year, Broth- er Brubacher preached English only. In 1926 Menno Brubacher was ordained as deacon to assist Henry Musser, who died May 17, 1938, at seventy-six years of age. As a growing grasshopper sheds its skin, so this church burst her walls. In 1936 a large addition was built on either side of the former building. On October .11 of this same year the completed church building was dedicated. Besides changes in the church build- ing, there were also changes in leader- ship. After the minister, Brother Bru- bacher, suffered a stroke, the present pas- tor, Roy S. Koch, was ordained on Oc- tober 4. Moses Brubacher died in Au- gust, 1940. In the same month the pres- ent deacon, Abner Good, was ordained to assist Menno Brubacher. The church continued to grow so that in 1949 there were four hundred and seventeen members and approximately five hundred were enrolled in the Sun- day school. As a result of this growth they again built an addition, both to the auditorium and to the basement. With Bishop J. B. Martin preaching the dedi- cation sermon, the present building was dedicated on December 4, 1949. Because our pastor, Brother Roy Koch, was asked to serve as field secretary of the Commission for Christian Education in 1950, we needed pastoral assistance. David Shank from Goshen, Indiana, served as associate pastor during that summer, and Peter Wiebe during the summer of 1951. Throughout the past years the church has instituted many new activities to interest her young people. The first of these was the Sunday school, followed in 1911 by the young people’s Bible meet- ing. At this time there was far greater difficulty in preparing good programs than there is today, because these folks were all young Christians as well as un- trained ones. Because they dedicated their talents to the Lord, however, He was able to help them prepare mterest- GOSPEL HERALD ing services. At the present time we have a sermon every Sunday evening follow- ing the young people’s meeting. Summer Bible school has continued annually since its beginning in about 1935. Besides growing with,in itself, the church has extended its borders. Some young people who have left the home church to serve in other communities are Lucinda Snider, a relief worker in Germany; Howard Good, pastor of the Hagey Mennonite Church and teacher at Rockway Mennonite School; and Mr. and Mrs. Paul Hunsberger at Monet- ville Mission. There was vision of even more expansion when in 1949 a church was established in the near-by village of Hawkesville. About fifty members from the St. Jacobs Church, together with some from Elmira, became the members in the new church. Although our church has grown rap- idly in the past, we certainly pray that the Lord will continue to bless her and make her a far greater blessing to the nations of the world in the future. May we, the young people of today, take up the challenge which the lives of our faith- ful fathers have presented to us and es- tablished a strong foundation on which future generations may safely build. Kitchener, Ont. OUR SCHOOLS WESTERN MENNONITE SCHOOL It is encouraging to hear reports from re- vivals in many parts of America today. It seems to be more and more apparent that we are close to the end of the age. Said Dr. Hutchins, of the University of Chicago al- ready a few years ago, “THERE IS VERY LITTLE TIME REMAINING.” Another prominent lecturer, addressing a meeting of the American Association for the Advance- ment of Science, said some time ago, “THE TIME IS SHORT.” A Korean Christian commenting on the terrible persecutions of that country remembered that only a few years ago there was a wave of revivalism sweeping over Korea. At that time it was noticed that there was a ready response to the revival — almost hard to account for, but now. looking back, he views it as God’s means of purging and preparing the church for the difficult times ahead. For some time it was felt that there was a spiritual indifference amongst us at Western Mennonite School. The faculty, giving con- sideration to this condition, planned a unique type of revival for the benefit of all the stu- dents. It was planned to have each forenoon for a whole week set apart for this, with members of the faculty participating. One of the brethren of the conference was called in to assist, and to serve as counselor to stu- dents in the afternoon of each day. The period was divided into three parts, the first part being used for a Bible lesson, the second for an expression period, and the third for a revival message. The results have been very gratifying. Visitors from the com- munity and parents joined in this period of refreshing. As the Word of God was un- folded day by day in a rich way and revival messages presented, the fires began to burn with a wonderful fervor. The expression periods were filled with songs, verses, testi- monies, and many expressions from students of the work of the Spirit of Fire burning the dross out of lives that were not being lived fully for God. Sin was confessed, many were the tears of repentance, and the quiet attitude of all the students reflected the real power of the Holy Spirit. Meetings like this are hard to appraise. The eternal values are immeasurable. Day by day as work proceeded and as students were systematically given a period of time for counseling, one could realize that there are truly matters more important than the daily routine of studies. For what does it matter one hundred years from now, as was pointed out, what our life consisted of here if we have not prepared for the world be- yond? “This life is but a narrow isthmus between two eternities,” and should we fail here, in keeping up our God-relationship, then we have truly missed all! May God bless our schools in these times, that the fires of revival may truly burn. Edu- cation, if it is only a mind process, is noth- ing but an empty shell. In every church school there should be such a warmth of spir- itual fervor that the very air is surcharged with the Spirit of the Living God. O God, deliver us from a cold intellectualism; and may there constantly be such an evangelistic and evangelical atmosphere that it will be an easy and common thing to testify to His sav- ing grace and power in the halls of our in- stitutions. May each school “seek to excel to the edifying of the church,” that there might be, as it were, a holy rivalry between us to search the deep things of God. May our school spirit be such that no student need be ashamed to live up to his highest convictions, to testify, to pray, and to grow in spiritual zeal. For in the light of eternity — only these are the values that will count. — By the Faculty. CAUGHT IN HIS OWN TRAP An egotistical young man, jealous of the wisdom and high reputation of the village hermit, caught a live bird, saying to himself, “I’ll prove I’m wiser than that old fool. I’ll say to him, with this bird in my hand, ‘Is this bird alive or dead?’ If he says, ‘It’s dead.’ I’ll open my hand and let it fly away. If he answers, ‘It’s alive,’ I’ll crush the life out of it.” When he asked his question, the old man replied quietly, “My boy. it’s in your hand. It’s what you choose.” — D. Carl Yoder.' ' 202 GOSPEL HERALD FAMILY CIRCLE A Baby’s Hand By Mary Alice Holden There’s something in a baby’s hand That only mothers know — The grasping and the eagerness For love that won’t let go. The curled-up tenderness that waits For those who earn its worth; The future God has given, when He sends a child to earth. There’s something in a baby’s hand That mothers love to touch— They find their kingdom in the faith And hope and love “of such.” Cimarron, Kans. Interesting Jane and Chatter-box Sally By Osie Ziegler “You know, I thought that Jane never would talk,” exclaimed one mother, “but now that she has begun, I can’t seem to get her stopped.” Perhaps this is typical of all children, but for most of them there is a gradual leveling off to a more even tempo of speech. Some, however, continue to give forth. Their babyhood prattle changes to childhood chatter and finally gradu- ates to full-blown adult gab. They talk as though they have heard that speech is silver, and so they continue to gather their silver, never once delving into the gold mine of silence. To the vast majority of folk, the tend- ency to talk too much poses no problem, but to those who have been born with the “gift of gab,” it is a very real prob- lem. Society needs those who are able to talk; so the answer is not in complete silence, but in learning how and when to speak. How is it that some have mas- tered their problem and become a real asset to society while others continue to talk themselves out of favor? Let us take the case of little Jane. Jane’s parents were both fluent speakers; so when little Jane arrived it was just taken for granted that she too would be a big talker. Naturally then, when at two years of age Jane still was not talk- ing, her parents became alarmed. A year later, however, the problem had exactly reversed itself. Jane talked all the time. Being normal parents, Jane’s folks were at first delighted with her chatter, but when, as time went on, she showed no signs of slowing down, they became con- cerned. Remembering her own girlhood and the blunders and trouble her much talking had often caused, Jane’s mother was anxious that her daughter be spared this experience. While Jane was still very young, her parents tried to teach her to respect older people. They endeavored also to teach her to be quiet and listen when others were talking. They often had to ask her to stop talking, and she usually obeyed, but her insistent chatter was always bubbling up again. Perhaps, thought her parents, if Jane could be made to want to listen, the problem could be helped. Her father started saving up interesting happenings of the day to tell her when he arrived home from work. He could always catch her interest with, “Guess what I saw in town today,” or “You never could guess what happened today!’ Then after Jane had listened big-eyed to his story, he would ask her a few questions, thereby giving her a chance to tell about her ex- citing day at home. Her steady flow of table talk could often be checked by the same method. Company time was another problem. Jane seemed to feel it her duty to enter- tain the guests. Her mother found that by telling her a little bit about the guests before they arrived, she could often arouse Jane’s curiosity enough to make her want to listen to what they had to say. A new coloring book or toy often solved the problem when the conver- sation was above Jane’s head. Jane's habit was not completely broken, for she continued to be talkative, but she was discovering that other people often did have interesting things to say, and she was unconsciously developing the habit of listening when others talked. And as Jane listened her own scope of interests was broadening also. Perhaps it was a missionary telling about the little chil- dren across the ocean; perhaps it was a traveler relating his varied experiences; or maybe it was just a neighbor discuss- ing things of local interest. But always there was something new to be learned. As Jane grew older she was encouraged to have hobbies. With her interest in reading, a library of good books was started. Always there was plenty of good music to be enjoyed in the home. Through these different channels Jane developed a well-rounded scope of in- terests so that when she did talk she usually had something to talk about. True, she often talked too much and was ashamed afterwards, but, because of her wide interests and her ability to talk in- terestingly and intelligently, and because she was always ready to listen to what the other person had to say, she was often chosen as a leader and was welcomed in any group. February 26, 1952 Sally, on the other hand, was not set fortunate. Her parents loved her, of course, but, although her tendency to talk all the time often annoyed them, they failed to recognize it as a serious problem in their child’s life. Sally was a friendly, intelligent child, but her shal- low chatter and inattention often low- ered her grades at school. Her school- mates were bored by her constant re- marks. Sally didn’t mean to be rude, but she seldom gave other folks a chance to talk when she was in a group. And so, having never learned the art of listening, she blundered her way through life, never quite realizing why she was not popular with her group. Whose fault was it that Jane was spok- en of as “that interesting Smith girl,” while Sally was avoided because “she’d talk your head off if you gave her a chance”? We as parents have a great re- sponsibility toward our naturally talka- tive children. We can shrug our shoul- ders with a “can’t be helped” attitude, or we can, by prayer and much patience, instill in them habits that will go a long way toward helping them meet their problem and adjust as interesting and useful members of society. Denbigh, Va. Too many of us live in a civilization wherein home is only a stopping-off place to and from the garage.— Selected. There is no more satisfying, impor- tant, soul-stirring job than parenthood. —Selected. It is in the living of the home pattern that honesty and integrity are inte- grated.—Selected. Home is our launching platform for sending our children out on uncharted seas.— Selected. EXPRESSIONS OF APPRECIATION Words fail us and we cannot express our deep appreciation and gratitude for all the won- derful kindnesses done for us following the flood in Kansas City which destroyed our cab- inet shop. For all your generosity of labor and offerings, we feel so unworthy. The love and thoughtfulness which prompted this means more than we can ever say. “Thank you” seems so inadequate. We just wish you could read our hearts. We know our heavenly Father will re- ward you for all your loving deeds. — Allen and Alfreda Weaver and Josephine, 5101 Lowell, Merriam, Kans. * * * In appreciation for the kind deeds and sym- pathies bestowed during the sickness, death, and burial of our husband and father, John D. Ris- ser, we now express our sincere thanks. — Mrs. Susan Risser and family, Hagerstown, Md. * * $ I would like to express my appreciation for the prayers offered for me and the Christmas and birthday cards sent to me during the holi- day season. I request that you still pray for my health — pray that His will be done in my life. — Sarah Good, 511 D St., Lebanon, Oreg. * * * We extend thanks to our friends and relatives for the cards and gifts sent to us for our fiftieth wedding anniversary. May the dear Lord bless you all. — Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Gahman, Per- kasie. Pa. * * * We wish to thank those who sent sympathy cards and letters and gifts during the illness and death of our husband and father. — Mrs. Emily Hurst and family, Lititz, Pa. February 26, 7952 GOSPEL HERALD 203 TO BE NEAR TO GOD THEME: FOR A WITNESS Sunday, March 2 Grandmother Lois "When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and they mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also” (II Tim. 1:5). While she cooked and cleaned she did not forget the better part — training her daughter Eunice in lovely godlike ways, mixing with the common needed tasks the leaven of spirit- ual wisdom. And after the godly mother Eunice came Timothy, loved of God and earnest and fruitful in his service for Him, helped to his place in God’s work by a God- fearing mother and grandmother. We are not sure that Grandmother Lois lived to see Timothy a man grown, but we can be sure that having lived life with genuine faith, she was blessed with the assurance of her witness being pleasing in His sight. Monday, March 3 A Group of Praying People "And when he had considered the thing, he came to the house of Mary the mother of John, whose sur- name was Mark; where many were gathered to- gether praying" (Acts 12:12). To Peter it was like a dream; the light shining in the dark prison, the call “arise up quickly,” and when he did, finding his chains fallen off, breathing the sweet, cool air, walk- ing free to the iron gate that led to the city and seeing it open without a hand touching it. Only after the angel had left did he know that it was really true. He thought on the wonder of God’s delivery and so came to the house of John’s mother. There he found many who had gathered to pray. How he must have rejoiced to find his friends there, to know that they were praying together for him, and to realize that their asking in faith had been heard by God and answered in his release. Our missionaries coming out of China found people praying together. How many and how great are the needs that call for our gathering ourselves together in prayer ! Tuesday. March 4 Andrew and Peter "He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, be- ing interpreted, the Christ" (John 1:41). "Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls" (Acts 2:41). Andrew and Peter were different, as chil- dren from the same family often are. Andrew was quiet and retiring. Peter was made for doing the spectacular things. Jesus needed Andrew to bring Peter; Peter to preach ser- mons like the one that added three thousand souls to the Church of Christ in one day. No- where do we read that Jesus valued the person or witness of one above the other. Both were disciples of His with a particular work in life. Rejoice that it is so; for some of us are Andrew-like and some of Peter’s kind. Wednesday, March 5 Boy with Loaves and Fishes "There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many" (John 6:9)? The boy whose name we do not know had gone with the others who had followed Jesus to His place of rest near the Sea of Galilee. He, too, wanted to see Jesus. Everyone was talking about Him and the wonderful things He did. He would see for himself! No doubt sometime during the afternoon there were grownups who thought he made too much noise or wiggled too much. Maybe the way his clothes hung offended some, and how could he help showing some signs of hunger as the meeting grew long? He was a boy, and he had what Jesus needed. The little lunch he carried turned into a feast for a multitude by Jesus’ hands. What wonderful things, potential and wait- ing, lie in your boy or girl and ours! Help us, God, to preserve and direct them for you. Thursday, March 6 Tychicus, Carrier of Paul’s Letters "All my state shall Tychicus declare unto you, who is a beloved brother, and a faithful minister and fellowservant in the Lord: whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose, that he might know your estate, and comfort your hearts" (Col. 4:7, 8). Paul could not go himself; so he sent some- one with his letters. That was the important work of Tychicus. He was the representative of Paul, a part of someone else’s work, a link in the work of Christ. Christ said, “To this end was I born, and for this purpose came I into the world.” The Bible is rich with ex- amples of men and women who were called or prepared for a particular place and kind of witness. Some were ten-talent people, some five, and some one. How surely God watches the use of the one talent and rejoices over its good employment as well as over that of the ten. Humble or great in men’s estimation, I will take my place of witness from Him and fill it to His honor. Friday, March 7 MaTy, Who Anointed Jesus' Feet "And being in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at meat, there came a woman having an alabaster box of ointment of spikenard very pre- cious; and she brake the box, and poured it on his head" (Mark 14:3). For this time she did not intend that the gift she gave should be long-lasting, meas- ured by standards of usefulness, but a gift that would show by its very expendableness that the giver’s heart was giving from a great store of love. The displeasure of Judas and the others who murmured that the money should have been given to the poor instead of being used for a gift of luxury could not mar that gift-giving — nor did she need Jesus’ words for her joy; for Mary’s giving was from the heart and asked nothing in return. Jesus (Continued on page 214) A FOLLOWER WITH AN AIM Sunday School Lesson for March 9 (Acts 20:17-27; 22:3-29; II Corinthians 11: 24-33; Philippians 3:4b-17) The follower in this study was a most re- markable and influential man. Who was he? Begin with Phil. 3:5 and let the class review Paul’s story. In the flesh: a direct descendant of Jacob; a Jew on both sides; one of the most ortho- dox defenders and expounders of the law; a well-educated man (Acts 22:3); a good man as far as the law was concerned, a man with a legal righteousness; very aggressive in' his persecution of Christianity (to talk and work against others is the most religion many peo- ple have); a leader in Judaism and in the persecution of the Christians (22:20). Saul was a very strong self-righteous man. Being transformed: the on-the-road-to-Da- mascus experience (let a pupil tell this en- trancing story); called to be an apostle to the Gentiles; submission, conversion. In Christ: preached Christ at Damascus, at Jerusalem, at Antioch; sent to Asia Minor; sent to Europe: Philippi, Thessalonica, Ath- ens, Corinth; installed many churches; per- formed miracles; became a prisoner for Christ and the Gospel; suffered many persecutions and hardships for Christ. II Cor. 11:24-33. What made Paul so zealous in spite of all his hard work and persecutions? This zeal was not born in him. Why are so few Chris- tians so zealous for Christ? Paul saw all his own righteousness as noth- ing, no credit to him or Christ. Many a Christian trusts yet in his own goodness and earnestness. Sincerity never saved anyone. Paul saw himself as the greatest of sinners. When he got converted, he got a new mind, with a new set of values. He was a new man in Christ Jesus. Paul made a full commitment to the Lord. The Gospel had hold of him. He was sat- urated with the Gospel. To declare the whole Gospel was his passion. He appreciated what he had been saved from and therefore ap- preciated the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He would live and die for Christ. The ministry which he had received of the Lord was pre- cious to him. Personally Paul put on the Lord Jesus Christ. Our lesson Scripture gives the explanation of Paul’s great service. He had a single eye. His aim in life was so definite that he could say it. His objective was not to be a great servant but to be found in Christ, to know Him and the fellowship of His sufferings. This affection was what sent him out into such great service. All his life was bent on one purpose. His zeal would have been much less had he lived in some part for himself. Also had he reached a point sometime when he was perfect or good enough. What difference would it make if more or all Christians had Paul’s eye to know Him and be found in Him ! — Alta Mae Erb. Lesson based on "International Sunday School Les- sons: the International Bible Lessons for Christian Teaching," copyrighted 1951 by the Division of Chris- tian Education National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. 204 GOSPEL HERALD February 26 , 1952 FIELD NOTES Items to appear in this column for any issue of the following Tuesday must reach Scottdale by Wednesday morning. Bro. Norman Derstine was scheduled to preach his first sermon at Trissels Church near Broadway, Va., on Feb. 17. Bro. J. R. Mumaw, Harrisonburg, Va., gave a series of Bible lectures at Grantham College Feb. 14-16. On Feb. 17 he partici- pated in a Sunday-school meeting at the Slate Hill Church. Bro. Paul Hummel, Berlin, Ohio, spoke to the Midway MYF, Columbiana, Ohio, on Feb. 16. Bro. Merrill Swartley is conducting a chorus at the Holdeman Church, Wakarusa, Ind. Bro. Clarence Shank preached at the Holde- man Church, Wakarusa, Ind., on the after- noon of Feb. 3 in a memorial service in mem- ory of Bro. Amos Culp. Bro. John C. Wenger, Goshen, Ind., was guest speaker at the Christian Workers’ Normal of the Fairview, Mich., Bible School on Feb. 16. The high school class of the Pigeon, Mich., congregation conducted a paper drive in Pigeon in order to raise money for benches for the Saginaw mission. Bro. Raymond Kramer, Meadville, Pa., gave the commencement address at the Can- ton Bible School on Feb. 15. Table of Contents 193 — Except You Turn The Shepherd (Poem) The Sheep (Poem) 194 — Overcoming Obstacles Our Readers Say 195 — Children, Not Puppets Christmas Giving Christianity for the World Save for Your Child's Education 196 — Tract News It Happened Daddy Was So Good — He Couldn't Be Lost! 197 — The Flesh and Spirit Our Covenant Goals 198 — The Hand of Our God My Father Knows (Poem) The Long Hair of I Corinthians 11 199 — A Prayer for This Week Tax Reductions Increased for Gifts Prayer Requests 200 — The History of the St. Jacobs Mennonite Church Lest We Forget 201 — Western Mennonite School 202 — A Baby's Hand (Poem) Interesting Jane and Chatter-box Sally Expressions of Appreciation 203 — To Be Near to God Sunday School Lesson for March 9 204 — Field Notes 205 — Mission News 206 — Something Has to Happen 207 — "Between the East and the West" The Gospel Bearing Fruit — Shirati 208 — Salvation Complete in Jesus Christ M.C.C. Weekly Notes 209 — Tentative Program of Conference on Lay Evan- gelism Women's Activities 210 — The Kingdom to the South 211 — Church Correspondence 214 — Birth3 Marriages Obituaries 215— -The Book Shelf Items and Comments The Ministers’ Week at the Canton Bible School enrolled 55 persons: 27 ordained men, 8 wives of ministers, and 20 lay workers. Sixteen persons were baptized and received into fellowship at the Martins Church, Ohio, congregation on Feb. 27. On the same day 6 were baptized and one was received on con- fession at Berlin, Ohio. A Peace Conference was held at the Yellow Creek Church, Goshen, Ind., on Feb. 16-17. Speakers were Levi C. Hartzler, Russell Kra- bill, Peter B. Wiebe, and a panel of students from Goshen College. The Mennonite Service Organization of Hesston, I£ans., gave a program at Yoder, Kans., the evening of Feb. 10. The Ontario Conference Executive Com- mittee arranged for a memorial service for the late King George VI at the Kitchener Church on Feb. 15. Bro. Frank Peters, Mennonite Brethren minister of Kitchener, Ont., and some singers from that church, gave the evening service at St. Jacobs, Ont., on Feb. 10. Bro. Joe Eigsti, Tiskilwa, 111., spoke to the Men’s Fellowship, Pleasant Hill Church, East Peoria, 111., on Feb. 21 concerning his experi- ences as a smoke-jumper. Members of Congress from Pennsylvania were interviewed by the brethren Jacob Moy- er and John E. Lapp concerning the UMT bill. A large group of applicants were received into church membership by baptism at Rex- ton, Mich., on Feb. 17. A recording of the Bible school chorus pro- gram at Fairview, Mich., was given in the home of Bro. Ora C. Wyse, Naubinway, Mich., on Feb. 21. A male quartet from Kalona, Iowa, gave the evening program at Manson, Iowa, on Feb. 3. Bro. C. F. Derstine, Kitchener, Ont., preached at the Warwick River Church, Den- bigh, Va., Feb. 12-13. Bro. C. Z. Martin, Mountville, Pa., con- ducted special meetings at the Rescue Mission in Portland, Oreg., the week of Feb. 3. The Sisters’ Sewing Circle Fellowship of the Pacific Coast Conference held its 18th Annual Meeting at the Zion Church, Hub- bard, Oreg., on Feb. 14. Two booklets have just come from the presses of the Publishing House: All About Television, bv Russell Krabill and Cleo Mann, and Clear Thinking About Courtship, by John C. Wenger. Sister Maude Swartzendruber, after fifteen years of service at the Mennonite Hospital, La Junta, Colo., has been granted a sabbatical leave beginning this fall. She will spend her leave doing research work, studying nursing needs in Mennonite institutions, and writing the history of the Mennonite Hospital and Sanitarium. A male quartet from the Oak Grove Church, West Liberty, Ohio, participated in the services at Metamora, HI., Feb. 17. Speakers at the Quarterly Bible Meeting held at Manchester, Pa., on Feb. 24 were Walter Lehman, Chambersburg, Pa., and William Martin, Menges Mills, Pa. A community hymn sing was held at the East Union Church, Kalona, Iowa, the after- noon of Feb. 17. The revised date for the Ohio Mennonite Mission Board Meeting is April 25-27. The Ohio Women’s and Girls’ Missionary Society will meet at the same place (Oak Grove, West Liberty, Ohio) on April 26. The Commission for Christian Education and Young People’s Work will hold its spring meeting May 2-3. The place will be an- nounced later. Foreign students from Hesston College gave a program at Crystal Springs, Kans., the evening of Feb. 17. A committee representing the various con- gregations of the Southwestern Pennsylvania Conference {net at Johnstown, Pa., on Feb. 16 to make plans for the Brunk Evangelistic Campaign to be held there in April and May. The Warwick River Christian Day School has decided to add another teacher next year to take care of increased enrollment and to add grade 9 to the curriculum. Visiting Speakers Jan. 20: Walter A. Shank, Ellicott City, Md., at Warwick River Church, Denbigh, Va. Jan. 27: Arthur Brubaker, Brethren-in- (Coniinued on page 212) Calendar Eastern Ohio Minister's Meeting, Leetonia Mennonite Church, Leetonia, Ohio, Mot. 4-5. Annual Ministers' Meeting, South Central Conference, Greensburg, Kans., March 11-13 Southwestern Pennsylvania Conference, Ministers' Meeting, Place Undecided, March 21, 22 Conference on Christian Community Relations, Tis- kilwa, III., March 27-29 General Council of Mennonite General Conference, including invitational Prophecy Conference, Elk- hart, Ind., April 2-5. Lay Evangelism Conference, Goshen College, Go- shen, Ind., April 5-7 Illinois Mennonite Mission Board Annual Meeting, Roanoke, 111., April 16-17. Ohio Mennonite Mission Board Annual Meeting, Oak Grove Church, West Liberty, Ohio, April 25-27. Pacific Coast Conference, Western Mennonite School, Salem, Oreg., June 3-6. Mennonite Youth Fellowship Workshop, Iowa Men- nonite School, Kalona, Iowa, June 9-12 Mennonite Youth Fellowship Annual Meeting, Lower Deer Creek Church, Kalona, Iowa, June 13, 14 Mennonite Board of Missions and Charities, Annual Meeting, Lower Deer Creek Church, Kalona, Iowa, June 14-17 Laurelville Mennonite Camp, Mt. Pleasant, Pa. Boys' Camp (ages 9-12), June 28 to July 4 Girls' Camp (ages 9-12), July 5-11 Junior High Camp (boys and girls, ages 13-15), July 12-18 Missionary Bible Conference, July 19-25 First Family Week, July 26 to Aug. 1 First Young People's Institute, Aug. 2-8 Second Young People's Institute, Aug. 9-15 Second Family Week, Aug. 16-22 Victorious Life Conference, Aug. 23-24 Music Week, Aug. 25-29 Southwestern Pennsylvania Conference, Springs, Pa., July 20-23 Virginia Conference and associated meetings, Trissels Church, Broadway, Va., July 21-24. Chesley Lake Camp, Allenport, Ont. Boys' Camp, Aug. 9-16 Girls' Camp, Aug. 16-23 Young People's Camp. Aug, 23-30 Ohio Mennonite Christian Workers' Conference, Mar- tins Church, Orrville, Ohio, Aug. 12-14. South Central Conference. Annual Meeting, Hutchin- son, Kans., Aug. 12-15. Iowa-Nebr. Conference, Bethel Church, Wayland, Iowa, Aug. 13-15. Illinois Mennonite Conference, Flanagan, III., Aug. 19-21 Mennonite General Conference, Place Undecided Aug. 26-30, 1953 February 26, 1952 205 GOSPEL HERALD Go, Preach • MISSIONS * Give, Pray The General Board Headquarters for Missions, Relief and Service: 1711 Prairie Street, Elkhart, Indiana. Telephone, Elkhart 2-2786. Mission News Bro. Rudy Stauffer represented Ohio Mis- sion Board interests at Kidron, Ohio, on Feb. 17. The Annual Meeting of the Iowa-Nebraska Mission Board will be held at the West Union Church, Parnell, Iowa, Feb. 26-27. Bro. Clarence Horst, Mountain Home, Ark., was the speaker in the Annual Mission Emphasis Week at Iowa Mennonite School the week of Feb. 17. Eugene and Luella Blosser spoke at West Union, Parnell, Iowa, the evening of Feb. 17 concerning mission work in China. A builders’ unit, under the direction of Bro. Henry Eshleman and wife, is building a church at Atmore, Ala. Speakers at the Annual Meeting of the Eastern Board of Missions and Charities to be held at the Weaverland Church March 11- 13 include Abner Stoltzfus and E. E. Miller. Bro. J. Oberholtzer, Manheim, Pa., is the new superintendent for the mission in Har- risburg, Pa., which has been moved to the corner of Sixth and Reiley Streets. Bro. Abner Stoltzfus is scheduled to speak concerning his visit to Israel at the Oxford Circle Mission in Philadelphia on March 2. Bro. Noah Sauder, New Holland, Pa., will speak on March 1 in Philadelphia concerning his trip to Europe and Israel to an informal fellowship group sponsored by the Jewish workers. A new church building has been completed at Newlinsville, Coatesville, Pa. An ordina- tion for pastor is scheduled for March 4. Bro. J. Irvin Lehman discussed “Desired Effects of Revival” at the Quarterly Mission- ary Roundtable held at Rossmere, Lancaster, Pa., on Feb. 11. Bro. John Leatherman and wife spoke at Blainsport, Pa., on Feb. 3. A meeting in the interests of Jewish Evan- gelism will be held at New Danville, Pa., April 11-12 with Harold Eshleman, Harri- sonburg, Va., and Paul M. Miller, Goshen, Ind., as speakers. Steps are being taken for the co-operation of the Pacific Coast Mission Board with the Eastern Board of Missions and Charities in occupying the Tacoa field in Honduras. Bro. and Sister Don McCammon spoke in morning and evenine services at Manson, Iowa, on Feb. 17; on Feb. 18 at a Fellowship Supper they showed slides of their work in China. Sister Naomi Derstine, recently returned from Children’s Home work in France, spoke at the Plain Church, Lansdale, Pa., the eve- ning of Feb. 17. Bro. Levi C. Hartzler, will show slides on voluntary service at Orrville, Ohio, on March 1. He will bring the morning message on March 2. Bro. and Sister Don McCammon will show slides on China at Orrville, Ohio, on March 29, and speak in the Sunday services on China experiences. Sister Marie .Yoder, on furlough from Puer- to Rico, spoke at the Holdeman Church, Wakarusa, Ind., on Feb. 10. The Virginia Mission Board sponsored a program at Weaver’s Church, Harrisonburg, Va., on Jan. 27. Among the speakers were Truman H. Brunk and John Shenk of Den- bigh, Va. The Mennonite Central Committee has engaged architects to design the new forty- bed mental hospital near Newton, Kans. The Mennonite Mental Health Center was opened on Feb. 18 at 314 Main Street, Newton, Kans. This newly established office will serve as a contact point for the different Mennonite groups working with the M.C.C. in making the hospital possible. It will serve as a clear- ing point on mental health information and Your Treasurer Reports I have just had the opportunity of visiting the mission work being carried on at Culp, Ark. I can truly say that here is an area of mission work which is attempting to take the Gospel to the people through an indigenous program. A number of our brethren are working in this area among the people and becoming leaders in the community. In ad- dition to this, the Mission Board is sponsor- ing an educational program through a com- munity school. The work of the school is di- rected towards supplying the needs of the people who live in this mountainous area. A local clinic under direction of the Board serves the community in the area of medical needs. At the present time, four small churches have been established. There are prospects of additional churches being started. These churches are not large and consist mainly of people in the community who have respond- ed to the witnessing of those who are labor- ing there. I believe that this mission effort represents an indigenous community approach through which the Gospel seed is sown and the fruits of the Gospel realized through local response. This work needs our financial support. In addition, we should continually pray for the brethren and sisters of our church who are giving of themselves to labor and witness among the people of the Ozark mountains. Support of this work should be designated for the Culp, Ark., Mission. H. Ernest Bennett, Treasurer Mennonite Board of Missions and Charities Elkhart, Indiana. MENNONITE RELIEF COMMITTEE (M.R.C.) A nurse aide school is being planned at the Mennonite General Hospital, La Plata, Puer- to Rico, to begin in August. A qualified su- pervisor is needed to direct the school. This person must have an R.N. degree and should have some training in nursing education. Write the Secretary for Service and Relief. Ten volunteers for service spent the week of Feb. 18-23 at the Elkhart headquarters in preparation for assignment in service projects as follows: La Junta Hospital Unit— Eugene Diller, Hesston, Kans.; Joseph Kauffman, Seeley Lake, Mont.; Kenneth Miller, Hesston, Kans.; Eldon Nofziger, Hopedale, 111.; Jo- seph Plank, Arthur, 111.; Willis Snyder, La Junta, Colo.; and Evelyn Weaver, Ft. Wayne, Ind.; Kansas City Hospital Unit — Albert Erb Jr., Beemer, Nebr.; Mercy Home, Birming- ham, Ala. — Mr. & Mrs. LeRoy Sheats, Spring City, Pa. Bro. and Sister Justus Holsinger, La Plata, Puerto Rico, will complete a three and one half year term of service as director and matron of La Plata Mennonite Project on March 19 and will return to the states with their two sons immediately afterward. At a recent meeting of the Puerto Rico Executive Committee, Brother Luke Birky, business manager of the La Plata Project, was appoint- ed acting director until a new director can take over the responsibilities of that office. Bro. and Sister John E. Lehman, Colum- biana, Ohio, have recently been appointed by M.R.C. to serve as director and matron of La Plata Mennonite Project, La Plata, Puerto Rico, to begin service by late summer. A doctor will be needed for a two year term in the Mennonite Hospital at La Plata, Puerto Rico, by August, 1952. Several nurses will also be needed for replacements during 1952. Write the Secretary for Service and Relief. will endeavor to develop a general referral and counseling service. The planning and building of the new central area hospital will also be administered from this office. Care should be taken to differentiate between the two M.C.C. offices now in the Newton area. There is no change in the address of the Mennonite Relief Clothing Center. Corre- spondence and packages to this center should still be addressed to North Newton, Kans,. Sister Christine Weaver, returned mission- ary from China, who is enrolled at Iowa State University . for the second semester, gave a short talk at West Union, Parnell, Iowa, on Feb. 10. Bro. Abram Landis has been given a re- lease from the Rocky Ridge congregation in (Continued on page 212) 206 GOSPEL HERALD February 26, 1952 Henry Becker is on tour this week. Paul Knisses’ experience has been good for our mission family. Some others seem to have caught the vision of what we need to be do- ing. There are so many openings and we do far too little. A Mohammedan man says he is ready to be a Christian, but he is afraid to tell his family. It would be possible that the whole village may come as a result, also rela- tives in another village. We pray this may be. Last evening we all went with John to Chandwa to buy rice for the workers here. One shopkeeper’s girl carried Cheryl around. Everyone wanted to see her. One place three women in purdah peeked through a crack in the door and asked her to bring her in. There are many living like that, and none of us know what is behind those closed doors in the homes behind the rows of shops. That fact burns and haunts me. Allen Shirk and the pandit have been hav- ing bazaar meetings each week. How we need to sow the seed while we are given op- portunity. I’m preaching a sermon, I guess, but it’s just that we are in danger of living too complacently each day here as we are tempted to at home. Bihar, India. India and Her Needs Millions have never heard that the Prince of Peace came to bring joy and gladness. The present population of India is estimated to be 342,114,000. Malaria is the biggest public enemy, claiming l'/4 million victims a year. T.B. each year claims 500,000, while five times that number suffer from it. Snake bites take a toll of 30,000. Smallpox claims 70,000. Plague accounts for another 20,000. The lives of many happy would-be mothers are cut short at childbirth at the tragic figure of 200,000. About 30 per cent of the people in normal times do not get enough to eat. There is one doctor to 6,000 people. There is one nurse to 56,000 people. There is one midwife to care for 80,000 people. There is 0.24 of a hospital bed for 1,000 peo- ple.— Supplied by R. T. Hyratt. MISSIONS SECTION Drawing water for the brickmakers. Something Has to Happen By Miriam Beachy Rows and rows of bricks stacked to dry in the sun. A number of weeks ago I wrote a letter to you telling about the progress of the building work. We are living at Bethet now. We have a nice little garage to live in. It is very com- fortable— only a little damp and cold yet be- cause the walls and floor are not entirely dry. The bungalow wall is up to floor level and they are pouring the cement today before going on up with the wall. There are four- teen masons working and John says with that many men something has to happen. People at home must surely be praying be- cause it is only through the blessing of God that the work is progressing as it is. We hope money will be contributed for this sta- tion because we feel the people are open to the Gospel message. We want to have church services on Sundays. There are about one hundred people working; so it is a busy, noisy place. We like the location. It is on higher ground with jungle on all sides and a river and a hill on the one side. The Indian people say it is the nicest of all our stations, but John feels it is because of the river. He says the workers almost live in it! One morning in prayers we repeated Matthew 5 and then in his prayer Yakub prayed that this station may really be a light set on a hill that cannot be hid. Our chaukidar has been working for us for nearly two and a half years. He is a Hin- du. Now he and his wife are ready to be baptized this coming Sunday. We are so thankful for this. We wish so much that we had more time for direct evangelistic work, and this helps us to see that each thing we do is a witness for Him. The chaukidar first asked permission to go home for some divid- ing of fields. We let him go, but for some reason the fields were not divided. Now, if he is baptized, he will not get his share. We praise God for his willingness to be baptized anyway. The new church at Hisera is built up to the roof. Last Sunday we thought we would have some time for letters, but instead we took ten people home for tea and then went to see the church at Hisera. We had a nice time together and I’m sure it was an after- noon well spent. February 26, 1952 GOSPEL HERALD 207 “Between the East and the West” By Dave Shank Yesterday we had the experience of attend- ing a conference of a group of Belgian Prot- estants in which the m^in subject discussed was “The Church Between the East and the West.” At this moment many of my reac- tions to some of the things heard there are not yet crystallized, but I felt that by writing this letter I could share the concerns of that meeting, and perhaps precise those concerns for myself. But first of all, a little introduc- tion to the context of the meeting. Present at the various sessions were pas- tors, laymen, both workers and employers, and other interested persons, who having found themselves faced by two conflicting propagandas, decided to meet together to find out what they could do to find their way be- tween these two streams, and yet be true to Christ and the church. One of the leading speakers was a French pastor who had re- cently been in Hungary and Czechoslovakia where he had met with church leaders in those countries, including Hromadka, who as you surely know, is supposed to have “capitulated” with Communism. The group found itself struggling with an intensely difficult but intensely real problem. They saw themselves as a church caught be- tween two fires. For orientation in seeking to locate their role they briefly considered the Christian Church in each of these fires. First of all are the churches behind the iron curtain who cannot flee the situation in which they find themselves (as our European fore- fathers did), but must completely reorient their whole way of thinking economically, and still be true to Christ, even when they find themselves and some of their members bearing temporal judgments as D.P.’s with- in their own country, for their economic “sins” as the regime calls it of the past. In- cidentally, an impartial observer, such as Christ, would probably also have judged them — and perhaps does. On the other hand, the conference group saw the Western Church symbolized by the large number on the continent of Europe, and who for all practical purposes closed their eyes to the poverty and misery in that place. Although I reminded that American peace churches were at the present time attempting to work out a program in Greece with boys who were opposing the draft in the States, I yet had to admit that it was being done under the arm of American Economic Aid and thus a part of the whole program of the Atlantic Pact, viewed with horror not only by Christians of the East, but by many Christians of the center — that is, Eastern Europe. In the eyes of this conference, there were three churches. First, the church of the East, judged because of its unquestioned collabora- tion with a specifically historical expression of economics which has been judged. Sec- ond, the church of the West, ripe and over- ripe for judgment because of its perfect identi- fication, again almost unquestioned commit- ment (at least in practice, and that’s what counts) to the worst expressions of that same economic pattern. Third, the church between the hammer and the anvil — that of Western Europe. The conclusions of the conference included the feeling of necessity for this third church to somehow identify itself with the suffering church of the East, but must also try to come closer, in terms of complete un- derstanding, to those who speak out their words of judgment upon the economic sys- tem with which this third church finds itself identified. Their attitude toward the West (i.e., the U.S.) was one of almost absolute mistrust, because of hypocrisy, pharisaism, war mongering, and an unjustified self- righteousness with regard to their “divinely ordained” economics — all of which attitudes, they seemed to feel, are shared by the West- ern Church. Needless to say, such a conference disturbs one a bit. But we are living in disturbing times, in which we need to be prodded over and over a?ain. At least some questions have been raised afresh — I say afresh, because I am sure that we as a church community have ra;sed them before, but I repeat them in a different context, to give them a note of urgency. Question No. 1. Is our Mennonite Church “between” the East and the West, or are we wholeheartedly with the West? That is to sav — neutral? We have tried to maintain a Christian neutrality with the question of war and nationalism and the impending evils, and have given a good deal less than 100% wit- ness. Part of this witness has been given in our willingness to aid, to the tune of millions of dollars’ worth of goods and money. But Eastern economic theory says that wars are inherent in the Western system, as practiced. How closely allied to the evils of Western practice are we in our “Mennonite com- munities”? How neutral are we in this re- gard? Recently I read the Laureville declara- tion which certainly makes a definite effort to neutralize — but these are also words, and it is the practice which is judged. Question No. 2. If judgment should come so confidently to the West as it has to the East (and here I do not think we as Chris- tians should speak about the strength of the West with regard to a Pax Americana, which was so evidently and explicitly expressed in word and attitude by one of our American Mennonite leaders with whom I recently talked), would our economic sins be little or great — and how do they now appear in the eyes of an impartial observer such as Christ? Question No. 3. Are we, who try to be neutral, constantly asking ourselves, “But how and where can we know the full truth about the contemporary situation?” as did one of the men who was present at the con- ference? Or are we unconsciously accepting everything that we hear because in general we hear only one point of view, and when we hear another point of view, we can not treat it rationally because of emotions arising from a too-close identification with a given point of view? Recently a French writer told me that in our day it is impossible to remain neutral on these great issues; but it behooves us as a church to become as nearly neutral as possi- ble, not because of the two fires, but be- cause of the love of Christ. To take His Word of Redemption to those outside the Church in Europe today, one has to be neutral. Brussels, Belgium. The Gospel Bearing Fruit — Shirati By Merle and Sara Eshleman Recently at the Shirati station we were per- mitted to fellowship with about 200 African brethren and sisters in a communion service. We remembered that only seventeen years ago there was no church here, and our hearts rejoiced that so many have found Christ as their Saviour. The service was made more impressive because our African pastors took part in the sharing of the communion. We have been encouraged by the practical way in which a group of the Christian men discuss problems of the Christian community. This group meets every few months and usually has a fairly large agenda which is written on the blackboard. Their methods of handling business and the conclusions ar- rived at are not always what we Western people might think best, but it is encourag- ing to see them try to find their own way. The young church in Africa is growing numerically and spiritually and there is a commendable approach toward maturity. The Christians have become less dependent on the missionary and are ready to handle their own problems and lead out on their own initiative to a much greater degree than a few years ago. A number of old people have accepted Christ during the past year. The widowed mothers of several of our young Christians are in this group. The old former rain mak- er has found Christ precious as his Saviour. He had some contact with the mission from the time it was opened in 1934, but remained cold and distant to every approach. He had been ministered to medically many times, but it was not until an acute illness some months ago that he faced death and reality. In his dark, dirty hut he accepted Christ when the doctor again spoke to him of his spiritual need. He now attends services reg- ularly, has a testimony among the heathen people, and is accepted for baptism. It is easy for the missionary to wonder why the new Christians do not see and do things as we were used to in our own Chris- tian communities. It takes time, teaching, and patient waiting for Christian conscience to develop. Insisting that everything be done as it is “back home” is not the proper way for the Gospel to bear fruit in a foreign land. The Luo custom of removing six lower teeth at the age of about ten years was so firmly fixed, and for a time presented such a strong temptation to the children that we wondered how this custom would ever be overcome. Now there is a large group of children from MISSIONS SECTION 208 February 26, 1952 GOSPEL HERALD Missionaries and Africans fellowship at Pastor Nashon’s home and eat together. Christian homes who have all their teeth and the custom seems to be definitely on the de- cline. The ordination of African pastors has been a big step forward in the development of the church and with it there is a growing sense of assuming the rights and privileges of a church. At Shirati the shortage of mission- ary personnel during the latter part of 1951 naturally made it necessary to place more responsibility on the African brotherhood. They have responded well, and the experi- ence has been good. The church does, how- ever, still need our prayerful interest and help in many things. We need to work with the The great hope of all Christians is to make ready in the journey toward heaven. We know that the people of this world are judged because of their sins, and this judgment is on every person born of Adam. When I was a child of about twelve years, one day I was in the field with my mother and my brother. He told us about the judg- ment of God, how sinners would be judged and thrown into hell for eternity, and the true Christians who were saved by the blood of the Lamb would go to heaven along with the Lord Jesus. From that very day I desired very much to be a Christian, so that some day I would go to heaven and that I not enter eternal punishment. My brethren, although I hoped thus, I did not get peace although I did ac- cept religion and afterwards was baptized and was known as a Christian. I was sent to Bible school and was taught along with the Bible the Mennonite rules and discipline. This was all very good. I was taught three MISSIONS SECTION African' church, give counsel and guidance, but along with this be willing to take an in- creasingly smaller place as the years go by. There has been real victory of the Gospel in individual Christian lives. It has been our privilege during the past few years to see spiritual growth in the lives of many. Some who were lukewarm Christians have had a fuller spiritual experience and are living in victory and praising the Lord. Some others who had backslidden and lived in sin for years have returned and confessed their needs and found healing. Let us pray that there may yet be much more fruit of the Gospel in this dark land. — Africa Annual Report. years and finished my studies and passed the examinations. I became a teacher and leader among the people of God. Although I was helped much in my studies, I did not have this completeness in the Lord Jesus. I was a good person for the church and before the people, but not in the presence of Christ Jesus. Sin was inside of me. I was jealous of my fellow men. I hated those who did me wrong, and many times I was proud. I did not love other Christians, and said that our Mennonite religion is better than all others because thfey did not have the proper way to approach God. When I was an elder of the church, I judged those who were known to have sin, but I hid my own because no one had found me in sin. I tried to be a good person and to appear happy in the presence of others. But I did not have peace of heart because of the fear of death, and I became tired of religion. I had wanted to go to heaven, but now I was conquered by sin inside of me. I even thought it good ter leave the Christian religion; and return to .the religion of my; fathers. T .would marry a second wife, and rest in the things of this world because I saw I would not go to heaven. My entire hope seemed lost. But God be praised, because He did not leave me to be lost. He spoke to me from Rom. 2:4-11. He showed me that those who continue to do good will get glory and honor and eternal life, and that God has no respect of person between European and African. Only believe and you will be saved from your sin. I accepted and He saved me. My load was taken away. Joy, love, and peace entered and the fear of death was re- moved. The witness of Jesus now filled my heart. I witnessed for my Saviour and lifted Him up. Many others too have seen Jesus and have gotten this life as I have here at Shirati. But it is not our work, but the work of the Lord Jesus. We have only lifted Him up and He draws them. Here we have recognized that if the lead- er has not been saved and does not have life, his people will not have life. If sin is in the heart, the channels of blessing will be closed to others. Why was I troubled this way with Sin 'when it was so easy to be saved? Because ! wanted to guard my prestige and did not want my badness to be seen. We remember Naaman, how it was so difficult for him al- though he was near to being helped. He was to take off his clothes and enter Jordan. He thought that all of his people would see his ulcers and marks of leprosy, and said I will not take off my clothes and enter Jordan. Naaman was ready to return again with his leprosy. But he heard the voice of his servant and was healed. Many people of religious rank are missing salvation because they want to guard their own greatness. God be thanked that He saved a needy one like me. If a person confesses his sin and accepts the Son of God, that very hour salva- tion is ready for him. I believe this because it was done for me. I don’t speak of that which I do not know, but that which I un- derstand to be true. God be praised for all of this.— Africa Annual Report. M.C.C. Weekly Notes Draft Regulations Expected Soon The draft regulations pertaining to the ordering of conscientious objectors to work contributing to the “national health, safety or interest” have now cleared the various gov- ernment departments which have concerns in this matter, and we are. advised that they will likely be ready for the President’s signa- ture soon. Only a few minor changes have been made from the earlier confidential copy of the regulations which had been provided for study by the church leaders. After these regulations are officially issued, the Selective Service Headquarters will need -to send directives to the local boards before drafting begins. Germany: Needs Greater or Less? Reynold Sawatzky, one of the relief work- ers; who; is: particularly engaged: ia material aid' distributions; in Germany, : makes:.. the Salvation Complete in Jesus Christ By Samwel Ngoga Nyandoro (Translated from Swahili) February 26, 1952 GOSPEL HERALD 209 Tentative Program of Conference on Lay Evangelism to be held at Goshen College Union Auditorium, Goshen, Indiana April 5, 6, 7, 1952 Conference sponsored by the Mennonite Board of Missions and Charities and the Goshen College Biblical Seminary Saturday Evening, 7:30 The Church and Her Laymen The Christian and His Task Sunday Morning, 9:45 Sermon: The Biblical Basis for Lay Activity in the Church Lay Activity in Early Church History Laymen and the Modern Missionary Movement ' Sunday Afternoon, 2:30 “What Are We Doing?” Youth Working Women Working Men Working 1. Ambassadors for Christ 2. Hesston Disaster Units 3. Clayton Kratz Fellowship 4. Orrville Laymen’s Evangelistic Movement Sunday Evening, 7:00 Evangelism the Task of the Church What Laymen Can Do in Evangelism of the Church Monday Morning, 8:30 Lay Evangelism Movements in Other Churches Discussion in charge of chairman 1. Lay Evangelistic Activity and the Pastor 2. How Utilize Laymen in Existing Organizations Discussion Monday Afternoon, 1:30 How Promote Lay Evangelism in the Congregation? Total Stewardship of Time and Money Monday Evening, 7:30 Evangelistic Service Laymen and ministers are invited to attend this conference and to be present for the first session, Saturday evening, 7:30. Notice of fur- ther details on procedure, housing, and a completed program will be sent to pastors soon. Further announcement will also be made in the Gospel Herald covering additional information and accommoda- tions. Watch for the completed program. statement in his last report that among refu- gees the need now is as great as at any time since 1947. Even today there are those who flee westward into Germany for refuge, and these people are destitute. Many others who have been refugees for longer periods have been unemployed, and with the wearing away of the meager resources they have had, they too become destitute. It is true that more people in Germany are becoming self-suf- ficient, even among those with refugee back- ground; but among the “neediest of the needy” there are yet conditions that well justify the churches in North America to sacrifice for carrying relief “In the Name of Christ.” Sweet Water in the Chaco From the M.C.C. Experimental Farm in the Paraguay Chaco comes word that a new well has been completed, one which yields sweet water. This is a rare occurrence in the Chaco, for many of the wells there yield salty water which is not suitable for drinking. Relief in Austria The Christmas Bundles could not be dis- tributed in Austria by Christmas time, but on January 12 three groups of 200 children each came to the Y.M.C.A. auditorium in Vienna to receive their wonderful gifts. Re- lief worker, Norman Wingert writes: “We have only one regret. It is that the 600 boys and girls in America who gave the 600 gifts could not be seated in the auditorium gallery to witness the scene of 600 lovable, war- mauled Austrian children actually taking in- to their hands the multicolored Christmas Bundles. It. was heart-warming, thrilling, touching.” The workers in Austria also recently dis- tributed 170 comforters in three refugee camps. On each Saturday evening they can- duct a Bible study hour in a private home, which is so well attended that they may need to locate a larger meeting place. Christmas Bundles “Successful” in Formosa The February report from Formosa (Tai- wan) states that Christmas Bundles reached the island in time for distribution before Christmas. Some were given to children at a Leper Colony; some to children in an or- phanage; some to blind children; others were distributed in the schools and elsewhere. Many of these children had never before had a new set of clothing, and many had not had a New Testament. Glen Graber summarizes, “We consider the distribution of these 300 bundles a most successful project. It may seem a bit early but please put M.C.C. Tai- wan on your list as requesting bundles for 1952.” Released February 15, 1952 Via Mennonite Central Committee, Akron, Pennsylvania Women’s Activities Looking for something to do? Here are a few suggestions that Sister Ida Stoltzfus gave in the January activities letter: 1. Send good used clothing to M.C.C. 2. Warm flannel gowns and undergar- ments for old people in Germany. 3. Hospital supplies for Formosa. 4. Quilts for children’s and workers’ beds r(Weiler Children’s Home). * * * Contributions of money for the following items may be sent through your district or- ganization: 1. Nursing education (Training schools, Goshen and La Junta). 2. Furnishings for Japan missionary homes. 3. General expense fund. 4. Sheet and blanket fund. 5. Any district or local projects you may have, such as support of a missionary, a national worker, girls’ home, etc. * • • Have you decided which of your good ideas for sewing circle activities you are go- ing to send in for the April issue of the Mis- sionary Sewing Circle Monthly? Your re- port should be mailed this week. Let’s have every district represented. Variety and par- ticipation by all makes an interesting, help- ful project. — Mrs. C. L. Shank, 904 College Avenue, Goshen, Ind. In India there are over 6,000,000 Christ- ians. There are 600,000 towns and villages and 25,000 Christian congregations, so that each congregation is responsible for sending the light to 24 villages or towns. There is one pastor to eight congregations. — Supplied by R. T. Hyratt. MISSIONS SECTION 210 GOSPEL HERALD February 26, 195 2 Mud roads, rain, and swamps are a part of the difficult transportation problems that must be dealt with in traveling the long distances from one of our stations to another in Argentina. This truck is stuck in the road near Tres Lomas. The Kingdom to the South of Missions and Charities in Annual Meeting of June, 1950, in which certain policies and church-building ideals were set forth. It made clear that the time was now here for the Men- nonite Church in Argentina to set herself vigorously to the task of becoming a national church independent of mission support. The first obvious step is for congregations to select and then support their own pastors. They may either select from the national pas- tors now available, or they may raise up qualified men from the congregation itself. If full support for a pastor is not possible, they may be able to arrange part-time sup- port with the pastor engaging in some occu- pation for a portion of his sustenance. Mis- sionaries from North America should not continue indefinitely as pastors of congrega- tions, but should take steps to set up their congregations with regular national pastors. It became clear that simply passing minutes at the Pastors’ and Workers’ Board meeting will not rouse the congregations to action. It was felt that pastors have been doing too much of the congregational work themselves with too little participation by lay members. A new motivation on the congregational level was required. The people at home must feel that this is our church and must become enthusiastic in its support. To bring this about a decentralization of church govern- ment is needed. There must be more con- gregational autonomy so that the local group will feel free to act, and the central confer- ence should serve mainly for co-ordination, advice, and for the cultivation of conference- wide fellowship. VI By J. D. Graber Ten Days at “Monte El Retiro” The Mennonite Church and Mission in Argentina also has its campground. It is lo- cated near Trenque Lauquen and fulfills much the same function in the life of the church here as do our various campgrounds in North America, except that here there is no permanent staff. Each conference or ac- tivity using the camp makes its own provi- sion for cooking, supervision, and direction. The camp is a beautiful three-acre plot cov- ered with a dense growth of towering eu- calyptus trees. A windmill, with a tank up in the tower, supplies the water, while cabins and “lines” of rooms are available as accom- modation for guests. A kitchen and dining hall, equipped with necessary cutlery and enamelware plates and cups, and a com- modious tabernacle in the center complete the physical setup. The ten-day series opened with a meeting of the “Pastors’ and Workers’ Board.” This group is made up of all the North American missionaries, the national pastors and work- ers, and, this year for the first time, a limited number of lay delegates with “voice but no vote.” This is actually the executive body of MISSIONS SECTION the Argentine Mennonite Church. Since in- spirational meetings followed immediately at the regular biennial conference, the two days set aside for the Board meeting were taken up with business. How establish the national church? This was the chief question before the delegates. Early in the meeting I was asked to go over the paper drawn up by the Mennonite Board A memorandum in five main parts was drawn up outlining clearly the steps of pro- cedure by which a congregation achieves her full status of selecting and supporting her own pastor. Due emphasis is given to the spiritual foundations. It is recognized that a spiritual revival is necessary as the basic ele- ment of true Christian motivation. The vi- sion of the primary task of the members of any local congregation being evangelism and soul-winning was held forth as that which would drive the people in desperation to their knees seeking the power of the Holy Spirit to be witnesses. This is the most essential The beautiful three-acre campground plot near Trenque Lauquen which was used by the mission and church conferences is also used to hold the annual retreat for the young people of the Argen- tine churches. February 26, 1952 211 clement of an independent congregation come to full maturity. Another important action of the Board was the decision to work out a national charter. At present the charter is held by the Men- nonite Board of Missions and Charities of Argentina, and the church organization is integrated into it. What is needed as a nec- essary step toward the establishment of a national church is a church constitution and its registration with the government. The present “foreign” organization may then cease to exist whenever that time is ripe and the church charter will remain. The “Convencion” or conference that fol- lowed was characterized by its emphasis on revival. The conference theme was “For a Victorious Church.” Many times during the sessions we were aware of the Spirit’s near- ness, and once, on Saturday forenoon, after a message on “Revival and Confession” the meeting continued for several hours amid confession, tears, and prayer. We all feel as- sured that the Lord has granted us the first fruits of the revival they have been praying for and expecting here in Argentina, and for which many prayer supporters in North America have been laboring. The workers, GOSPEL HERALD national and foreign, returned to their church- es with new hope and expectation for the Spirit’s outpouring in every place. The few days of Mission Council that fol- lowed were pleasant days of fellowship, mo- ments of high inspiration, and saw much practical work done. More clearly than ever the work of the missionary was defined. He is a pastor only temporarily as he wins con- verts and establishes a new congregation. Bringing this congregation to maturity — getting its leadership into the hands of local leaders or pastors — this is his task. He will serve and support the national church. He will stand by and help the pastors. He will be mobile so that he can serve where needed, and will evangelize mainly as a pioneer at the frontiers of the area. In this way he will not be in competition with national pastors but will be their faithful helper and support so that they may succeed more fully in their own charges. There remains much work all along the way, but the missionary will be guided by the ideal that it is his task to bring congrega- tions into being and, having provided tor them locally, will move on to “preach the gospel in the regions beyond.” This is the true Pauline ideal. — via Elkhart, Ind. CHURCH CORRESPONDENCE LONDON, ONTARIO (Goodwill Rescue Mission) On Jan. 29, 1952, it was one year that the mission opened. During this first year 8,155 meals were served to hungry men, 5,296 night lodgings were supplied, and 128 pro- fessed salvation. Some of these, we know, came for the loaves and the fishes. The Lord alone knows how many really experienced a work of grace in their hearts and lives. We don’t know where all these men are, as some moved on to look for work. Those whose whereabouts we knew were invited to meet with us at the mission on Jan. 27 to have part in our first anniversary. We felt sorry for some who couldn’t come because of sickness and other reasons. But fifteen men were here who one day had come in from the street — unsaved, hungry, and tired, with no home, nor friends, nor money; now they are entirely different men in more ways than one. Three brethren, Andy Kuepfer from Mill- bank, Allan Schultz from Poole, and Stanley Roth from East Zorra, were responsible for bringing these brethren in for the day. Over the noon hour we all worked pretty hard on a 19 lb. turkey that was donated by a Christian brother. After dinner some names and addresses were exchanged, and several of the group went to visit one brother who is in the hospital and couldn’t be present. Between three and four o’clock we had an informal service where each one gave his testimony of salvation in Christ. It would have been a blessing for anyone to look into the happy faces of these 15 men and hear their testi- mony of joy, peace, and assurance. One brother said, “I’d rather die right here than go back in the old life.” It thrilled my soul to hear them encourage each other. And eyes were filled with tears of joy. Some had not seen each other since the time they used to drink together, and now they were surprised to meet each other as Christians. There was a real family spirit of Christian love among our entire group. The meeting closed with different ones leading voluntarily in prayer. With loving Christian handshakes they separated and went again to the kind Christian friends who had opened their doors to give them homes. May God bless all the boys who got saved at the mission, and all of you who so faithfully help along in all the different ways. We feel sorry for failures and missed op- portunities of the past year, but we also feel like going into the second year with new encouragement. May every opportunity be redeemed for Christ’s glory. Alvin N. Roth. ADAMSTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA (Gehman’s Mennonite Church) Our Sunday school was reorganized the beginning of the year: Edwin Weber, Supt.; Paul L. Martin, Asst. Supt.; Clair Youndt, Sec.; Enos Musser, Treas.; Warren Martin and Benjamin Zeiset, Chors.; Anna Weber, Mission Sec. A week of revivals was held Nov. 11-18 with good interest. Our evangelist, John S. Hess, and our home ministers did a good deal of visitation work, resulting in a number of confessions in the homes. On Jan. 20, 1952, a class of young people were baptized and received into the church. An older man was also received who at one time had belonged to another denomination. One young man broke his leg a short time before baptism; so he was baptized at home. Plans are under way to build a Christian day school in this vicinity in the near future. May God’s guidance be manifest in this venture. We invite you to come and worship with us. Anna G. Weber. GULFPORT, MISSISSIPPI (Gulfhaven Congregation) Greetings: This is a lovely winter in Mis- sissippi. Our visitors for the winter include Neal Schrock, Goshen, Ind.; Mrs. Emma Christiansen, Chicago, 111.; Dr. and Mrs. Charles Hershey, Chicago, 111.; Bro. and Sis- ter Howard Stevanus, Breslau, Ont.; Mr. and Mrs. Lewis Swartzendruber, Kalona, Iowa. We enjoyed two weeks of meetings. The first week at Wayside Mennonite Church with Josef Herschkowitz, Harrisonburg, Va., as speaker was held Jan. 10-17. The group met the second week from Jan. 18-24 at Gulf- haven Church. Bro. E. M. Yost, Denver, Colo., brought the messages. Both speakers were appreciated. Sunday, Jan. 20, Paul Holdeman, formerly from Denver, was ordained to the ministry for Gulfhaven to assist Bro. Paul Hershey. Bro. E. M. Yost preached the ordination sermon. The chorus has been active in singing twice a month at the city hospital. The group also takes part in a monthly jail service. Pray for us as we work for Christ here in Mississippi that His love might be shed abroad. And when you are near by, stop and visit. KINZERS, PENNSYLVANIA (Old Road Congregation) Dear Herald Readers: As we look back over the past year we have great reason to praise our heavenly Father, for He has blessed us with health and strength, a bountiful har- vest of material things, and many spiritual feasts on the Word of God. Our revival meetings were held the last two weeks in November. Bro. Elias Kulp, Bally, Pa., served as evangelist. We were richly fed as he brought Spirit-filled messages night after night. The brotherhood was strengthened and encouraged in the faith, and a number of precious souls accepted Christ as their Saviour. Our hearts are sad, however, for a number in the community who have never experienced the joy of salva- tion and are satisfied to continue on in that way. Since our revival meetings closed, prayer meetings are held in the homes one evening each month. On Dec. 16 Bro. Lester Eshle- man, missionary-doctor appointee to Africa, was present with us and brought the message. Sunday afternoon, Jan. 6, a carload of young people went to Diamond St., Philadel- phia, to help with the distribution of The Way. The Quarterly Bible Instruction meeting was held Saturday evening, Jan. 12, and Sun- (Continued on next page) 212 FIELD NOTES (Continued) Christ Church, Manheim, Pa., at Warwick River Church, Denbigh, Va.; Edith Evans, Jewish missionary in Washington, D.C., at Huntington Ave. Church, Newport News, Va.; Clayton Beyler, Hesston, Kans., at East Union, Kalona, Iowa; S. B. Nafziger, Kalona, Iowa, at Sandtown, Iowa. Feb. 3: H. S. Bender, Goshen, Ind., at Holdeman Church, Wakarusa, Ind.; Harold Bauman, Orrville, Ohio, at Crown Hill Church, Marshallville, Ohio; Jacob Weirich, Belleville, Pa., at Clarence Center, New York. Feb. 9: H. Clair Amstutz at Annual Meet- ing of Mennonite Aid, Inc., Goshen, Ind.; C. F. Derstine, Kitchener, Ont., at Youth Center, Pottstown, Pa. Feb. 10: Richard Detweiler, Souderton, Pa., at Plain Church, Lansdale, Pa.; John C. Wen- ger, Goshen, Ind., at Hudson Lake, New Carlisle, Ind.; George Reno, Akers, La., at Broad Street Church, Harrisonburg, Va., and Gospel Hill, Palos, Va.; C. C. Thomas, su- perintendent of Haven of Rest Rescue Mis- sion, Akron, Ohio, at Pleasant Hill, Sterling, Ohio; Gerald C. Studer, Smithville, Ohio, at Wooster, Ohio; Peter B. Wiebe, Goshen, Ind., at Liberty, Clark Lake, Mich.; A. J. Metzler, Scottdale, Pa., in Christian Life Conference at Oak Grove, West Liberty, Ohio; Josef Herschkowitz and wife, Harrisonburg, Va., at Denver, Colo.; Malvin P. Miller, Middle- bury, Ind., at Clinton Frame, Goshen, Ind. Feb. 13: O. N. Johns, Louisville, Ohio, at Bethel, West Liberty, Ohio. Feb. 17: G. G. Yoder, Crystal Springs, Kans., at Olive, Elkhart, Ind.; William R. Eicher, Milford, Nebr., at Crystal Springs, Kans.; W. E. Zimmerman, of Northern Bi- ble Society at Yoder, Kans.; John C. Wenger, Goshen, Ind., at Holdeman, Wakarusa, Ind.; Gerald C. Studer, Smithville, Ohio, at Scott- dale, Pa.; Lloyd Weaver, Newport News, Va.; at Chicago Ave., Harrisonburg, Va.; J. D. Hartzler, Flanagan, 111., at Hopedale, III. Feb. 23, 24: Josef Herschkowitz at West Liberty, Windom, Kans. Announcements J. Otis Yoder at Oak Shade, Quarryville, Pa., on “The Spirit-filled Life” the evening of March 9. Ray Bair, Louisville, Ohio, at Wooster, Ohio, evening of March 2. Paul Lederach, Lederach, Pa., at Wooster, Ohio, March 23. E. E. Miller, Goshen, Ind., and Messenger Quartet, Flanagan, 111., at Willow Springs Men’s Fellowship, Tiskilwa, 111., on March 14. James Kelso, Pittsburg-Xenia pro- fessor and noted archeologist, in an illustrated lecture at Mennonite Publishing House, March 3. Ministers’ Week with John E. Lapp, J. R. Mumaw, Andrew Hartzler, J. Paul Graybill, Chester K. Lehman, Christian Charles, and Nelson E. Kauffman at E.M.C. March 3-6. Semi-annual meeting of the As- sociated Sewing Circles of the Lancaster Con- ference at East Chestnut Street, Lancaster, Pa., with Carolyn Plank, Ida Stoltzfus, John S. Hess, Simon Stoltzfus, and Henry Frank speaking on March 1. All invited. Paul W. Miller, Hammett, Idaho, in Spiritual Life Conference at Albany, Oreg., March 7-9. Illinois MYF meeting at Hopedale, 111., April 12. John H. Hess, Kitchener, Ont., at GOSPEL HERALD Illinois Mission Board Meeting, Roanoke, 111., April 16-17. I. R. Lind, Hesston, Kans., at Iowa-Nebraska Ministers’ Conference, East Union, Kalona, Iowa, Feb. 28-29. Evangelistic Meetings Milo Kauffman, Hesston, Kans., at Flana- gan, 111., April 30-May 11. D. D. Miller, Ber- lin, Ohio, at Allensville, Pa., Feb. 24-March 2. Elam Hollinger, Brewton, Ala., at Lititz, Pa., March 2-16. David N. Thomas, Lancaster, Pa., at Millwood, Gap, Pa., March 1-9. J. Irvin Lehman, Chambersburg, Pa., at Weav- erland, East Earl, Pa., Feb. 24-March 9. An- drew Jantzi, Marilla, New York, at Haycock, Quakertown, Pa., March 2-9. Milton G. Brackbill, Paoli, Pa., at Denver, Colo.. April 4-13. Brunk Brothers at Tampa, Fla., begin- ning Feb. 24; at Johnstown, Pa., beginning April 27. David N. Thomas at Masonville, Pa., March 16-30. Alvin Martin, New Hol- land, Pa., at Mummasburg, Pa., March 9-16. MISSION NEWS (Continued) eastern Pennsylvania, and will move to Ver- mont in the near future to take up mission work there. The South Pacific Conference is sponsor- ing summer Bible school voluntary service units at Los Angeles and at Fresno, Calif. Missionary Bulletin is the name of a new quarterly magazine printed at Scottdale. It is published by the Conservative Amish Men- nonite Mission Board. Distribution is free. The editor is Bro. Raymond Byler, Pigeon, Mich. This board has stations at Flint, Mich.; Talbert, Ky.; Beech, Ky.; Gays Creek, Ky.; Mt. Morris, Mich.; and in Luxembourg, con- jointly with the Eastern Board. It also main- tains a voluntary service unit at Espelkamp, Germany. A Conservative Amish colonization com- mittee recently made a tour of the South to look for a site for colonizing and to leave a Christian witness. They feel that they located a favorable area in the Apalachicola Valley in northern Florida. Bro. Glen Yoder, superintendent of the Mennonite Children’s Home in Kansas City, is taking work in- the University of Kansas School of Social Work in Kansas City, Kans. Bro. James M. Shank, on furlough from Tanganyika, gave an illustrated lecture at Eastern Mennonite College on Feb. 15. Bro. Shank is a student at E.M.C. Bro. Jesse Short and a quartet from Arch- bold, Ohio, will be the guests of the congre- gation at Detroit, Mich., on March 2. Bro. R. R. Smucker, Elkhart, Ind., re- turned missionary from India, showed pic- tures and spoke about the Mennonite mis- sions in India and Africa at the Wooster, Ohio, Mennonite Church on Tuesday eve- ning, Feb. 19. Bro. J. D. Graber, secretary of the General Mission Board, arrived in New York by plane from Puerto Rico Feb. 18, after a seven-week administrative visit to Argentina, the Chaco, Brazil, Uruguay, and Puerto Rico. Bro. Milton Brackbill, Paoli, Pa., preached in both the morning worship services and the afternoon vespers at the Chicago Home Mis- sion on Feb. 3. - February 26, 1952 Bro, J. Ross Goodall, Director of the House of Friendship, Kitchener, Ont., spoke at the Prairie Street Mennonite Church in Elkhart, Ind., on Saturday and Sunday evening, Feb. 16 and 17. Sister Miriam Beachy writes from Bihar, India, about the progress of the building work at Bethet, where her husband, John, is in charge of the building program: “God has undertaken in a wonderful way. The work has started full scale with one hundred and twenty-five people at their jobs and we have hopes of nearly completing the work at this station before time for our leaving on fur- lough.” The Indiana-Michigan Mission Board has purchased three and one-half acres of land on Caney Creek in Kentucky, and plans are under way for building a church and living house there. Bro. and Sister Fred Hayses, members of the Belmont Mennonite church in Elkhart, are directing this work in Ken- tucky. Bro. and Sister William Detweiler conduct- ed the Sunday evening service at the Fair- point, Ohio, Mennonite Mission on Feb. 17. They were assisted by the Calvary Hour Trio. Bro. Lee Kanagy writes concerning their study of the Japanese language: “One incen- tive for learning to speak Japanese is that we find a great barrier between us and the peo- ple in not being able to speak to them. In such a mute situation one is certainly barred from the heart of the Japanese except by prayer and a life that speaks of deeds of Christian love.” The Kanagys are in lan- guage school in Tokyo, Japan. Regular Sunday services, week day Bible study groups, English Bible classes in a num- ber of high schools and at the Kushiro Teach- er’s College and the Obihiro Agricultural University offer a great challenge and op- portunity to our Japan . missionaries. Pray that their ministry might be effective in bringing many into the kingdom. CORRESPONDENCE (Continued) day afternoon and evening, Jan. 13, with the following brethren as instructors: Alvin Mar- tin, Jacob Rittenhouse, and Omar Kurtz. Bro. John Sollenberger brought the morning message. We appreciate the visit of these brethren and thank God for His messages through them. We also thank God for our home ministers. Some of our members are spending a few weeks in Florida. May the Lord bless their witness there. We welcome any visitors, and covet your prayers. Feb. 6, 1952. Anna Mary Martin. KINZERS, PENNSYLVANIA (Hershey Congregation) Dear Herald Readers: We can rejoice and be thankful to the Lord for what He has done for us. With a few exceptions we have been blessed with good health. His healing power has also been manifested among us in improving the condition of Bro. Raymond Hershey ’s youngest son, Mervin, who has been suffering from leukemia. On Jan. 6 our entire staff of Sunday-school officers were re-elected for another year. February 26, 1952 GOSPEL HERALD 213 We had the privilege of having Bro. Henry Frank to bring the evening message Jan. 27. The Gospel Witness Band conducted a song service at the Good Samaritan Home Feb. 3; at the Christian Street Church in Lancaster on Feb. 10. A number of our congregation increased their Bible knowledge by attending evening Bible school the past six weeks. Feb. 12, 1952. Everett Buckwalter. EUREKA, ILLINOIS (Roanoke Congregation) Dear Herald Readers: Evangelistic serv- ices were held at this place in November with Bro. A. C. Good of Sterling, 111., as evan- gelist. Hearts were stirred and warmed, and a large number of souls accepted Christ for the first time. This group of young people will receive baptism Feb. 17. Pray for each of them. The Christian Workers’ Normal was held at this place during the Christmas holidays. The Normal was sponsored by the Christian Education Cabinet, Edwin Stalter, chairman. In view of the fact that roads were icy, only 52 students enrolled. Visitors, students, and all enjoyed a profitabe time together. The teachers were Ivan Kauffman, Howard Zehr, Paul Friesen, and Ezra B. Yordy. Howard Zehr spoke at the evening services to an ap- preciative audience. Don Smucker of Chi- cago, 111., spoke Saturday and Sunday. He challenged the young people of the church to serve in the name of Christ in a world of strife. Mr. and Mrs. Harley Ulrich, missionaries from Alaska, are scheduled to speak Sunday evening, Feb. 17. They have with them an Eskimo boy. Bro. A. J. Metzler of Scottdale, Pa., will be with us for meetings from March 28 to 30. Remember these meetings in prayer and pray that they may be a blessing to all. Feb. 12, 1952. Margaret Ulrich. ELIDA, OHIO (Central Congregation) Dear Herald Readers: Again the Lord has permitted us to start on another year of op- portunities. May we make use of them ac- cording to His holy will as the Spirit directs us. On the evening of July 15 we were favored with a program by Floyd Byler of West Lib- erty, Ohio, and several others who help in his radio broadcast. On Aug. 5 we had a very unusual and in- spirational meeting. Warren Zook, St. Paris, Ohio, recited in a very meaningful way a number of religious poems which he has memorized. Church School Day was observed Aug. 26 when Bro. T. H. Brenneman, Sarasota, Fla., preached. The evening of Sept. 2 Bro. Bren- neman spoke to us again on “Being in God’s Will.” This was a very impressive and help- ful message. Our quarterly mission meeting of Sept. 30 was held at this place. Our guest speaker was Bro. John Mosemann. On Oct. 14 Bro. Abram Kaufman, Plain City, Ohio, gave us a morning message. In the evening we were favored with a program by him and other members of his congrega- tion. Bro. Paul Verghese, a native of India who is attending Goshen College, spoke at our vesper service on Oct. 28. He was accom- panied by a quartet from Goshen. The morning of Nov. 18 Bro. Joseph Pan- tana of the Salem congregation gave a time- ly missionary sermon. Dec. 30 we were glad for the morning mes- sage given by Bro. Darwin O-Connell on Acts 6:3, 4. In the evening Sister Mary Byler spoke to us on her recent experiences in orphanage work in France. She also showed interesting slides of the same. Jan. 6 two young souls were received into church fellowship by water baptism. Our Sunday-school superintendent for this year is Fred Troyer. Fred Stalter is his as- sistant. Other officers are: S.S. Chor., Bar- bara Troyer; Secy., Anna Mary Stalter; Pri. Supt., Laura Troyer. Jan. 22, 1952. Blanche Brenneman. LAYTONSVILLE, MARYLAND (Goshen Church) As we look back upon the past year, we can see the faithfulness of our Lord on every hand. Truly we have many reasons to praise Him for His goodness to us. In July we were permitted to use the ele- mentary school building in Laytonsville for Bible school. This gave us adequate room for the classes. The average attendance was 97. Aug. 11 our pastor, Bro. Menno Sell, and family moved to Laytonsville. This is a real asset to the work and to the community. Later in August we were richly blessed dur- ing our revival meetings. Bro. David Thomas was the evangelist. During these meetings four adults found their Saviour, and two oth- ers acknowledged failure in their Christian life and made confession. Do remember these souls in prayer. Sept. 30 we had communion service. The brethren Amos Myer and Noah Risser were present for this service. In answer to our prayers for additional laborers at this place, a carload of young people from Hagerstown have responded and each Sunday come to teach Sunday school and help in other phases of the work. These workers enabled us to divide the very large classes, and, since the reorganization of Sun- day school on Oct. 1, we have ten classes. Oct. 20 was the beginning of Junior Sewing Circle. Sisters Esther Peachey and Clara Sell are working with the girls. Nov. 4 we welcomed Bro. Roy Geigley as our visiting minister. He brought the morn- ing message. On Dec. 1, 2 Bro. and Sister John Leatherman were in our midst; Sister Leatherman talked to the children and Bro. Leatherman brought two messages. Dec. 9 Bro. D. Stoner Krady brought the morning message, and on Jan. 27 we were privileged to have Bro. Benjamin Shantz, Preston, Ont., with us. We are always glad to have visitors worship with us. We have recently begun a series of studies on the Christian life in our Wednesday eve- ning meetings. Bro. Sell is in charge of this discussion. Plans are being made for a class for the young folks on Wednesday evening also. Our Third Anniversary meeting will be held Saturday evening, April 26, and all day Sunday, April 27 (D.V.). We expect to have Bro. Timothy Showalter and Bro. Leroy Stoltzfus as speakers during this week end. Though we can see the Spirit of God work- ing among us, we cannot close our eyes to evidences of the power of the enemy of souls. Will you pray that all of us will put on the whole armor of God? Claim with us God’s promises for His work at Laytonsville, Md. Mrs. Arthur Torkelson. KALONA, IOWA (Lower Deer Creek Congregation) Dear Christian Friends: Our annual busi- ness meeting was held on Jan. 1. As a re- sult of this meeting our new trustee is Ray A. Yoder. The other two members of this board are Ralph Gingerich and Omar Marn- er. Some other new appointments for the year are: Chor., Marjorie Ann Yoder; ushers, Marjorie Ellen Yoder, Lucille Swartzendru- ber, Lester Yoder, and Mark Swartzendruber. To secure a janitor is not always so easy, even in a large congregation. The work this year will be taken care of by Orville Troyer We know it is important to have a clean and well-kept place of worship. Sister Lauver, Davenport, Iowa, wor- shiped with us on Sunday morning, Jan. 20. She gave a short talk in which she told a little of the work which she and her hus- band, Bro. William Lauver, are engaged in. Some of this mission work is with the Span- ish-speaking people. On Saturday evening, Jan. 26, we enjoyed having with us some foreign students from Hesston College. Two instructors, Mary Mil- ler and Clayton Beyler, came with Siegfried Neufeld, a young man from Germany; Yuko Shinahara, a Japanese girl; and Ada Webb, a colored girl from Virginia. After their in- teresting talks, we feel more than ever that in Christ there is a oneness and blessed fel- lowship of all men. Jan. 30, 1952. Mrs. Herman Yoder. TANGENT, OREGON (Tangent Congregation) To the readers of the Gopsel Herald: We met as a congregation on Jan. 27 for the pur- pose of ordaining a minister. The services were in charge of Bro. Henry Wolfer. He was assisted by Bro. N. A. Lind, G. D. Shenk, and Jonathan Zook. In the morning service Bro. Jonathan Zook took the devotions and Bro. N. A. Lind brought the morning message. After the message the congregation gave their voice and chose Bro. Merle Stutzman. Bro. Melvin Schrock, our minister, had asked for help, and thus we ordained Bro. Merle Stutzman to the ministry in the afternoon. Following the ordination, Bro. G. D. Shenk brought a message on the relationship of the minister to the congregation and the congregation to the minister. He used as his text Heb. 11:6. Other ordained men present were Bro. Hugh Wolfer and Wilber Kropf. Pray for the work here at Tangent. Harold Reeder. 214 GOSPEL HERALD February 26, 1952 BIRTHS Aschliman.— To Ralph and Virginia (Rupp) Aschliman, Fayette, Ohio, a son, Robert Eu- gene, Seb. 2, 1952. Bontrager.— To Amos and Lois (Swartzen- truber) Bontrager, Greenwood, Del., a daughter, Jo Ann Marie, Feb. 12, 1952. Bowman. — To Paul K. and Mary (Thomas) Bowman, Lancaster, Pa., a daughter, Ruth Ann, Jan. 31, 1952. Bucher. — To Harold M. and Florence (Yoth- ers) Bucher, Dallastown, Pa., a daughter, Ra- chel Elaine, Feb. 11, 1952. Buckwalter. — To Richard and Sara (Hostet- ter) Buckwalter, Gap, Pa., a son, Victor Lee, (third child) Jan. 7, 1952. Charles. — To H. Melvin and Elva (Good) Charles, Lancaster, Pa., a second son, Dale Richard, Feb. 3, 1952. Diffenderfer. — To Melvin N. and Elizabeth (Shirk) Diffenderfer, Gordonville, Pa., a daugh- ter, Erna June, Jan. 12, 1952. Headings. — To Eugene and Martha Sue (Steiner) Headings, North Lima, Ohio, a daughter, Ruth Esther, Feb. 8, 1952. Hess. — To Ivan H. and Elizabeth (Buckwal- ter) Hess, a daughter, Beulah, Jan. 12, 1952. Horst. — To Aaron and Mildred (Martin) Horst, Jr., Terre Hill, Pa., a second daughter, Donna Lou, Jan. 18, 1952. Horst. — To Henry and Esther (Kropp) Horst. West Salem, Ohio, a daughter, Pauline Ann, Dec. 26, 1951. Hostetler. — To Joseph B. and Dorothy (Swei- gart) Hostetler, Elizabethtown, Pa., a daugh- ter, Doris Eileen, (one brother), Jan. 28, 1952. Kauffman. — To Tillman and Elizabeth (Good) Kauffman, Nampa, Idaho, a daughter, Rhoda Marie, Feb. 8, 1952. Kramer. — To Raymond L. and Doris (Miller) Kramer, Meadville, Pa., a daughter, Phyllis Elizabeth, (two brothers), Feb. 10, 1952. Kreider. — To Wilmer and Lois Jean (Long- enecker) Kreider, Elizabethtown, Pa., a daugh- ter. Carol Lorraine, Dec. 26, 1951. Longenecker. — To J. Elwood and Arlene (Stauffer) Longenecker, Oxford, Pa., a son, Jere William, Jan. 20, 1952. Marner. — To Paul and Fern (Hochstetler) Marner, Parnell, Iowa, a daughter, Bonnie Lou, Jan. 16, 1952. Miller. — To Dan and Edna (Yoder) Miller, Kokomo, Ind., a son, Larry Daniel, Jan. 28, 1952. Miller. — To Gerald and Carol (Hartzler) Mil- ler, Fredericktown, Ohio, a son, Gordon Alec, Dec. 6, 1951. Miller.— To Willis and Lois (Steckley) Mil- ler, Wellman, Iowa, a first child, a son, Warren Ray, Jan. 23, 1952. Nissley. — To Ira and Ruth (Stoltzfus) Niss- ley, Elverson, Pa., a daughter, Linda Grace, Jan. 8, 1952. Roth. — To Richard and Imogene (Beck) Roth, Archbold, Ohio, a son, David Richard, Dee. 28, 1951. Short. — To Robert G. and Rutheda (Yoder) Short, Arehbold, Ohio, a son, Royce Brian, Jan. 14, 1952. Snider. — To Harold and Eileen (Snyder) Snider, Breslau, Ont., a son, Robert Harold, Jan. 12, 1952. Souder. — To Stanley K. and Velma (Martin) Souder, Sarasota, Fla., a daughter, Kristine Ruthe, Feb. 9, 1952. Springer. — To Carrol and Pauline (Nafziger) Springer, Hopedale, 111., a daughter, Jean Carol, Nov. 15, 1951. Swartley.— To Paul and Eva (Ruth) Swart- ley, Lansdale, Pa., a son, John Paul, Jan. 11, 1952. MARRIAGES Bontrager — Schwartz. — Maynard D. Bontra- ger, Forks congregation, Middlebury, Ind., and Mary Schwartz, Plato congregation, La Grange, Ind., at the Plato Church by Willis Troyer, Jan. 27, 1952. Stutzman — Chupp. — Floyd Stutzman and Katie Chupp, at the Sheridan Church, Sheri- dan, Oreg., by LeRoy Cowan, Feb. 1, 1952. Yoder — Kauffman. — Edward J. Yoder, West Union congregation, Parnell, Iowa, and Sara Ellen Kauffman, Phoenix, Ariz., at the Sunny Slope Church by Melvin L. Ruth, Dec. 27, 1952. OBITUARIES Blough. — Rebecca, daughter of Jacob and Catherine (Kaufman) Lohr, was born in Davidsville, Pa., Aug. 17, 1880; died Dec. 6, 1951, at home in Davidsville ; aged 71 y- 3 m. 19 d. She was the widow of the late Ammon Blough who preceded her in death July 14, 1942. She is survived by a son (Harley, Davids- ville, Pa.), 3 daughters (Mabel and Rebecca of Davidsville, and Esther — Mrs. David Mishler, Johnstown, Pa.), 2 sisters, and 3 granddaugh- ters. She was a member of the Blough Men- nonite Church for 50 years. Funeral services were held at the Blough Church Dec. 9, in charge of Harold Thomas and Harry C. Blough. Interment was made in the church cemetery. Darr. — Charles W., son of the late Hiram and Melissa Darr, was born at Chillicothe, Mo., Oct. 30, 1868 ; passed away at his home in Fisher, 111., Dec. 23, 1951 ; aged 83 y. 1 m. 23 d. He was married to Bena Sommer March 7, 1925. Most of their married life was spent near Urbana and in Fisher, 111. Surviving are his wife, 2 sons by a former marriage (Clyde, Moline, 111., and Ervin of Oklahoma), one sis- ter, and 3 brothers. One brother preceded him in death. On Thanksgiving afternoon he con- fessed Christ as his Saviour and has since then repeatedly expressed confidence in Him and peace with God. He was a quiet and unassum- ing husband, yet a man of definite convictions on matters of moral integrity. Funeral services were in the East Bend Mennonite Church with burial in the near-by cemetery. Harold A. Zehr officiated. Miller. — Lizzie M., daughter of Isaac and Susan (Glass) Miller, was born at Smithville, Pa., Oct. 5, 1865; departed this life at the Orr- ville Mennonite Home, Lancaster, Pa., Nov. 29, 1951 ; aged 86 y. 1 m. 24 d. She was a member of the Landis Valley Mennonite Church. She had been a guest at the Home for 24 years. The last of her immediate family, she is sur- vived only by nieces and nephews. Funeral serv- ices were held Dec. 2 at the Oreville Mennonite Home in charge of Ira D. Landis and Landis H. Brubaker. Her body was laid to rest in the Landis Valley Cemetery. Nafziger. — Howard Leonard, twin son of Harold and Verna Pearl Nafziger, Hannibal, Mo., was stillborn Dec. 29, 1951. He is survived by his brother, Harold Lynn, and his father and mother. Graveside services were held Dec. 31 in charge of Nelson E. Kauffman at the Mount Olivet Cemetery. Neighbors. — Anna Marie Greve was born March 24, 1874 ; departed this life Dec. 23, 1951, at her home at Harper, Kans. ; aged 77 y. 8 m. 29 d. She was united in marriage to Jacob Bergman Nov. 19, 1896, who preceded her in death. Six children were born to this union. She was married to S. R. Neighbors who also preceded her in death Nov. 1, 1948. She united with the Pleasant Valley Mennonite Church in March, 1922. Funeral services were held at the Pleasant Valley Church Dec. 26, in charge of R. M. Weaver. Interment »was made in the Harper Cemetery. Oberholtzer. — Anna K., daughter of the late Phares R. and Alice (Kurtz) Brown, was born at Akron, Pa., Dec. 26, 1891 ; died unexpectedly at her home in Leola, Pa., Dec. 2, 1951 ; aged 59 y. 11 m. 6 d. She was united in marriage to Ivan M. Oberholtzer in 1915. Surviving are her husband, one daughter (Elva B.), and a sister (Mrs. Emory Zuck). Funeral services were held Dec. 5 from the Espenshade Funeral Home in charge of Eli Sauder, and at the Groffdale Mennonite Church in charge of Mahlon Witmer and John Martin. Burial was made in the ad- joining cemetery. Shenk. — Lizzie Charles, daughter of the late Ephraim and Mary (Charles) Hostetter, was born Sept. 8, 1877 ; entered into rest Jan. 4, 1952 ; aged 74 y. 3 m. 26 d. She was the widow of Oliver H. Shenk. There survive 2 sons (Oliver H., Reading, Pa., and Christian H., Lancaster, Pa.), 4 grandchildren, and one great- grandchild. Funeral services in charge of Chris- tian Martin, Landis Brubaker, and Landis Shertzer were held at the Mennonite Home at Oreville, Pa., Jan. 6. Stover. — Sarah, daughter of Abraham and Anna Schultz, was born April 1, 1887, at Avon, S. Dak. ; departed this life at her home in Wadsworth, Ohio, Dec. 30, 1951; aged 64 y. 8 m. 29 d. In early life she professed faith in Christ and became a member of the Mennonite Church. Nov. 14, 1908, she was united in mar- J riage to William K. Stover. In February, 1923, she with her husband transferred their member- ship to the First Mennonite Church in Wads- 1 worth, Ohio. She worked with great devotion to promote relief projects as long as her health . permitted. Those surviving are her husband, a daughter (Leona), and one son (Vernon). One grandson preceded her in death. Funeral services were held at the Bicksler Funeral Home. J. Robert Kreider, her nephew, and A. J. Neuenschwander were in charge of the services. Interment was made in the Wads- worth Cemetery. Unternahrer. — Christian, son of Frank and j Catherine (Stucky) Unternahrer, was born at Basel, Switzerland, May 26, 1863 ; passed away at the . home of his son-in-law, Jacob R. Roth, near Wayland, Iowa, Jan. 1, 1952; aged 88 y. 7 m. 6 d. He was received into the Mennonite j Church in his youth by water baptism, and remained a faithful member until death. On Nov. 26, 1895, he was married in Basel, Switz- erland, to Anna Rediger. Five daughters and - 3 sons were born to this union. In July, 1904, they immigrated to America, near Wayland, Iowa. Christian was predeceased by his wife. He leaves 3 sons (Joseph, Jacob, and Noah of Wayland, Iowa), one daughter (Hannah — Mrs. Jacob R. Roth, Wayland, Iowa), one brother (Joseph, Thurman, Colo.), 18 grandchildren, one great-grandchild, and other relatives and friends. The funeral was held at the Sugar Creek Church Jan. 4 conducted by Simon Gingerich. TO BE NEAR TO GOD (Continued) honored her with “Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached throughout the whole world, this also that she hath done shall be spoken of for a memorial of her.” Saturday, March 8 Jesus — Perfect Witness "For I came down from heaven, not to do mine \ own will, but the will of him that sent me" (John 6:38). He was a doctor healing minds and bodies. He was a teacher of material ideas and spir- itual ideals. He was a fisherman and a carpenter. He was perfect witness of the Father. And after Him we come, making mistakes, not doing the things we should, bearing fee- ble lights. And yet, if we love the Father, He counts us as His children and Jesus as our brother. Jesus, perfect witness, show us how to make our wills the Father’s, our lives rich for Him, our lights bright in the darkness of today. — Helen Alderfer. UNCOMPROMISING I am often told today that what the church of God needs in order to succeed is to catch the spirit of the age. I reply that the church succeeds only in the proportion as she cor- rects the spirit of the age. I am told that if I am to succeed as a Christian worker I must adopt the methods of the world. Then, by God’s help, I will be defeated. We are not in the world to borrow the world’s maxims and spirit. The world would cruci- fy Jesus as readily now as nineteen centuries ago. The cross is no more popular in the world today than when men nailed Him to it on the green hill outside the city gate nine- teen centuries ago. — G. Campbell Morgan. February 26, 1952 215 THE BOOK SHELF What Would Jesus Do? by Glenn Clark; Macalester Park; 1950; 286 pp.; $2.25. Glenn Clark was for thirty years a teacher at Macalester College, St. Paul, but in recent years has devoted his time to writing and lecturing. He is founder of the Camps Farth- est Out movement that started in 1930, and has been an active leader in a group of men of our day that claims “A revival of prayer in this nation will save the world.” He believes firmly that the only solution to the world’s problems is the spiritual solution. He believes too that religion should not stop with Sunday, but that every act of every day should be governed by first asking, “What would Jesus do?” This book was written on the fiftieth anni- versary of the appearance of Sheldon’s “In His Steps” in book form. Shortly before the death of Charles M. Sheldon, Clark received his permission to write a sequel to that great book, estimated to have run in excess of thirty million copies. So this book, “What Would Jesus Do?” has its setting in the same place as “In His Steps,” using as chief char- acters the grandchildren of Sheldon’s chief characters, living fifty years later. One must read the entire book for its mes- sage, be slow to judge individual parts, and then analyze them in light of the whole. The story starts with Charles S. Maxwell, new and respected pastor of First Church in Raymond, as a complacent, satisfied Sunday orator who never tries to arouse the opposi- tion of his members by anything but a con- ventional sermon. But very early in his work at Raymond a certain shocking and sobering experience shakes his complacency, the final result being a determination in his own life always to ask, “What would Jesus do?” be- fore making any move, as his grandfather Henry Maxwell had done. The challenge is put to his congregation as he asks for volun- teers to pledge to do the same for a period of one year. The remainder of the book deals with their experiences in their new way of life, and shows how the decision affected the life of the pastor, the soloist of the choir, the local news editor, the manager of the department store, the high-school football coach, and many others. The book strikes out forcibly against war, greed, selfish business practices, corrupt poli- tics, hatred, open saloons, misleading adver- tising, and a religion that costs nothing in discipleship. It also clearly portrays the evil influence of the modern newspaper, the radio, the movie, and suggestive advertising on modern youth. But in a novel, even one with a strong re- ligious emphasis, one must beware of the dangers of things subtly implied, or of ques- tionable things accepted as right and a part of true Christianity. For example, one char- acter portrayed as a sincere Christian went to a dance to win her boy friend; the re- spected church janitor and others smoke; entering politics is seen as a justifiable means GOSPEL HERALD to an end; dangerous references are made to the possibility of union of peoples of differ- ent faith and practice; prayer is emphasized, but it must not always be in Jesus’ name, for prayers of non-Christian Jews are accepted on a par with those of true Christians. There is also visualized an entire world of peace and love through prayer and discipleship, a won- derful goal, but hardly in accord with our understanding of Bible teaching on the latter days. On the other hand, there is a strong and healthful emphasis on constant prayer, and on living daily as in the presence of Je- sus, following in His steps. There is also a clear presentation of the strength of love over force; discipleship, with accompanying suffering and sacrifice, is emphasized throughout; and religion, brought to bear upon many of the experiences of everyday life that we often place into a separate com- partment. The book carries a real personal challenge to all readers. The question, “What Would Jesus Do?” is sure to stick with you for some months. Read the book for its message, but use sound judgment and label some of the accepted practices as outside our realm of Christian faith and practice. — J. Robert Kreider. The Airwaves Proclaim Christ, by Walter A. Maier; Concordia Publishing House, 1948; 297 pp.; $3.00. This seventeenth volume of Maier ’s radio sermons constitutes those preached from Oc- tober, 1946, to January, 1947. Every one of the fifteen messages is preceded by a text from the Bible and an appropriate prayer, and these are followed by the message whose purpose is to explain Bible truth and bring its appeal for trust in the Bible’s Saviour. The author graphically shows the modern world’s need of Christ and presents many of the foundation facts of our Christian faith. He invites men of all colors and conditions to turn from sin to the salvation which is in God’s Son. Thus the book has an evangelical message. The author advises Christian participation in politics in order to put faith into practice so that peace and prosperity may be secured. Frequently he voices opposition to war and describes its evil effects. He upholds Jesus as a pattern of nonresistance, and says that “the believer will follow the holy example of his divine Redeemer, who never grasped the sword, who prayed for His enemies, of- fered love to those who hated Him and died on the cross for those who crucified Him” (p. 17). But also he refers to Jesus using force and violence in driving money changers out of the temple, and does not adequately explain the impropriety of Christian partici- pation in war. In this book the author opposes the errors of the evolutionist’s view of creation, points out the hopelessness of modern culture, ex- poses modern apostasy, iniquity, and the sins of divorce and intemperance; he upholds the accuracy and inspiration of Scripture, warns against race hatred and race prejudice, and tells of the lack of repentance in America. There are many excellent illustrations. — Ed- win L. Weaver. ITEMS and COMMENTS A book answering attacks against Biblical truths in high-school science courses, and giving students a scholarly presentation of the Christian position will be published in the future by the American Scientific Affiliation. Also slated for early publication by the Affiliation are a monograph on the optics of the eye, and a tract entitled, “Fourteen Sci- entists Look at Life.” Dr. William J. Tinkle, Professor of Zool- ogy at Ball State Teachers College, Munice, Indiana, the author of the forthcoming book, will take the most frequently used and potent arguments and theories presented by science instructors and endeavor to show their fal- lacies. Dr. Tinkle’s work will not be a textbook, but will serve to aid students in recognizing the faulty conclusions presented in most sec- ular textbooks. The new monograph to be published is entitled, “The Eye as an Optical Instru- ment.” Dr. Frank M. Allen, Professor Emeri- tus of Physics, the University of Manitoba, has written the monograph in answer to the claims of some scientists that the eye’s de- fects make it not a credit to its Creator. Dr. Allen asserts that these alleged defects have a purpose. The tract, “Fourteen Scientists Look at Life,” has been compiled by Dr. Alfred C. Eckert, Jr., research chemist at Batelle In- stitute, Columbus, Ohio, and will contain testimonies from fourteen top scientists. The American Scientific Affiliation is a 10-year-old nonprofit corporation whose members are Christian scientific men de- voting themselves to the task of reviewing, preparing, and distributing information on the authenticity, historicity, and the scientific aspects of the Holy Scriptures, to aid in the establishment of a firm faith in Christ. The secretary is Bro. H. H. Hartzler, 107 West Plymouth Ave., Goshen, Ind. * * # The relation of church and state has be- come a live issue in Montreal, the largest city in Canada. A Jewish rabbi, a refugee from Hungary, has been arrested for hold- ing a religious service in his own home with about a dozen of his coreligionists present. He was told that a city ordinance forbids the use of any building for religious purposes without a permit. Another conflict comes from an act which requires Montreal business places to remain closed on four Roman Cath- olic feast days. A number of the stores open- ly violated this ordinance on December 8, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. The law was enacted on the recommendation of the Roman Catholic Archbishop. * * * Dr. John R. Mott was honored by the six- teenth Quadrennial Conference of the Stu- dent Volunteer Movement held at Lawrence, Kansas, during the holidays. He was pre- sented with a vellum scroll expressing the Movement’s gratitude for his sixty-five years of devoted service to the organization. A founder of the Movement, Dr. Mott has at- 216 tended every one of its quadrennial confer- ences since the initial one in 1891. # # * The Israeli Chief Rabbinate has modified its previous stand against the dissection of hu- man corpses by the Hebrew University Medi- cal School. The Rabbinate now sanctions dis- section, providing there has been prior con- sent by the deceased or next of kin. * * * The Seeds for Democracy Drive sent over 300,000 individual packages of seed to the Philippine Islands. An additional 15,000 packages can be purchased with the cash con- tributions received. If each package of seeds can supply $10 worth of vegetables, the Amer- ican public has by this means shipped $3,000,- 000 worth of food to the Philippines. # # # A leader of the October, 1950, Nationalist revolt in Puerto Rico, paroled after serving a year and two months in jail for his part in the uprising, has announced his intention to study for the ministry. Senor Rio Adames, General Secretary of the Nationalist party at the time of the revolt, says he has renounced the party in favor of “a movement which knows no social or political frontiers. I have ceased to be a member of an organization that was full of hatred and prejudice. Now 1 belong to the Christian movement which has neither hatred, prejudice, nor violence, and in which the love of Christ makes me feel that I am a brother of the North Amer- icans— and the Japanese, the Germans, and the Russians as well.” Senor Adames was converted in prison. * * * Dr. G. Elson Ruff, editor of The Lutheran, in keynoting a program of Bible study said: “The tragic casualty of our time is the Bible. Evidence indicates that even faithful church people have less knowledge of the book now than at any time, perhaps since the Reforma- tion. This is partly due to the fact that we are in the midst of a great cultural change. The history of the half century is from A.V. to A.V. — Authorized Version to Audio Vis- ual. The reading of books has become the antiquated pastime of the minority. Devices in teaching are never equal to the Word it- self. We must fling the full weight of the church back of the effort to get people to read the Bible, study it, and apply it to their daily lives as they let God speak to them through its pages.” * # * A banquet without food was held at Fruit- land, Idaho, by members of the Church of the Brethren to raise money for the Relief for India Fund. The diners paid the price of a regular meal but fasted instead while they listened to a program describing the plight of Indians starving in famined areas. * * * Arthur C. Jost, M.C.C. Administrator in California, has been denied an application for American citizenship by a judge of the Su- perior Court at Fresno, California. The judge in a strongly worded opinion doubted Mr. Jost’s attachment to the principles of the United States Constitution. He apparently did not recognize his years of Voluntary Service in a civilian wartime agency, at a GOSPEL HERALD February 26, iy?- . . ANSWER TO WAR By Millard Lind John, Charles, Mary, and all the other young people passing through their teens need Answer to War. Here they can find WHY the Christian answer is “different.” Many questions their neighbors and high-school friends might ask them are an- swered clearly. The book is adapted for class use. $1.75. MENNONITE PUBLISHING HOUSE Scottdale, Pennsylvania time when his status as an alien did not re- quire such service, as demonstrating the sin- cerity of his attachment to democratic prin- ciples. * # # The number of foreign missionaries from Canada and the United States going abroad in the five postwar years has reached 935 an- nually more than double prewar years. In the five years before the war, the average was 389. Combined, the churches now have more than 15,000 missionaries abroad and are con- tributing more than $40,000,000 a year to sustain a world-wide program of Christian witness and service. # # * Spain is the only country in Europe where the Roman Catholic Church still governs as a medieval absolutism. It is the only coun- try in the world where Christians are perse- cuted in the name of Christ. * * * All forms of racial discrimination, accord- ing to World Over Press, have been out- lawed in Brazil. The law stigmatizes as a crime any refusal to treat on equal terms peo- ple of all races in hotels, eating places, schools, colleges, recreation centers, and stores. Stiff penalties are provided. Public officials found guilty of discriminatory treatment must be dismissed from their posts. * * * Martin Niemoeller recently made a seven- day trip to Moscow. His chief objective was to intercede in behalf of German war prison- ers. He was not given an opportunity to meet any of these. Dr. Niemoeller said he had found an active religious and church life in the Soviet Union. He was impressed by the number of Russian believers attending serv- ices. “I wish that in Germany the churches were always as crowded as there,” he said. Pastor Niemoeller said he believes that the desire for peace on the part of people he met in Moscow is genuine. Clear Thinking on Courtship By John C. Wenger “Somebody special” walks into a young person’s life. After that on- lookers may wonder how much clear thinking is being done. You can safely hand such young people this attractive booklet. Some things discussed are Three Steps to God’s Will, What Are Your Ideals? Planning for the New Home, What About Conduct During Engagement, God Will Lead You. 30^ each or $3.25 a dozen . Superintendent’s Manual By C. F. Yake Your guide to expert planning. Everything is there— from starting your school to giving the final pro- gram. Details of organization, financ- ing plans, needed equipment, and a host of other particulars are discussed. It is sound Biblically and educational- ly. Included are qualifications of di- rectors and teachers. For planning committees, prospec- tive superintendents, teachers, and pastors. $1.50. Mennonite Publishing House Scottdale, Pa. 1 x m oovoiho 3 AV NJAVIGOCm U9* NIJ.N3V.U V/.\ V % Ab'YNivns i vo not a 3 1 1 n 0 n n 3 w GOSPEL HERALD "In the defence and confirmation of the gospel" "How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace volume XLV TUESDAY, MARCH 4, 1952 Twenty Revival Blessings BY ELLROSE D. ZOOK These twenty revival blessings have been gleaned Irom hity-four testimonies publisned in the September and No- vember, 1951, issues of the Franconia Conference Mission News. The testi- monies were written in appreciation to Cod for the grace and power of the Holy Spirit poured out during the five-week tent campaign at Souderton, Pennsyl- vania, conducted by the Brunk Brothers. These same blessings await every per- son, home, congregation, or community who will intercede and open their heart to the voice of the Holy Spirit and grace and truth as found in tne Lord Jesus Christ. May this awakening continue to grow in the hearts of believers in every one of our congregations and mission outposts. Here are the blessings await- ing you. 1. Your heart will receive a new con- sciousness of sin— a fuller and deeper realization of the deceitfulness of sin, of its blackness and hideousness. Small sins will be as repulsive as big ones. 2. You will experience the full power of the Spirit bringing conviction of sin to your heart. Tears of confession and re- pentance and tears of joy of forgiveness will flow unrestrained. 3. You will experience a new victory —a new freedom from the tangled web of sinful habits. All kinds of evil habits will be revealed by the Spirit of God. Through the Truth of God’s Word a new and larger freedom will be yours. 4. You will eagerly anticipate a new sense of responsibility to yield your life to Christ. Your abilities, talents, time, wealth, will be joyfully laid on the altar for Christ. Christian stewardship will take on fresh meaning. A new zeal for service will stir your heart and life. 5. The atoning sacrifice of Calvary will bring a holy response of gratitude from your heart. No joy or peace will be realized like that found daily at the mercy seat of Christ— at the foot of the cross. There you will find forgiveness, grace, strength, courage, and true hu- mility of heart. 6. The witness to the saving grace of Christ will be spontaneous and joyful. In your heart will unfold a new sense of responsibility and an urgent desire to advance in service for Christ. The Spirit will empower and fill your testimony and draw others to the cross. 7. You will witness in your heart and the hearts of fellow Christians the mighty Spirit-power of Pentecost. Day and nignt tne Spirit will be striving, convicting, and giving spiritual birth to the hearis of young and old. b. You will realize fully that a spiritual revival comes only after hours and days of intercession at tne throne of God. Tne real revival has come because you had longed and hoped tor it to come and bless your heart and soul. 9. You will no longer doubt or wonder or hope that you are saved. A blessed assurance will be yours. The question mark will be completely removed from your salvation experience. 10. Your heart and soul will be fully open to the searching eyes of God and His Word. You will experience an ear- nest desire that God search every dark corner of your heart and light it with His holy truth. 11. You will hear the Word of God preached with power and conviction. The evangelist will warn of the judg- ment of God and the fire of hell. He will graciously extol the mercies and right- eousness of God. Every evening you will feed your soul at the richly laden table of spiritual food. 12. In your home the hearts of all mem- bers of the family will glow with new light and warmth around the family altar. Perhaps many new altars will be erected and set on fire from heaven. 13. To your mind will come again the thought that you are a new person with a new Master, new goals, new mind, new ideas, and new desires. A new sense of values will be recognized and wel- comed. 14. You will dare to launch out with God into great depths of Christian ex- perience. You will excite in your heart a strong faith in the power of God. You will welcome opportunities to develop faith in your life, your service, and your fellowship. 15. A deeper sense of appreciation for the fellowship of the saints will be yours. Worship services, prayer services, and Bible study periods will find a place of new importance in your life. Spiritual conversation will now be more natural, number 10 normal, and unaffected. The love of God will touch and soften every part of your life. lb. if you are a young person, you will be challenged witn a new sense of obli- gation to service for the Master. Vows will be renewed; lives will be dedicated anew; the strength of youth will be laid on the altar of service. 17. In yours and the hearts of fellow Christians will be released much spirit- ual energy for service to Christ. Sin- chains wnich had been restraining the servants of God will have been broken. In this new-found freedom, Christian soldiers will be strong to battle the strong-holds of Satan. 18. In your life will develop a new re- sponse of faithfulness and loyalty to Christ and the church. Obedience to the loving commands of Christ will become a means of grace to deeper fellowship with Christ. Your life will be crowned with humility and faith. 19. Your secret fellowship with Christ will become a heart-to-heart and a face- to-face communion. Seeking prayer, quiet meditations, and careful feeding My Cup Runneth Oyer By S. N. Leitner There is always something over , When we trust our gracious Lord. Every cup He fills o’ erfioweth, His great rivers are all broad. Nothing narrow, nothing stinted Ever issues from His Store ; To His own He gives full measure Running over evermore. There is always something over When we from the Father’s hand, Take our portion with thanksgiving, Praising for the path He planned. Satisfaction full and deepening Fills the soul and lights the eye, When the heart has trusted Jesus, All its needs to satisfy. There is always something over. When we tell of all His love, Unplanned depths still lie beneath us, Unsealed heights rise far above; Human lips can ne’er express All His wondrous tenderness; We can only praise and wonder And His name forever bless. Birch Tree, Mo. 218 GOSPEL HERALD March 4, 1952 on the Word of God will develop a deep and earnest longing for true Gnristlike- ness. Only witti pauent and fervent el- tort will you be ade to cultivate success- tully the daily period of tellowship witir Christ. 20. With the lustful appetites of the carnal man crucihed, a new hunger tor tne living Word of God will grow 111 your soul. Tire hunger will be nealthy. lou will learn how to teed your soul irom tne meat, honey, and milk of the Word 01 God. Day and night you will meditate on the gracious words of Scrip- ture tnat will give life and joy and peace. Revival Fires Are Burning The revival hres of evangelism in our congregations must be kept burning. A concerted and planned ertort for evan- gelism by ministers and laity alike snould be carefully and prayertully made. In every congregation should be a planned program ol evangelism. From the pastor to the janitor, the eldest to tlie youngest, the most learned to the most simple, the richest to the poor, the work of evangelism should be carried on. The pastor, the Sunday-school super- intendent, the Sunday-sciiool teachers, the summer Bible school teachers, and consecrated lay members should join heart and hand in providing leadership in evangelism. In public meetings, Sun- day school, summer Bible school, week- day Bible school, young people’s Bible meeting, prayer meeting, Christian workers' staff meetings, personal visita- tion, and by many otner means evangel- ism ought to be furthered. Through faithful effort the church can be revitalized, souls saved for Christ, and true discipleship strengthened. How many cold and indifferent members can be re-won? How many souls can be bap- tized into the church? How many new outposts can bp started? How many homes will begin family worship? How many congregations will plan visitation efforts? Devotional literature and tracts will need to be found to hand to Christians and non-Christians alike. Books on es- sentials, methods, and experiences in evangelism will be needed by leaders in the congregation. Instructions on how to do visitation evangelism will be found valuable. Printed materials for such work will be invaluable. How to make new members feel at home in your church will need to be considered. Lit- erature on all phases of evangelism will need to be found. In a program like this much interces- sion and planning will be necessary. Per- haps an Evangelism Committee in every congregation would help. For one year perhaps our motto should be “Every one win one.” May God in His own way fan the glowing embers of evangelism in our churches to a flame that will burn in the hearts of many souls. Scottdale, Pa. THE BLIGHT OF WORLDLINESS Speaking at Vineland in 1867, George C. Wells said: “The lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, and the pride of life hinder in many cases the growth of holi- ness and eat up every green thing in thousands of redeemed souls. It is be- yond all controversy that there is in the Church a love of money, which the apostle declares is the root of all evil. A man is known by what he lives for, and multitudes seem to live only to amass wealth. It is to be feared that this spirit of worldliness in the Church is drinking up the very lifeblood of thousands.” John Wesley thought a man is known very much by the use he makes of his time and his money. Both hurry and sloth are forbidden to men of faith, as are also prodigality and miserliness; for all such are but variations of modes for indicating that the present world looms too large in the thoughts and actions of those who practice them: and this mal- ady is at the heart of worldliness as dis- tinguished from spirituality and heaven- ly-mindedness. The spiritual man “wants but little here, nor wants that little long”; hence he is frugal. But, he does account the progress of God’s spiritual kingdom of greater worth than present ease or future mundane security; hence he pours out both his labor and his money with his love to make Christ known to all. Neither spendthrifts nor misers, but careful givers, are typical New Testament Christians. Also from the spirit of worldliness pro- ceeds the trend to conform to the world in appearance and in conversation; for here is revealed a “disposition to catch the passing gale that blows from the world. And when you defraud religion of its peculiarity, you defraud it of its life, and sink it to a mere name. You can just as well strip the sunbeam of its light as religion of its peculiarity. Every Christian is peculiar; God, the Bible, and religion made him so. Just in proportion as the Church becomes like the world, she ceases to be the Church of God. In her present position she is too much like a noble ship tossing about in a boisterous sea, driven by angry winds, and making little headway. She should be as a great ocean steamer, with her heart of burning Our Readers Say — I always enjoy reading the Gospel Herald and never overlook the interesting “Items and Comments” column. In the Feb. 12 issue there is a little item that I fear may cause difficulty on the part of some who may need to see a psychiatrist but who may already be prejudiced against such care. I have every respect for Dr. Nida’s accomplishments in the field of linguis- tics, but I feel he did his paraphrasing as a wise crack to illustrate a principle we are all con- cerned about. I have never heard of a psychia- trist who does not believe in restraint and in moral principles. It is too bad we do not have more Christian psychiatrists, but I know num- erous people who were straightened out by psychiatrists after their sympathetic pastors failed. I hope we do not further prejudice those who need help from psychiatry. — H. Clair Am- stutz, Goshen, Ind. Within the last year I have become a Men- nonite and I find every article in our good paper helpful and strengthening in my new way of life. Though I had been a Christian for several years and active in another church, I came, partly through the reading of the Herald, to the conviction that the Mennonite way was for me the Christian way of life. I treasure every word defining the faith of our fathers and ex- plaining Mennonite history. The conditions that exist among the youth of some of our congre- gations seem to indicate that there has been too little of this sort of teaching. I want my children to know what our church stands for. I do not find the paper lacking in articles which honor and praise our precious Lord Jesus, but, quite to the contrary, my heart is inspired and my devotion deepened as I read. May God bless the Herald and all its staff, and prosper it in its God-given work of herald- I ing the Gospel of Christ, and may it always de- I fine and uphold the Mennonite way of life. — Mrs. Allen J. Schrock, Niantic, III. I would like to tell you how much I appreciate ; , the Gospel Herald recently. I have been great- ly helped by the articles on the “Keeping of : the Commandments” by Barney Ovensen ; the front page articles are also very good. Someone ‘ said the Gospel Herald says too much about i ( persons in the Mennonite Church. “We Men- I nonites know too much about each other,” he ^ said. I don’t feel that way, but I am afraid we 1 ( have too little love for each other. If we had 1 more love, we could bear and forbear one an- ■ 11 other better. Keep up the good work ; we need i a the Gospel Herald. It fills a definite place in I Christian magazines. And don’t sacrifice the 1 1 truth to get subscribers or to keep them. — Mil- : ton C. Keeler, Perkasie, Pa. , fire, which, in spite of storm and tempest, impels her toward the peaceful haven” (George C. Wells, in Vineland Camp Meeting, 1867). To be impelled by the force of that heart of fire is to be trans- formed to the world, and to follow the fashions of “the world to come.”— The late General Superintendent Chapman, in Herald of Holiness. GOSPEL HERALD ESTABLISHED 1908 AS SUCCESSOR TO GOSPEL WITNESS (1905) AND HERALD OF TRUTH (1864) PAUL ERB, EDITOR CATHERINE HERNLEY, editorial assistant J. D. GRABER, MISSIONS EDITOR JOHN L. HORST, MILLARD C. LIND, ASSOCIATE EDITORS THE GOSPEL HERALD IS A RELIGIOUS WEEKLY PUBLISHED IN THE INTERESTS OF THE MENNONITE CHURCH BY THE MENNONITE PUBLICATION BOARD, SCOTTDALE, PA. ENTERED AS SECOND-CLASS MATTER IN 1908 AT THE POST OFFICE AT SCOTTDALE, PA., UNDER ACT OF MARCH 3, 1879. SUBSCRIPTION PRICE: $3.00 PER YEAR, THREE YEARS IN ADVANCE, $8.00, FIVE YEARS IN ADVANCE, $12.50. SAMPLE COPIES SENT FREE ON REQUEST. SEND ALL MATERIA1 FOR PUBLICATION TO GOSPEL HERALD, SCOTTDALE, PA. PRINTED IN U.S.A. March 4, 1952 GOSPEL HERALD 219 EDITORIAL An Expanding Literature Outreach Growth and expansion seemed to be the note of emphasis in the annual meet- ing of the Mennonite Publication Board held at Wayland, Iowa, Feb. 20, 21. Re- ports of the work being done were most encouraging, and there was much lifting of eyes to goals yet to be achieved. The Board' was entertained with real western hospitality by the Sugar Creek congregation, where Bro. Simon Ging- erich, who at the last meeting retired after serving a long period as president of the Publication Board, is the bishop. A number of persons not members of the Board, most of them from the com- munity and the surrounding churches, attended the various sessions, particular- ly in the evening. Of the thirty members, twenty-three were present in person, and four by proxy. Three members were ab- sent. Those were two strenuous days of work, but there was real interest on the part of all, and almost all stayed to the close of the last session. Bro. John C. Wenger was presiding over his first an- nual meeting, and capably led the Board through the crowded agenda. The report of the Publishing Agent, Bro. A. J. Metzler, and, in part, of the House treasurer, Bro. M. B. Wyse, will be published in next week’s issue of the Gospel Herald. We here call attention to a few significant items to whet the appetite of our readers for the fuller report. For the first time our annual sales have passed the million dollar mark. The net gain in House and store opera- tions is $84,000. Total assets are $1,285,045.27, with a net worth of $967,472.77. Inventories total over half a million. Real estate owned has a book value of $427,000. The larger share of liabilities, $185,000, represents building indebtedness. Donations by the Board to various causes, including free litera- ture and discounts to ministers and mis- sionaries, are at a new high, $52,000. Tract distribution is now past 4 mil- lion annually. Of the great volume of summer Bible school material going out yearly, approximately five-sixths goes to children of non-Mennonite parentage. These two areas probably constitute our greatest missionary and evangelistic out- reach. Revision of our S.B.S. materials has begun, and will be carried out as reprints are necessary. Of the two hundred books and book- lets published by the House in a little over forty years, eight were published in 1951. Three have already been pub- lished in 1952, and a far larger number of manuscripts are in various stages of writing, editing, and production than at any previous time. Copies of the first page of J. B. Smith’s Concordance, a work involving prodigious labors which is now ready to be printed, were distri- buted at the meeting. Bro. Harold S. Bender gave a signifi- cant address on Literature for Foreign Countries, showing what has already been done and pointing out the great opportunities for a world-wide Gospel witness. Our Spanish paper and the par- tially completed translation of our S.B.S. materials into Spanish is our most exten- sive foreign language accomplishment so far. Other translations are in process and being planned. The Publishing Agent is to make investigations in Europe next summer of existing needs. Speakers from the House spoke also of how to get our message before a larger public. A most interesting and valuable fea- ture of this Board meeting was the read- ing of short messages by each member of the Board. Many helpful and valuable suggestions were given. Two important actions were taken in the approval of two special committee reports. One had to do with reorganiza- tion. It came out of the implementation of previous action recommending the consolidation of the treasuries of the Board and of the House. Tentative ac- tions were taken which will furnish a plan of operation for the coming year. As these prove to be successful, they may be written into the constitution later on. The Board treasurer becomes a Finan- cial Agent with advisory and counseling functions. The Publishing Committee becomes more closely integrated into counseling with the Publishing Agent on the publication of books, and is now appointed by the Executive Committee and approved by the Board. The Execu- tive Committee is empowered to employ an internal auditor who will report di- rectly to the Board concerning how well financial policies and procedures are working. The officers of the House will now be the Publishing Agent and an administrative assistant. The following will be appointed to be responsible to the officers: treasurer, editorial represen- tative, production manager, sales man- ager, and personnel manager. All these together, under the chairmanship of the Publishing Agent, shall constitute an administrative council. The treasurer now combines the former functions of both treasurers. This whole plan will be put into operation only as and when suitable persons can be found for the various functions. The other committee report was con- cerning the study of our periodicals. The following recommendations were adopted: (1) that the Christian School should be taken over by the Publication Board and published on a co-operative plan made with the Board of Education; (2) that a family worship magazine be published quarterly, distributed by and paid for by the Sunday schools; (5) that a new monthly magazine replace the Christian Monitor and the Mennonite Community to take care of the whole field of general community and home interests. Both the committee reports involved far-reaching decisions, and provoked long and earnest discussion. In both cases there seemed to be such division of opinion as to make action seem very difficult. In both cases the matter was held over from one session to another, to permit convictions to crystallize. And in both cases the leading of the Spirit was such that the decisions were almost unanimous. In regard to the new magazine for the home and community, our constituency may expect soon a careful setting forth of the purposes of this move and of the plans of procedure. We would urge that our readers should not jump to prema- ture conclusions. Suffice it to say now that the new magazine will require much planning. The Publishing Agent has given January, 1954, as a possible date for its appearance. Meanwhile the Mon- itor and the Community will continue to bring their valuable monthly contri- butions to our homes. Keep up your subscriptions so that you will not miss valuable and improved features. You may trust your Publishing House to give 220 March 4, 1952 fair administration of unexpired sub- scriptions when the two magazines are discontinued and the new one is begun. Watch for announcements on this point. And do not let your subscriptions lapse. It is to be hoped that the family wor- ship quarterly can appear soon. The two new magazines will, we believe, take care of some interests not covered by our lit- erature up to this time. Bro. Metzler was reappointed as Pub- lishing Agent. All editors were reap- pointed. Harold Bauman and Harold Zehr were re-elected vice-president and secretary, respectively. Bro. L. S. Mar- tin did not wish to serve as Financial Agent, and so his resignation was ac- cepted and Bro. Marcus Clemens, Sou- derton, Pa., was elected to that office. Bro. E. C. Bender was elected fifth mem- ber of the Executive Committee. This gives us a Committee with not much gray hair, but with a great deal of the ability and business experience which it needs. M. R. Good and Harold Brenneman were elected to the auditing and tract committees. The new Publishing Com- mittee is as follows: Paul Erb, Chm., Howard H. Charles, John E. Lapp, J. L. Horst, and Roy D. Roth. Enlarging business, new needs, and changed conditions call for new proce- dures and personnel. Certainly a great door and effectual is opened unto us in our publishing enterprise. The Lord has greatly blessed our efforts. May the whole church join in prayer for our ad- ministrators, our writers, our Publishing House craftsmen, that our efforts and the great investment of capital and effort may spread wide the Gospel truth, and bring many to salvation and a Christian walk. The Negro and the Curse Chapter nine of the Book of Genesis is thought by many to prove that the Negro is destined to perpetual servitude in the houses of his brethren. That is not so. Noah had three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth, from whom, after the Flood, the earth was populated. After Noah and his family went out of the Ark, Noah planted a vineyard, drank, perhaps innocently, of the wine, and lay drunk and naked in his tent. Ham looked on his father and told Shem and Japheth about their father’s shame- ful condition; whereupon these two, taking a garment, backed into Noah’s tent and concealed his body from prying eyes, but they did not look at him. When Noah recovered and knew what had happened, he blessed Shem and Japheth GOSPEL HERALD but pronounced a curse on Ham, con- demning his descendants to servitude to the children of Shem and Japheth. That is the story as most Bible readers seem to understand it. But they over- look one important detail— the curse was not placed on all of Ham’s descend- ants, but only on the children of Ca- naan, Ham’s youngest son. Gen. 9:25. Ham had three other sons older than Canaan— Cush, Mizraim, and Phut. Gen. 10:6. On them no curse came. And from them came the Negro. Dr. Hales says regarding the lands of the children of Cush and Mizraim: “To the Cushites, or children of his eldest son, Cush, were allotted the hot southern regions of Asia, along the coasts of the Persian gulf, Susiana, or Chusistan, Ara- bia, etc.; ... to the sons of Mizraim, Egypt and Lybia, in Africa” (see Adam Clarke’s Commentary). Smith’s Bible Dictionary states that the sons of Phut settled in Lybia or Nubia in Africa. The Canaanites (sons of Canaan), on the other hand, are believed by Dr. Hales to have settled, not in Africa, the home of the Negro, but in Palestine and Syria. This agrees with the Old Testa- ment record. In Gen. 10:15-18 it is seen that Canaan’s sons were the Sidonians, the Hittites, the Jebusites, the Amorites, the Girgasites, the Hivites, the Arkites, the Sinites, the Arvadites, the Zemarites, and the Hamathites. These are the tribes which the children of Israel found in Palestine at the time of its conquest under Joshua (cf. Ex. 3:17; Josh. 3:10; etc.). Many of them the Israelites slew in battle; some may have fled to other lands; others seem to have been absorbed into the Jewish nation; the rest became servants to their conquerors (cf. Deut. 9:4; 12:31; Josh, 9:21, 23, 27; and II Chron, 2:17, 18), who descended from Shem thrqugh Abram. Gen. 11:10-27. History tells us that Ham’s descend- ants, including the cursed Canaanites, have never shown signs of innate infer- iority to their brethren. Look at the Egyptians! Look at the Hittites! Look at the Sidonians (Phoenicians)! Look at the predominantly Hamitic Babvlon- ians! Look at the Carthaginians! These represent some of the world’s finest and greatest powers; and by them was civil- ization cradled. From this stock the Negro sprang. If the children of Ham do not hold the place of world leader- ship today, neither did the European and American sons of Japheth at that earlier time. If they have been slaves, so have people from practically every na- tion on earth. And on the con temporary scene appear such Hamitic notables as Booker T. Washington, George Wash- ington Carver, Marian Anderson, and Ralph Bundt— and many others. Three important facts, then, emerge from this study: (1) Noah cursed with servitude only the descendants of Ca- naan, Ham’s youngest son; (2) the Negro is not a descendant of Canaan, and, therefore, does not fall under that curse; It Happened — TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO (From Gospel Herald, March 3, 75127) Bro. Irvin Brunk, formerly of Den- bigh, Va., but more recently of Lancas- ter, Pa, is the latest addition to the Publishing House force of workers. ... it was decided to grant furloughs to Bro. and Sisted Lauver of the South American Mission to begin this summer, to Bro. and Sister E. E. Miller to begin in the spring of 1928, and to Bro. and Sister C. D. Esch of the India Mission to begin in the fall of 1928. We [St. Jacobs, Ont.] enjoyed ... a three days Bible conference with J. B. Smith and C. F. Derstine as instructors. . . . ten young people were received into church fellowship by water baptism [Preston, Ont.] ... 31 souls confessed Christ during these meetings [by Bro. J. A. Heiser at Nappanee, Ind.] and (3) the children of Ham are not innately inferior to other races. It remains, therefore, that God did not intend the Negro to be looked upon as lower than the other peoples of the world. And to treat him as though in- ferior is to mistreat him.— W. R. Thomp- son, in The Free Methodist. One Whose Face Was Black By Stanley C. Shenk In Matt. 25:31-46 Jesus declares that what His servants give (or withhold from) the poor and downtrodden is ac- tually given to (or withheld from) Him, the King of Glory. Thus He dearly identifies Himself with suffering human- ity. This great truth is powerfully pre- sented in the following anonymous poem: “I slept. I dreamed. I seemed to climb a hard, ascending track And just behind me labored one whose face was black. I pitied him, but hour by hour he gained upon my path. He stood beside, stood upright, and then I turned in wrath ; ‘Go back.’ I cried, ‘what right have you to stand behind me here?’ I paused, struck dumb with fear, for lo, the black man was not there— But Christ stood in his place! — And oh ! the pain, the pain that looked from His dear face.” Is it not true that some of us in with- holding equality of opportunity and fel- lowship from other races are actually limiting by that much our nearness to Christ and fellowship with Him?— Her- ald Youth Bible Studies. March 4, 1952 GOSPEL HERALD 221 Crushed by the Crowd BY BRUCE S. WRIGHT Jesus was preaching and healing by Galilee. Multitudes thronged Him. So great was the press that the disciples made ready a small boat to “prevent Him being crushed by the crowd.’’ A crowd is a crushing thing. It crushes one’s identity, individual responsibility, and independent action. A crowd will do what an individual, acting alone, would never think of doing. A mob of lynchers or marauders will, acting as a mob, destroy and devastate; the individ- ual’s sense of justice and righteousness is crushed by the crowd. There is a point to all this in our day. Christ is still be- ing crushed by the crowd. Christ is crushed in our crowded minds. We believe the Bible, but we read the newspapers and magazines. Look at the daily and weekly product of the printing press as it is seen at any news- stand, and no newsstand pretends to carry all that is printed. So much of one sort and another is printed that the digest system was adopted to enable us to keep up in our reading. We have digests of this and digests of that, but, despite the fact that our reading is di- gested and predigested, we cannot keep up with all that is offered us. Solomon in his day, observing a few men toil- somely engaged in writing longhand a few manuscripts, remarked, “Of the making of many books there is no end.” What would he say today? What could he say? In the face of this flood of read- ing matter, what chance has the Bible with its commandments, its Psalms of worship and praise, its parables, and the teachings of Christ! They are crushed in the crowd. The church and Christians are charged with this particular task— we are to be specialists in religious literature, religious education, and the direction of the mind toward the things of God. “For as he thinketh in his heart so is he” was never truer than today. We need to con- duct our minds after the order of a great railroad. Certain trains have the right- of-way, all else is sidetracked for those trains. Good thoughts, good reading must have right-of-way in our minds. If we will issue and stand by this right-of- way order, then Christ will have a chance with our thoughts; He will not be crushed in our crowded minds. Again, Christ is crushed in our crowd- ed systems. I am thinking now of our political and social systems, our eco- nomic and industrial plans, in which Christ has no part, in which He is crushed. What did He teach? He taught that the supreme values of the universe are human values. Of the value of child- hood He said, “But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me it were better for him that a mill- stone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.” What an indictment! Jesus is crushed whenever we violate the rights, mar the beauty, or soil the soul of child- hood in our crowded systems of selfish- ness and greed. “How much then is a man better than a sheep?” Jesus asked His critics. That was saying considerable, for sheep rep- resented an important part of the wealth of that day. Interpreted in the language of our day He is saying, “Ye are of more value than costly structures, than the highest priced real estate, than gold, platinum and diamonds; yea, a man is of more value than many machines.” From cover to cover, in its history, poet- ry, prophecy. Gospels, and epistles, the Bible teaches the supremacy of the value of human personality and the soul of man. All in one the Bible is the Magna Charta, Declaration of Independence, and Emancipation Proclamation of hu- man rights. Economists tell us that there is a plentitude in this world of all we need— enough raw materials to supply food, clothing, and shelter to every man, woman, and child on earth. The trouble is we quarrel over these things; we snatch from one another— the strong from the weak— and Christ is crushed in our crowded political and social systems. Christ is also crushed in our crowded budgets. Here is the story of a dollar bill. A man took a dollar bill, attached a durable piece of paper to it, and on the paper wrote his name, address, and the date, together with the request that everyone into whose possession the dol- lar bill came would write on the paper the purpose for which it was spent, and that at the end of two weeks the bill be returned to him. In due time the bill came to him with the information that in the two weeks it had been spent- five times for paying wages, five times for cigarettes, five times for candy, three times for meals, twice for hosiery, once for motor repairs, once for laundry, once for groceries, once for tooth paste. Reading the record, the man remarked, “God never had a chance with that dol- lar; it never reached the church; it never touched the altar.” There is an old saying, “Money talks.” What does it say? If your money and mine could talk, what story would it tell? Would it say, “My owner uses three times as much of me for amusement as he does for the church; yet he is a member of the church.” Or would it say, “My master considers me a trust from God, and gives as large a proportion as he can to the work of God.” Does God have a chance with our money? Is it taken to the altar? Or is Christ crushed in our crowded budgets? Then too Christ is crushed in our crowded programs. We live in a differ- ent world than the world of our fathers. Think of the things that engage our time and strength, that make demands upon us which our fathers and mothers never knew; automobiles, good roads leading in every direction, the lure of travel, the radio, the airplane, telephone and tele- graph, and electric light and power. These things have changed life, have crowded our programs of living. They are by no means evil; their total con- tribution is good. Their evil rests in our permitting them to so crowd our pro- gram that necessary spiritual desires and habits are crushed thereby. There is even danger that Christ be crushed in our crowded church programs. We be- come so busy running the machine that we forget the product of the machine, which is Christlike lives, saved men and women. Today, as by Galilee long ago, we need to be watchful, farsighted, and resolute that Christ be not crushed in our crowd- ed lives.— Adapted from out-of-print tract of American Tract Society. Dealing with Fallen Ministers By Alf. B. Miller For many years I have wondered about the way our church has of dealing with fallen ministers, and, as we hardly ever hear this mentioned from the pulpit or read anything about it in our church papers, I think perhaps there may be others wondering. One minister put it this way; “Abraham was a liar, Jacob a deceiver, David an adulterer and a murderer, Moses a murderer, Peter de- nied his Lord, lied, and cursed, yet God used them in marvelous ways in His plan. If that would have taken place in the Mennonite Church, we would have had a number of committee meet- ings, then, after their confessions, stripped them of their ministry, taken them back into the church and laid them on the shelf.” It doesn’t sound very good, but isn’t it about the usual pro- cedure? Some years ago a minister in one of our churches sharply rebuked the Sun- day-school superintendent in the same church for having a brother, a minister who had fallen and been reinstated, teach a Sunday-school class of young men. Later, remarks like these were heard from those in the class: “Wish I knew my Bible like that man does;” “My, isn’t he a wonderful man of God”; “Wish we could have him for our teacher all the time.” You may judge whether the min- ister or the superintendent was right. Why not treat and use them as we do 222 GOSPEL HERALD March 4, 1952 any other brother? Put them to work instead of putting them on the shelf. All of us were once sinners. If we have come to Christ in true repentance, have suffered remorse and agony to some de- gree, we should be able to sympathize with the fallen and restored and should do as Jesus taught, forgive as we would like to be forgiven. Whatever is done toward the fallen, or those overtaken in a fault, should be done in the spirit ex- pressed by the Apostle Paul in Gal. 6:1. S. Hutchinson, Kans. Conference on Christian Community Relations To be held at Willow Springs Mennonite Church, Tiskilwa, Illinois, March 27-29, 1952 The annual conference on Christian Community Relations, sponsored jointly by the Committee on Economic and So- cial Relations and the Mennonite Com- munity Association is to be held at the Willow Springs Mennonite Church near Tiskilwa, 111., March 27-29, 1952. The first session is on Thursday evening at 7:30, with addresses by Guy F. Hersh- berger on “Re-examining Mennonite Community Relations,” and Paul Erb on “Biblical Principles for Christian Community Relations.” The forenoon session on Friday will be devoted to reports on trends in representative Mennonite communities. Speakers representing long established communities are: Lyle Yost, Hess ton, Kansas; P. R. Kennel, Shickley, Nebr.; Thomas H. Miller, Kalona, Iowa; Ivan Kauffmann, Hopedale, 111.; and Jacob R. Clemens, Souderton, Pa. Murray Kra- bill and James H. Lark will represent new community developments at Mt. Gilead, Ohio, and Hopkins Park, 111. On Friday afternoon there is to be a panel discussion on “Rural Youth Fac- ing the Problems of the Industrial City.” The panels will be composed of Millard Lind, and a group of students who last summer were members of a Students-in- Industry study group in Detroit. The members of the group are: Mary Ann Hostetler, Goshen, Ind.; Paul O. King, Elida, Ohio; Omar Lantz, Gap, Pa.; Le- roy Nisley, Goshen, Ind.; John P. Oyer, Eureka, Mich.; Emma Sommers, Koko- mo, Ind. The panel discussion will be followed by an address by J. Winfield Fretz of North Newton, Kans., on “Ef- fects of Industrialization upon the Chris- tian Community.” At six o’clock there will be a special business session of the Mennonite Com- munity Association. The address of the evening session will be given by E. W. Mueller of Chicago, secretary of the Rur- al Church Program of the National Lutheran Council. His subject will be: “People Need to Hear a Message from God; People Need to Live in a Commu- nity.” The leader of the discussion period following the address will be Richard J. Yordy of Freeport, 111. On Saturday forenoon the conference group will make a tour to observe soil conservation practices in the Willow Springs community. Following the tour Silas Smucker of Rensselaer, Ind., will conduct a discussion on soil conserva- tion. At the final session on Saturday afternoon J. Winfield Fretz will speak on “Practical Proposals for the Build- ing of the Rural Cliristian Community.” The discussion period following the ad- dress will be led by John D. Hartzler of Roanoke, 111. Persons traveling from east or west by train should come to Princeton on the Burlington Route or to Bureau on the Rock Island Route. Please notify C. Warren Long, pastor of the Willow Springs congregation. He will arrange for someone to meet you at the train. Those traveling by automobile should drive to Princeton on U.S. Highway No. 6, or on U.S. Highway No. 34, then seven miles south of Princeton on an unmark- ed concrete road to Tiskilwa. The Wil- low Springs Church is located in the country about 5 miles southwest of Tiskilwa. The local congregation will arrange for lodging. The local congregation and the spon- soring organizations extend a hearty wel- come to the conference. Printed copies of the program can be obtained by writ- ing to C. Warren Long, Tiskilwa, or Guy F. Hershberger, secretary of the confer- ence, Goshen, Ind. A church worshiper once said, “There is more melody in the crying of a baby than in the snoring of a saint.”— Willow Springs Church Bulletin, Tiskilwa, 111. Tell It Not By Grace Dorothy Lehman How David did lament When came the word that night , “King Saul and lovely Jonathan Are fallen in the fight.” “Oh, tell it not in Gath,” Said he, “lest they rejoice ; And in the streets of Askelon Let no man lift his voice. “’Tis sorrow keen enough That honored men should fall, So let reproach not further come Outside of Israel’s wall.” O Christian Church today, Can we not also gain A lesson from that man of God That oft would spare us pain ? When those among us fail And stumble by the way, Oh, tell it not to those without, But sorrowing let us pray. Lancaster, Pa. Peace Only Through Christ By Elmer E. Bittinger We commemorated last July 4 one hundred and seventy-five years of Ameri- ca’s independence. And today we find many of the same problems existing as existed in 1776. The question in many minds today is, “When will wars stop?” Wars will stop when God stops them, and not before. Men cannot remove war from the world. Men can, under cer- tain circumstances, avert this or that war by arbitration, or compromise, or amicable settlement. Men can do much to reduce or avoid causes of aggravation between nations; they can go far in the way of mutual understanding, showing trust instead of distrust in one another —in these and in other ways peace can be maintained and certain wars pre- vented. But man can no more remove war from the world than he can remove sin from the world. “From whence come wars and fightings among you?” asked the inspired writer James. He answers, “Come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members? Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not” (James 4:1, 2). The natural man is at enmity with God, and those who war with God cannot have any permanent peace with fellow men. Sin is the root of war, and only God can deal with sin. Christian people throughout the world should keep these facts in mind as they consider the situation in Korea where the military leaders are meeting to work out cease-fire conditions. Na- tional leaders acknowledge war does not settle anything. With a statesman-like knowledge of current events and nation- al policies on the one hand and the Word of God on the other, we can readily discern who can speak peace to the nations. In times of crisis such as this we think, as in other similar periods of the world’s history, there never was a time when it was more important and vital to think straight on the subject of world peace. Needless to say, God’s thought on the subject is of more value than man’s. And it is strange that no nation, no government head or national leader seems to give any place to God’s revealed Word on this great subject af- fecting the life and welfare of the peo- ples of the world. But should we not be thankful for the intense interest that exists today in bringing about peace? The signing of the Paris Peace Pact by fifty-six nations of the past failed to bring about peace. Their declaration that war should not be used as an instrument of national policy was laid aside for a new way of undeclared war in policing the world against aggression. Certainly we should be thankful for every move of men and nations to avert war and preserve peace. Christians of every nation should do all in their power to be a testimony for March 4, 195 2 223 A Prayer for This Week Dear God, look now into my heart And send Thy searchlight through each part. Then throw out sin; anew I’d start. Lord, visit me, I pray. O God, read Thou my thoughts today; Then teach me what I ought to say. And keep me in the narrow way. Lord, visit me, I pray. O God! You know how weak I am. For you yourself created man. And as you hushed the waves, you can, Lord, visit me. Amen. —Dorcas S. Miller. peace and not war; love, not hate; un- derstanding, not misunderstanding; suf- fering, rather than taking our own part. Above all, they should obey God’s Word and lift up supplication, prayers, inter- cessions, and giving of thanks . . . for kings, and for all in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceful life in all godliness and. honesty. Is it not true that too little of this liv- ing testimony is found among us today? Our everyday lives fail in carrying out this peace principle. From the time of Joseph in Egypt and Daniel in Babylon, down through the ages to the present jday, God’s people and their influence |and prayers have been mighty factors in shaping national policies and in bring- ing temporal as well as spiritual blessings among men. Christian people should not be misled and blinded by the zealous and, we believe, sincere activities of statesmen for world peace to the ignor- ing of the Word of God and accepting of any mistaken theories for bringing peace on earth through mutual under- standing. The prophetic Word bears this out as “a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path,” for “we have also 1 more sure word of prophecy; where- anto ye do well that ye take heed, as onto a light that shineth in a dark place, jntil the day dawn, and the day star irise in your hearts” (II Peter 1:19). We, who believe in prophecy and pray or the coming of the Prince of Peace, ilso rejoice in all that in the meantime truly makes for peace. May we protect he peacemakers against any discourage- nents at the weakness of their own ef- orts by pointing them to the ultimate md certain hope of the coming and tri- umph of the Prince of Peace, by full dlegiance to God and His Word, and by i ollowing the peace principles laid down >y our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. The hope of establishing unclouded ;ood will, candor, and confidence among I is is to first establish this with heaven j hrough our Lord and Saviour. Then, GOSPEL HERALD and then only, will the right relation exist among men. Then, and then only, shall we see clearly to follow the teach- ing of His Word with the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Then, and then only, shall there exist that co-operation we so often speak of but so seldom accomplish. Our human actions and utterances, fighting a war to end war, with no turn- ing to God in acknowledged helpless- ness, acknowledged sinfulness of murder and suicide of war, are doomed to fail- ure. Every appeal has been to the al- leged lofty, righteous, and peace-loving nature of man; to the covenant-making and covenant-keeping honor of men and nations; to the mighty arms of human governments to contract for peace and maintain peace; these are but to end in human failure. It is almost unbeliev- able that God has been left out and the will and purpose of man exalted. Be- cause God has been left out, war cannot be left out. Only God can deal with the root of war, which is sin. Man is equally as helpless in dealing with sin without the shed blood of Christ as in dealing with war without the Prince of Peace. The prince of this world, the prince of the powers of the air, is stronger than man alone. The wages of sin is death, the wages of war is death, and the wages of sin is war. Why not do a new thing in our gen- eration—openly confess sin and helpless- ness and turn to God in penitence as the only sure hope of dealing with this mon- strous evil? We take the risk of believ- ing men of the world; why not take God at His word believing He will ful- fill His obligation if we only meet the conditions? God is a God of honor, and His honor consists in fulfilling His obli- gations. “Ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.” When will we turn to God in our efforts for peace? Jesus Christ Himself is our peace. If we are at peace with Him, we will want others to share that peace. When men are at peace with Him, then, and then only, will they have peace one with another. The prophetic Word car- ries no bright picture for its accomplish- ment through human effort. God is giv- ing every opportunity to His followers to lead men to Christ that peace might be attained, but few, the Word tells us, find it. We are not missionary-minded. God has no other way, and He knew we would fail Him. But what of the state- ment, “Their soul will I require at thy hand”? God is just and the justifier of them which believe in Jesus. Springs, Pa. A Catholic newspaper, Le Devoir, pub- lished in Montreal, reports that Robert Lewis, former bombardier in the U.S. Air Force, who pressed the button which released the atom on Hiroshima, has entered a monastery to recover his loss of “inner peace.” — Willow Springs Church Bulletin, Tiskilwa, 111. Prayer Requests — Pray that foreign missionaries in prison in China on false charges may be de- livered by God’s power, and that God may give their families His keeping in heart and mind, and impart courage and patience and unwavering faith. Pray that the curse of permanent mili- tarism may not come upon us through Universal Military Training. Pray for the Mission and the Church in India as they prepare to operate unit- edly under a new constitution, begin- ning July 1. Pray for our young men of draft age, and their parents, that they may stand for Christian convictions on nonresist- ance, and be willing to make personal sacrifice in the interests of Christian witness. Pray for tent meetings being planned by our missionaries in Argentina. Prayers will be appreciated for the meet- ings conducted by Bro. Elam Hollinger at Lititz, Pa., March 2-16. (Requests for this column must be signed.) The Supreme Command It was all so strange. Mary, who was to be the mother of the Christ child, must establish her first home in a Beth- lehem stable; there was no room in the inn. This humble abode, however, was transformed into a kingly palace, the light of heaven itself illuminating the place and enhancing its every detail. Shepherds, their faces aglow with the heavenly vision, their hearts ringing with the song of the angels, “Peace on earth, good will to men,” made their contribu- tion to God’s mystery picture. Arrayed in kingly regalia and laden with precious gifts, the Wise Men came lending their luster and wonderment to those who adored and worshiped. Little did the innkeeper realize the significance of the event transpiring so close to him, and yet so far. Little does the home today realize what it misses when it bars the Christ from its doors. His was the first Christian home. He came to have first place in our hearts and homes. “Seek ye first the kingdom of God,” He commanded. Would you honor God this Christmas- time for His gift of Love, dedicate your- self and your home to His Son for joy- ous, adventuresome living. — D. Carl Yoder. Men who love the Lord rejoice when they see the Gospel at work in new fields.— C. Warren Long. 224 GOSPEL HERALD March 4, 1952 CHURCH MUSIC Mennonite Hymnbooks By Paul Erb Zwingli, the Swiss reformer, was, like Luther, a gifted musician. Like all the reformers, he made much use of song, and so it is only natural that the Ana- baptist movement, which is the begin- ning of Mennonitism, should also ex- press itself in song. During the first half century of its history, the Anabaptist movement produced about seven hun- dred and fifty songs, about one half of which are martyr songs. In fact, these hymns are one of the chief sources of the early history of our church. Men who were about to give their lives for their faith wrote in poignant personal lyrics their faith and their hope. These martyr songs express the religious con- victions of their authors and are a testi- mony to the experiential nature of their faith and to their willingness to stand against entrenched authority, leaving the issue with God. A large number of these early hymns, many of them martyr songs, were col- lected in the Ausbund , which is the first Mennonite hymnal. It was first pub- lished in 1564 and has gone through nu- merous editions. It is still used by the Old Order Amish, and is certainly the oldest hymnal in use anywhere today. In the main body of Mennonites these Aus- bund hymns were gradually displaced by the rich treasure of German hymns of other churches. The martyr hymns were an excellent expression of the historic period from which they came, but they seem today a bit monotonous in their constant reiteration of the martyr theme. And there was need of hymns which presented other phases of Christian faith and Christian life. Few of the Ausbund hymns have been translated into Eng- lish. One of them, however, has now been made available to us in the trans- lation by E. G. Gehman. It is published in the July-December, 1946, issue of the Program Builder. A free translation of the first stanza of the Lobgesang, tradi- tionally sung in every Amish service, has been made by J. C. Wenger, and pub- lished in Junior Hymns (No. 33). The Dutch Anabaptists also produced a large number of hymns. The most im- portant collection, Het Offer Des Herren, went through five or six editions during the sixteenth century. It has recently been re-edited and published in Am- sterdam. From the Anabaptist hymns, largely martyr in character, and from the other hymns of the German Reformation came most of the hymns used among Men- nonites until seventy-five years ago. The Ausbund was the only hymnal of Euro- pean publication which our forefathers brought to America with them and con- tinued to publish here. It was first pub- lished in America at Germantown in 1742 and was often published thereafter at Germantown, Lancaster, Elkhart, and Kutztown, Pa. The first compilation of hymns made by the Mennonites in Amer- ica, that is, the first American Mennonite hymnbook, was Die Kleine Geistliche Harfe, published at Germantown in 1803 and reprinted six times thereafter. It was long the official hymnbook of the Franconia Conference. The next year the Mennonites of Lancaster County published U npartheyisches Gesangbuch. This was the official hymnbook of the Lancaster Mennonite Conference for almost a century, and was last reprinted by the Amish in 1923. It would seem that these largest two centers of Men- nonitism at that time should have got together to produce a common hymnal. The story of their failure to do so is told in the following letter of Deacon Martin Mellinger, written to relatives in Ger- many in 1821: “And now I want to tell you how it went -when the first book was to be printed. Since we had all sorts of hymnbooks, and not enough of what we had, our brethren decided to have a hymnbook printed for ourselves. Brethren and choristers were to select beautiful and fit- ting hymns, after which they were to be col- lected and given over to 3, 4, or 5 men. These men were to select enough out of the hymns which had been collected so that the hymn- book would not be too large. After a time two Skippack brethren, since they have a large and strong church as well as a large district and are well trained in singing, had brought together enough hymns for a complete hymnbook and had 3,000 subscriptions in advance. We also had many hymns from Virginia, from Jacob’s Creek, and from our vicinity, which were to go into the book. So it was feared that the book would become too large. In addition our breth- ren wanted to include a number of psalms and notes. In short, the difference was so great that the Skippack brethren said that their hymns had been handed in by so many brethren and dared not be omitted, and so many had already subscribed, and there was a lengthy discussion. The second day the Skippack brethren said that they were only delegates and they saw no other way than to have their book printed in Germantown where they had a good printer and bookbinder, which was so handy for them that they could look after everything, and we could print ours in Lancaster. And so the out- come was that they had as many printed as we. But that made no difference to us or them, for we love one another, and we visit them and they visit us every year. And still it is a pity that it had to be so. For many years already, many families have been moving to Virginia, Jacob’s Creek, and Canada, and each has his hymnbook, and then they have different hymnbooks when they come together. Although you will doubt- less know most of the hymns in the books, you will probably find many beautiful and valuable hymns, especially in the last appendix, which are strange to you and have never yet appeared in print.” So near did we come to having a uni- fied Mennonite hymnody one hundred and fifty years ago! Twenty-five years later the Mennonites in Virginia, where music has always had a prominent em- phasis in church life, published at Win- chester their hymnal. It was edited by Joseph Funk and called A Compilation of Genuine Church Music. It printed not only words of the hymns, but music also, harmonized for three voices. This book 1 also was often republished, but after the fourth edition was renamed The Harmonia Sacra. Later editions were harmonized for four parts. The Har- monia Sacra is still used on special oc- casions in the Shenandoah Valley. It was now time for the Mennonite group in Ontario to produce their song- book. In 1836 Die Gemeinschaftliche Liedersammlung was published at Ber- lin, now Kitchener. This book is the first publication issued by the Mennon- ites in Canada. According to H. S. Bender, “It is possible that this Men- nonite hymnbook was the first book of any sort printed in Waterloo County or for that matter in all inner Canada.” This hymnal was probably edited by Benjamin Eby, bishop and schoolmaster. It is the first Mennonite hymnal in | which there are no hymns from the A us- 1 bund, nor any that deal with character- >1 istic Mennonite teaching. In 1847 Joseph Funk published in j Virginia another hymnal called A Col- lection of Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs. It is the first songbook in Virginia which may be properly called a hymnal, for the Harmonia Sacra had been partly a music textbook. It is the first Mennon- ite hymnbook in English, although it had an appendix in German hymns. It had wide use for many years, being re- , published, not only in Virginia, but at Lancaster. It was sold by J. F. Funk, at Elkhart, Ind., with the imprint of his ; firm. It was commonly known as the I English Mennonite Hymnbook. Der Christliche Saenger, another German hymnal, was published at Skippackville, in eastern Pennsylvania, in 1855. Eine \ Uparteiische Liedersammlung was pub- lished for the Amish Mennonites in j Lancaster in 1860 and reprinted fre- , quently thereafter in Lancaster, Elkhart, ! and Scottdale. This book is still in use. Indiana joined the communities which produced their own hymnbook in 1871 with the Allgemeine Lieder-Sammlung. It was produced by an Indiana com- mittee and was reprinted five times. In 1875 the Mennonite Publishing Com- pany at Elkhart brought out The Phil- harmonia, compiled by Martin D. Wen- ger. The language issue, which was a very delicate one about this time, was met by writing the title in German on the lower half of the title page. Some of the songs were written in English, some in German, and some in both. Like Harmonia Sacra, it was something of a music textbook and was published es- pecially to provide tunes for the various j hymnbooks in use in the Mennonite churches, most of which had only words. Another English collection, entitled A March 4, 1952 GOSPEL HERALD 225 Collection of Psalms and Hymns, was produced by a committee of Mennonites and published in Elkhart in 1880. It was reprinted only twice. The growing Sunday-school movement evidently tre- quired new songs, for in 1883 C. H. Brunk edited Bible School Hymns, which was published at Elkhart. It also was reprinted twice, the last time in 1888. Hymns and Tunes, also compiled by a committee, was published at Elkhart in 1890. This book was never reprinted. The frequency with which these books were appearing during this period of our history seems to indicate that, having turned from the old-style German hymns, the musical standards of the (Continued on page 237) OUR SCHOOLS As Others See Us By Willard D. Conrad [A chapel address at Hesston College] Early in 1525, in Switzerland, a small group of men separated themselves from the larger society in which they lived and formed the group known today as the Mennonites. These men took this momentous and dangerous step because they were determined to live according to their understanding of the teachings of the Bible. They believed that neither the Catholics nor the newly formed Pro- testant groups were following Christ’s teachings completely. What is happening today to the spirit- ual sons and daughters of these men? During this past year in one of our mid- western universities the writer took a course which made him think seriously on this question. The course was en- titled “The Sect and Sectarian Com- I munity.” It was intended to be a socio- logical study of the sectarian process, which the instructor described as “from assimilation to assimilation.’’ The sec- tarian process should be of interest to Mennonites, for sociologists consider us a sect, along with such groups as the Shakers, the Rappites, the Perfectionists, and the Society of True Believers (Amana Colonists). The purpose of this article is to arouse a greater concern in the hearts of all Mennonites on a dif- ficult problem facing us today, that of I separation from the world and conform- ity to Christ. The points and definitions presented will be those gleaned from the classroom. The instructor did not pro- fess to be a Christian and studied sects from a purely sociological point of view. Even so, we might profit from a view i of ourselves as others see us. If Mennonites are a sect, what is a sect? Is it undesirable to be considered a sect? 1 The sect and its origins were described in the following manner. A sect is a religious protest group, originating in a I period of social unrest and tending to I isolate itself from the larger society. It it a small, voluntary community, aiming S at inward perfection of its own members f who have joined it by conscious choice. The sect attempts to be a moral com- ' munity in itself, appealing directly to Scripture and to Christ, and practicing a priesthood of all believers. It is espe- cially connected, in its inception, with the lower classes, working upward from below. Since the sect is a protest group breaking away from the larger commu- nity, it is misunderstood and therefore persecuted. Conflict and persecution ex- plain the negativistic doctrines of the sect and its isolation. The sect begins to emphasize the “Be ye separate” idea. What happens to a sect as the years pass? This question is more pertinent to our problem today than the first. So- ciologists believe (on the basis of his- torical evidence), as was already sug- gested, that the sectarian process is “from assimilation to assimilation,” or, in other words, that a sect breaks off from the larger group only to gradually merge with that group again at a later time. This process is considered inevit- able. A minimum of contact with the outside world may prolong the life of a sect but cannot save it. Inevitably the sect will adopt external influences and will eventually be fused again with the outside group from which it withdrew. As a sect prospers, the group changes. The lower classes are gradually sloughed off as members become more prosperous. Economic prosperity kills a sect. The nature of the religious impulse alone cannot sustain a sect, for religious ex- perience is not synonymous with life on earth. Earthly necessities compel a change in perspective. A sect naturally becomes more worldly. It can’t be avoid- ed. As the sect prospers and makes peace with the outside world, it becomes a de- nomination. It has lost its fire— its differ- ence. Are there signs which indicate this re- portedly inevitable process of re-assimi- lation? Can one witness the change in a sect? Apply these suggested “signs” to the Mennonite sect. 1. From propertyless members to mem- bers with property; from economic pov- erty to economic wealth. 2. From renunciation of the prevailing culture to affirmation of it. 3. From adherence to strict Biblical standards to the acceptance of general cultural standards. 4. From religious experience to a social institution. 5. From a moral community excluding unworthy members to a social institu- tion embracing all who are socially com- patible. 6. From a voluntary confessional basis of membership to a matter of social pre- requisite only. 7. From emphasis on evangelism and conversion to emphasis on religious edu- cation. 8. From an unspecialized, unprofes- sional part-time ministry to specialized full-time ministry. 9. From stress on the future in the next world to emphasis on the future in this world; from death to earthly life. 10. From fervor in worship to re- straint; from positive action to listening. 11. From a high degree of participa- tion by the congregation in service to the delegation of responsibility to a com- paratively few. 12. From emphasis on religion at home to the delegation of religious training to the church. Brethren, whither are we bound? Where are we going? These signs were presented by a secular sociologist. They were not pointed at Mennonites but are a generalized pattern apparent in the history of many sectarian groups. They were presented as facts, not necessarily either good or bad. Perhaps they do not apply to Mennonites. Perhaps they are desirable changes. Perhaps they are of little significance. But what do you think? It is the writer’s firm conviction that if the Mennonite sect is to be salt that has retained its savor, Mennonites must remain separate from the world. We must be conformed completely to the Word of God, and not conformed to the standards of the culture in which we live. It is the writer’s conviction that religion is life indeed, and that God can keep us separate if we sincerely desire to follow Him. ANOTHER BLOW AT EVOLUTION The now really outmoded theory of organic evolution suffered another seri- ous blow in the “holy” Hindu city of Benares. The blow came from a tiny, transparent, centipede-like shrimp. The director of the Zoological Survey of India reports that “the shrimp’s an- cestors flourished during the Mesozoic period of earth’s history over a hundred million years ago— and yet, the present- day shrimp is the exact image of its hundred-million-year-old cousin!” Of course going back to “100,000,000 years ago” is guesswork. The King’s Business comments: “When God made shrimps, He told them to reproduce after their kind, and they have been obeying Him ever since.’’— The Flame, England. For any Christian to say he has no “call” is an absurdity.— Kenneth G. Good. 226 GOSPEL HERALD March 4, 195* FOR OUR SHUT-INS The Lord Thy Keeper I will lift up mine eyes unto the mountains: From whence shall my help come? My help cometh from the Lord, Which made heaven and earth. He will not suffer thy foot to be moved. He that keepeth thee will not slumber. Behold, he that keepeth Israel Shall neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord is thy keeper: The Lord is thy shade upon thy right hand. The sun shall not smite dice by day, Nor the moon by night. The Lord shall keep thee from all evil; He shall keep thy soul. The Lord shall keep thy going out and thy coming in, From this time forth and for evermore. — Psalm 121 (Modern Reader’s Bible). Glorify Ye the Lord Isaiah 24:19-29 There are some things that cannot easily be learned. Our spiritual senses seem to require the pressure of difficulty and suffering to awaken all their capac- ities to constrain us to prove the full resources of heavenly grace. God’s school of faith is always trial, and God’s school of love is provocation and wrong. In- stead, therefore, of murmuring against our lot and wondering why we are per- mitted to be so tried, let us glorify God and put our adversary to shame by wringing a blessing from Satan’s hate and hell’s hostility, and we shall find after a while that the enemy will be glad to let us alone for his own sake if not for ours.— A. B. Simpson. Wasted Suffering By Phebe F. Kraus From somewhere in the long ago, the expression in the above title came to my attention. It has stayed with me, coming to mind many times in the years that have followed. “Wasted Suffering”— What does it mean? It would be easy to consider the time spent in suffering as wasted, but the suffering itself— can it be so valuable and precious that it must be utilized to the full? Can there be a sense of accomplish- ment in the experiencing of pain and disappointment? For the child of God I believe *the answer must be “Yes.” Nothing can happen to us that is not at least His permissive will, and our own attitudes will determine whether the “setbacks” will be allowed to accomplish their purposes, or whether we shall fail in learning the lesson our Teacher has assigned us. I read of a Christian woman who had marked in her Bible a passage from Phil. 3. In verse eight, three words were un- derscored: “I have suffered ” and in verse ten, five words: “that I may know him.” Strictly speaking, there may be many answers to the eternal “Why?” that goes up to God concerning our deprivations; broadly there will be but one: “That I may know Him.” Know His “power,” His “fellowship.” Not all sufferings will be physical. For Paul and countless others it was “the loss of all things” in a material sense. For many more it has been “ ‘Good-by’ to the dearest on earth,” the shattering of cherished hopes and plans, the secret heartaches that cannot be shared. To you who read this page the suffering is a day-by-day experience either of pain or helplessness, or, at best, the feeling of frustration that accompanies a forced in- activity. Shall it be wasted suffering, or can we declare triumphantly with Paul, “I have suffered . . . that I may know him,” and so fulfill the purpose of every pang we are called upon to bear? Denbigh, Va. Closer Cling to Jesus Do life’s storms above thee roll ? Closer cling to Jesus; There is refuge for thy soul, Closer cling to Jesus. Nearer pressing to His side, ’Neath His wings securely hide, Safely in His love abide. Closer cling to Jesus. Are there griefs that bow thee low? Closer cling to Jesus; He thine ev’ry care doth know, Closer cling to Jesus. Do not stand apart and grieve. At His feet thy burden leave; Ask, and His strong help receive , Closer cling to Jesus. Are thy days full often drear? Closer cling to Jesus; He will give thee joy and cheer. Closer cling to Jesus. Trust Him, love Him, to Him cling, Crown Him evermore thy King; Gladness, peace, and rest ’twill bring, Closer cling to Jesus. —Ida, L. Reed, in Church and Sunday School Hymnal. God does not comfort us to make us comfortable but to make us comforters. — Jowett. Consider Him Hebrews 12:3 When the storm is raging high, When the tempest rends the sky, When my eyes with tears are dim, Then, my soul, “consider Him.” When my plans are in the dust, When my dearest hopes are crushed, When is passed each foolish whim, Then, my soul, “consider Him.” When with dearest friends I part. When deep sorrow fills my heart, When pain racks each weary limb, Then, my soul, “consider Him.” When I track my weary way, When fresh trials come each day, When my faith and hope are dim, Then, my soul, “consider Him.” Clouds or sunshine, dark or bright. Evening shades or morning light, When my cup flows o’er the brim. Then, my soul, “consider Him.” Anon. In a Mysterious Way By Stanley C. Shenk “God moves in a mysterious way His wonders to perform; He plants His foot-i steps in the sea, and rides upon thet storm.” David Livingstone was led ta Africa “in a mysterious way.” He hadi originally planned to go to China as a; missionary, but when his medical and religious training was finished, China! was temporarily closed to missions.! Therefore, he went to Africa— and who can doubt but that this was the basic will! of God from the beginning? Paul was' determined to go to Rome (“I will comet to you”) and he got there— but who could have foreseen that he would go inr chains? Perhaps God is working silently! through the shifting scenes of your lifei in order that He may bring to pass His plan. Surely, we can know, in the words of James Russell Lowell that “Behind the dim unknown, Standeth God within the shadow, Keeping watch above His own.” West Liberty, Ohio. He Leads Us On He leads us on By paths we did not know; Upward He leads us, though our steps be slow, Though oft we faint and falter on the way, Though storms and darkness oft obscure the day, Yet when the clouds are gone, We know He leads us on. — Contributed. March 4, 1952 GOSPEL HERALD 227 TO BE NEAR TO GOD THEME: PEACE Sunday, March 9 "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men" (Luke 2:14). The song rang out over the Roman world so far from the ways of peace. How far peace seems from us today in a world where world wars continue, and the ruins of old wars are never quite erased. But Jesus came — a light in the darkness, a song in the silence, proph- ecy fulfilled. This is the answer: Jesus Christ, “who is our peace.” Monday, March 10 "Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not" (I Peter 2:23a). Watch Peter, now an elderly man writing a letter to his fellow Christians in Asia Minor, setting down the things he remembered of the Master. Among the things he remem- bered best was something that Jesus did not do. Say what good we may about the posi- ! tive, glowing things we have done, the gun I we did not shoulder, the insult we did not return, the assault we did not contend, also shine as a witness. Man of Peacfc, we want to follow your ex- ample. Show us how best to do it. Lead us, O Father, in the paths of peace; Without Thy guiding hand we go astray; And doubts appall, and sorrows still increase: Lead us thro’ Christ the true and living way. — William H. Burleigh. Tuesday, March 11 "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you" (John 14:27a). Centuries ago the Prince of Peace was warning against the so-called peace of the world. It was not to be trusted then. Have we learned yet? A cessation of hostilities may ; for a brief moment seem to be peace, but trusting to armistices while peace is a strang- er to the heart is among the vainest of vani- ties. Treaties! How we want to believe in them! They may banish armies, but the un- changed heart will soon show its covetous- ness and mobilize for war. But thanks to God for the peace He gives — His eternal peace. Wednesday, March 12 "Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid" (John 14:27b). It is not over-optimism to know a calm and serenity in these troubled days of war and disheartening rumors concerning further wars; it does not show a lack of knowledge concerning world affairs. No, it denotes tbe heart that remembers the words, “I have con- quered the world.” Weak heart, be not trou- bled or afraid. We fail the Prince of Peace if we fail to meet this new day with courage. The storm may roar without me, My heart may low be laid; But God is round about me, And can I be dismayed? — Anna L. Waring. Thursday, March 13 "And the peace of God, which passeth all under- standing, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus" (Phil. 4:7). The peace of God, like the calm after Je- sus said, “Peace be still” to the wind; like the peace which He spoke to His disciples’ trou- bled hearts with, “Peace be unto you. My peace I leave with you.” It is a peace that comes after soul struggles; a peace that can be felt and yet is beyond human understand- ing and explaining. Dear God, that everyone would be at peace with you, could hear, “Peace be to you.” “Go thy way, thy sins are forgiven thee.” “My peace I give unto you.” Friday, March 14 "Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you" (II Cor. 13:11). And again the words, “Follow peace, and pursue it.” Not believing in force as the an- swer for any problem, not saying the words that irritate another, not doing the things that bring discord; but loving peace and be- ing a peace-loving church member, and neigh- bor, and father or mother, son or daughter. Then Paul adds, “And the God of . . . peace shall be with you.” So greatly we long for peace ! Only God can teach us, every one, that peace begins in us but only by His help. Let woe and waste of warfare cease, That useful labor yet may build Its homes with love and virtue filled ! God give Thy wayward children peace! — William M. Vories. Saturday, March 15 "Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God" (Matt. 5:9). This I heard on the playground one day. “You shouldn’t say that word.” “Why not?” a younger sister asked. “I don’t know why, but you know we don’t use it in our family,” was the answer. Children learn early that being a part of their particular family calls for a certain type of behavior. Here in the chapter of blessed’s Christ calls peacemakers “blessed” and adds, “For they shall be called the children of God.” Whose children are they who begin or add to divisions anywhere in the world — in communities or churches or families? The Father of peace has for His children only those who promote peace. Whose children are we? — Helen Alderfer. When the prophets preached the doing of justice, they directed their message toward those who were doing injustice. As we read the message of the Prophets, we are surely admonished to do justice ourselves. But as disciples of Christ, are we not also prophets of righteousness in our own time; and if so, is it not also our calling to speak out against social evils and injustices as they exist in our day? — Guy F. Hershberger. TIMOTHY, A DEPENDABLE FOLLOWER Sunday School Lesson for March 16 (Acts 16:1-3; I Corinthians 4:14-21; Philip- pians 2:19-24; I Timothy 4:10-16; II Timothy 2:1-13) In the Apostle Paul’s last recorded mes- sage he asked that his cloak from Troas be brought to him. Perhaps Paul wanted this cloak to use in passing on his work to an- other, as Elijah gave his mantle to Elisha. Timothy was the young man, perhaps the ablest of his recruits, to whom the great apostle could hand down his mantle. Why did Timothy get this commission from Paul? What qualifies a person for re- sponsibilities in the church? Timothy had a good foundation in the Scripture given by his Jewess mother and his grandmother. His home situation must not have been ideal as his father and mother were not one in faith. These Scriptures which Timothy learned testified of Christ and prepared his heart for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. Those who nurture children should remember the power of the Old Testament in Timothy’s life. When Paul came to Lystra on his first mis- sionary journey, Timothy must have learned of salvation through Christ and believed to salvation. Perhaps his grandmother believed first, then his mother, then Timothy. Paul calls their faith unfeigned. Five or six years later Paul returned to Lystra and asked after Timothy. He was well reported by the brethren. Paul saw in him a much-needed co-worker and took him to himself as his “beloved son.” What did Paul see in Timothy? On Paul’s third journey, while at Ephesus, word came of trouble in the Corinthian Church. The condition in the church was serious. Paul wrote them a letter (I Corinth- ians) and sent Timothy as his personal rep- resentative to help the Corinthians. It was important to send the right man into such a church situation. Timothy was “faithful in the Lord.” When Paul was in prison at Rome, he wanted to learn of the state of the Ephesian brethren, and again he sent his letter with his dependable Timothy. He had been at Ephesus a number of times, and there peo- ple knew the “proof of him.” Paul had no other “like-minded” (equal-souled) man to send. Timothy must have been wise and kind and loving. Read together in class some of Paul’s last message when he handed over his mantle to Timothy. (II Timothy). How the church is in need of more Chris- tians like Timothy who can be given the mantle of failing leaders, who are faithful to do the Lord’s work, and who can be de- pended on to do it well! Surely this kind do not follow afar off. — Alta Mae Erb. Lesson based on "International Sunday School Les- sons: the International Bible Lessons for Christian Teaching/' copyrighted 1951 by the Division of Chris- tian Education National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. 228 GOSPEL HERALD March 4, 1952 FIELD NOTES Items to appear in this column ior any issue of the following Tuesday must reach Scottdale by Wednesday morning. Bro. C. Z. Martin, Mountville, Pa., gave prophetic messages in the three Idaho church- es Jan. 31 to Feb. 10. The General Conference Life Insurance Study Committee met at Wayland, Iowa, on Feb. 22. Bro. Lloyd Miller, Fairview, Mich., was ordained on Feb. 10, to take up the ministry under the Indiana-Michigan Mission Board in the Wildwood congregation, Curtis, Mich. This will give Bro. Clarence Troyer more time for his bishop work in the upper penin- sula of Michigan. Bro. Roy D. Roth, Hesston, Kans., will speak on the Bethel College Bible Week pro- gram the first week of March. Sanford C. Mills of the American Board of Missions to the Jews, who was brought up in a strict orthodox Jewish home in Poland, spoke at the Pleasant Hill Church in Sterling Ohio, on Feb. 27. The Mennonite Youth Fellowship of the Johnstown, Pa., area held a Youth Conference at the Thomas Church March 1-2. Speakers were J. Frederick Erb, Detroit, Mich., and B. Charles Hostetter, Harrisonburg, Va. The average attendance for four weeks of Sunday school at Pinecraft, .Sarasota, Fla., was 788. Bro. Josef Herschkowitz was scheduled to speak at Yoder, Kans., March 1-4. Bro. Chauncey Kauffman filled preaching appointments at the Wesley Chapel during the month of February. Table of Contents 217 — Twenty Revival Blessings My Cup Runneth Over (Poem) 218 — Our Readers Say 219 — An Expanding Literature Outreach 220 — The Negro and the Curse It Happened 221 — Crushed by the Crowd Dealing with Fallen Ministers 222 — Conference on Christian Community Relations Tell It Not (Poem) Peace Only Through Christ 223 — A Prayer for This Week Prayer Requests The Supreme Command (Poem) 224 — Mennonite Hymnbooks 225 — As Others See Us 226 — The Lord Thy Keeper (Poem) Glorify Ye the Lord Wasted Suffering Closer Cling to Jesus (Poem) Consider Him (Poem) In a Mysterious Way He Leads Us On (Poem) 227 — To Be Near to God Sunday School Lesson for March 16 228 — Field Notes 229 — Mission News 230 — Pioneering for Missions in the Mennonite Church 234 — The Kingdom to the South VII M.C.C. Weekly Notes 235 — Women's Activities Church Correspondence 237 — Births 238 — Marriages Obituaries 239— The Book Shelf Items and Comments President Truman on Feb. 20 signed the regulations for assignment of 1-0 Men under the present draft law. How- ever, Selective Service will need to re- lease directives to local draft boards re- garding the implementation of these regulations before anyone can be as- signed to service. 1-0 men should wait for further notice before attempting to volunteer for service with their draft boards. See the M.R.C. and M.C.C. columns in this week’s Herald and watch the coming issues for further in- formation. A Gospel Team from E.M.C., Harrison- burg, Va., gave a program at the Wesley Chapel, Newark, Del., the evening of March 2. Foreign students from Hesston College gave a program at Colorado Springs, Colo., on Feb. 24. Dr. C. Richard Yoder, Elkhart, Ind., spoke to the Homemakers’ Club of the Goshen Col- lege congregation on Feb. 12 on “Under- standing Our Growing Children.” Donald G. Miller of Union Theological Seminary, Richmond, Va., gave the annual Bible Lectures at Goshen College Feb. 21-22. Visiting speakers in the annual Ministerial Meeting of the Lancaster Conference held at the Hernley Church Feb. 27-28 were Jacob Moyer, Souderton, Pa., Harry A. Diener, Hutchinson, Kans., and James Shank, Har- risonburg, Va. An Educational Conference was held at the Zion Church, Hubbard, Oreg., all day on Feb. 23. Three young people were granted diplomas at the end of the Winter Bible Term at Hess- ton College. Mennonite Board of Education, Inc. ANNOUNCES its PRE-ENROLLMENT STEWARDSHIP PLANS to help you solve your problem of how to provide money for your child’s ed- ucation. IF INTERESTED, first choose which one of the following schools you de- sire your child to attend then write to it for further information. Goshen College, Goshen, Indiana. La Junta Mennonite School of Nursing La Junta, Colorado. Hesston College and Bible School Hesston, Kansas. Don’t wait. Do it Now! The Harmonaires Quartet from Wayne Co., Ohio, gave the evening program at the Beech Church, Louisville, Ohio, on March 2. M.Y.F. members from Hopedale, 111., gave the evening program at the Pleasant Hill Church, East Peoria, 111., Feb. 24. A Women’s Day of Prayer program was ji conducted by the North Lima, Leetonia, and J Midway Churches in Ohio on Feb. 23. Bro. C. Z. Martin, Mountville, Pa., closed a series of prophetical meetings at Filer, Idaho, on Feb. 7. The attendance was very good. Morning and evening sessions were j held with ten reconsecrations as the visible results. Several requests for the reading Tommy’s Prayer have been received in recent months. Duplicated copies of this poem have been (Continued on page 236) Calendar Annual Ministers' Meeting, South Central Conference, Greensburg, Kans., March 11-13 Southwestern Pennsylvania Conference, Ministers' Meeting, Martinsburg, Pa., March 21, 22. Fifth Annual World-wide Missionary Conference, East Chestnut Street Church, Lancaster, Pa., June 4-8. Conference on Christian Community Relations, Tis- kilwa. 111., March 27-29 General Council of Mennonite General Conference, i, including invitational Prophecy Conference, Elk- L hart, Ind., April 2-5. Lay Evangelism Conference, Goshen College, Go- shen, Ind., April 5-7 Illinois Mennonite Mission Board Annual Meeting, Roanoke, 111., April 16-17. Ohio Mennonite Mission Board Annual Meeting, Oak j Grove Church, West Liberty, Ohio, April 25-27. Pacific Coast Conference, Western Mennonite School, Salem, Oreg.-, June 3-6. Mennonite Youth Fellowship Workshop, Iowa Men- ! nonite School, Kalona, Iowa, June 9-12 Mennonite Youth Fellowship Annual Meeting, Lower Deer Creek Church, Kalona, Iowa, June 13, 14 Mennonite Board of Missions and Charities, Annual Meeting, Lower Deer Creek Church, Kalona, Iowa, June 14-17 Little Eden Camp, Onekama, Mich. Bible Conference, June 21-27 First Family Week, June 28-July 4 Senior High Week, July 5-11 Junior High Week, July 12-18 Boys and Girls Week, July 19-25 Young Adult Week, July 26-Aug. 1 Music Week, Aug. 2-8 Christian Business Mens' Week, Aug. 9-15 Farmers Week, Aug. 16-22 Second Family Week, Aug. 23-29 Rocky Mt. Mennonite Camp, Divide, Colo. Pre-camping Training Camp, June 23-27 Junior Boys Camp (ages 9-12), July 7-12 Junior Girls Camp (ages 9-12), July 14-19 Senior Girls Camp (ages 13-16), July 21-26 Senior Boys Camp (ages 13-16), July 28-Aug. 2 , Family Week, Aug. 4-9 Youth Retreat, Aug. 18-23 Work Week, Aug. 25-30 Laurelville Mennonite Camp, Mt. Pleasant, Pa. Boys' Camp (ages 9-12), June 28 to July 4 Girls' Camp (ages 9-12), July 5-11 Junior High Camp (boys and girls, ages 13-15), j July 12-18 Missionary Bible Conference, July 19-25 First Family Week, July 26 to Aug. 1 First Young People's Institute, Aug. 2-8 Second Young People's Institute, Aug. 9-15 Second Family Week, Aug. 16-22 Victorious Life Conference, Aug. 23-24 Music Week, Aug. 25-29 Southwestern Pennsylvania Conference, Springs, Pa., July 20-23 Virginia Conference and associated meetings, Trissels Church, Broadway, Va., July 21-24. Chesley Lake Camp, Allenford, Ont. Boys' Camp, Aug. 9-16 Girls' Camp, Aug. 16-23 Young People's Camp, Aug. 23-30 Ohio Mennonite Christian Workers' Conference, Mar- tins Church, Orrville, Ohio, Aug. 12-14. South Central Conference Annual Meeting, Hutchin- son, Kans., Aug. 12-15. Iowa-Nebr. Conference, Bethel Church, Wayland, Iowa, Aug. 13-15. Illinois Mennonite Conference, Flanagan, 111., Aug. ■■ 19-21 Annual meeting of the Mennonite Publication Board, , Scottdale, Pa., Feb. 18-19, 1953. Mennonite General Conference, Place Undecided Aug. 26-30, 1953 March 4, 1952 GOSPEL HERALD 229 Go, Preach . ^ I S S I O N S « Give, Pray The General Board Headquarters for Missions, Relief and Service: 1711 Prairie Street, Elkhart, Indiana. Telephone, Elkhart 2-2786. Mission News Ramon, eight years old, has come to live in the Wilbur Nachtigall home in Palo Hin- cado, Puerto Rico, and joins his brother Johnny, ten years of age, and his sisters, Rose- mary and Barbara Helen, four and two years of age. Sister Gladys Becker, missionary in Bihar, India, says: “We toured in a village where Kherwars and Brahmins live. The Kherwars were very much interested in the Gospel message and asked us to come back, but the Brahmins, who are the leaders, say they don’t want us to return. These people too need the intercession of all of us.” Pastor Grikman, missionary worker among refugees and displaced persons in Europe, spoke at the Prairie Street Mennonite Church in Elkhart, Ind., Sunday evening, Feb. 24. In the afternoon he spoke to about fifty new Americans (D.P.’s) who gathered at the church for the occasion. Bro. Grikman has just completed a two-months tour of Canadi- an communities where Europeans were set- tled. He spoke at least seventy-four times during the sixty-day trek from east to western Canada. Bro. Grikman is closely associated I with our missionaries in Belgium and is well known by many of our relief workers. Special Easter services, with Bro. Paul Lederach, Lederach, Pa., as guest speaker, are planned for the Detroit Mennonite Mission. The M.Y.F. of the Wooster, Ohio, congre- gation are featuring mission information on the church bulletin board to encourage mem- bers to read more about Mennonite Missions. Japan is currently featured. Bro. Raymond Kramer, pastor of the mis- sion in Meadville, Pa., preached for the con- gregation at Wooster, Ohio, Feb. 24. Bro. Ray Bair, Louisville, Ohio, was expected to be with them the following Sunday evening. The Christian Laymen’s Evangelism Com- mittee of central Ohio met at the Kidron, Ohio, Church on Tuesday evening, Feb. 26, with Bro. Howard Hammer as speaker. Sister Winifred Mumaw, one of the work- ers at the Detroit, Mich., Mennonite Mission, will be the guest speaker at the Belmont Mis- sion in Elkhart, Ind., on Spring Missionary Day. Bro. E. C. Bender, Martinsburg Pa., has been appointed by the Executive Committee of the Mission Board as director of the Mis- sionary Bible Conference to be held at the Laurelville Mennonite Camp July 19-25. The ten people from the village of Naresh- ; garh in Bihar, India, who were baptized re- cently, have had some opposition but have re- 1 mained faithful. They will have more trials. Pray for them that they may become real wit- nesses in their community. We believe that ^ being tried, they will come forth as gold. Program Suggestions Spring Missionary Day March 16, 1952 1. Announce Spring Missionary Day early and enthusiastically. 2. Distribute the Spring Missionary Day folder at least a week before the day. 3. Make early arrangements for your missionary guest speaker. 4. Give the children a part in your Missionary Day observances. 5. Plan a special prayer period for mis- sions. 6. Have plenty of missionary banks and quarters available for distribu- tion to your Sunday school on Mis- sionary Day. The Ellesmere Mission in Ontario has been doing an effective work with children from the Geco Housing project. Ten have accept- ed Christ and as many as 150 have been in attendance in the afternoon Sunday school classes. There were sixty-nine present at the first service held at Grey Ridge, extension Sunday school of the Farmerstown and Walnut Creek, Ohio, congregations. The Sunday school was formerly held at the Upper Sand Run school. Since this building has been for sale for a number of years, the Sunday school was trans- ferred to the adjacent Grey Ridge communi- ty. The combination of these two communi- ties through the Sunday school offers the pos- sibilities of a strong church in the future. The new church building in the Warden Park area of Toronto, Ont., is nearing com- pletion. In a few weeks the entire inside of the building will be ready for plastering. One young man, after an evening service in a village about ten miles from Sankra, In- dia, tried very hard to show all present how their faith in Ram and all the other gods was just as good as faith in Christ. After a talk with the missionary, he was not seen for a day. The second day he returned. When the missionary asked if he had changed his mind, he said, “Yes, that is why I have come. I want some books to read so I may know more.” The City Missions Roundtable, sponsored by the Urban Evangelism Committee, was held at the Chicago Home Mission Feb. 26 and 27. Sister Rhea Yoder, who teaches in the school for missionary children in Landour, India, spent her winter vacation with the mis- sionaries in the Central Provinces. She left Dhamtari for Landour Feb. 18. (Continued on page 236) MENNONITE RELIEF COMMITTEE (M.R.C.) President Truman Signs Draft Regulations The regulations for the assignment of 1-0 men under the present draft law were signed by President Truman on February 20. This does not mean that 1-0 men will be drafted immediately. In fact, some weeks or months may elapse before the program gets under way. National Selective Service will need to get the regulations printed and interpret them to local boards. The National and State Se- lective Service Directors will need to make arrangements for finding job openings in keeping with the regulations. Work orders are not to be given until job opportunities are available. 1-0 men should not volunteer to their draft boards for service until further notice. They should, however, volunteer with their church agencies for voluntary service if they desire such service under the draft law. This will give the agencies an opportunity to plan for them. Since drafting will begin with those in the top half of the 18 to 26 age bracket, younger men are urged to wait to volunteer for service with their church agencies until those who are older can be placed, unless they hav,e a special reason for volunteering im- mediately. Nineteen and 20 year old men will probably not be called for a year or (Continued on page 236) Your Treasurer Reports From time to time, mention has been made through this column and other Gospel Herald releases regarding the General Mis- sion Fund. This fund is maintained by the Board as a general source of funds from which mission work is carried on. Funds needed for opening new fields, expanding mission activity in general, and meeting def- icits in existing mission activity are taken from this account. At the end of each fiscal year a large transfer of funds must be made from the General Mission Fund account to close the records for the year. Therefore, it is very helpful to receive contributions at this time of the year designated for this fund since the fiscal year ends on March 31. This is an appeal for contributions to the General Mission Fund. If you have funds available which you wish to contribute for the mission work of the church, we would urge that you consider contributing them prior to March 31 for the General Fund. We can assure you that prayerful consideration is given to the use of funds designated in this way. H. Ernest Bennett, Treasurer Mennonite Board of Missions and Charities Elkhart, Indiana. Bro. John S. Coffman — the other half of the John F. Funk team — was elected secretary of the Mennonite Evangelizing Committee at its first annual meeting, Jan. 24, 1884. Minutes of the Mennonite Evangelizing Committee On the evening of the 28 of Dec. 1882, the members of the Men- nonite church assembled at their place of worship in Elkhart, Ind., for the purpose of organizing an Evangelizing Committee. Meeting called to order by }. F. Funk. H. A. Mumaw was elected moderator and J. }. Hostetler Secretary for the evening. After a discussion of a proper organization of the Evangelizing Fund it was decided this meeting organize a local, permanent organization to consist of a managing committee of three, a Treasurer and a Secretary; and hold their offices for one year. }. F. Funk, Martin Wenger and Henry Brenneman were elected managing committee. Joseph Summers was elected Treasurer and J. J. Hostetler was elected Sect. Decided that the above managing committee prepare rules and by laws for the government of the Evan- gelizing Fund and present them before a meeting to be held on the first Thursday in February 1883, to be there adopted or rejected as the case may be. J. J. Hostetler, Sec. Feb. 15th 1883. The Evangelizing Committee neglected to convene on the evening of the 1st of Feb. as adjourned to the previous meeting. The com- mittee met on the 15th of Feb. 1883. There being but one of the managing committee present the meeting was adjourned to March 1st 1883. J. J. Hostetler, Sec. March 1st 1883 The meeting appointed for this evening, on account of a part of the committee and others not being present was deferred to March 8th 1883. J. J. Hostetler, Sec. March 8th 1883. Meeting called to order and J. F. Funk nominated Moderator, min- MISSIONS SECTION Pioneering for Missions ! This is the story of the beginning of missions in the Mennonite Church as re- corded in the minutes of the first mission- ary organization of the church, the Evan- gelizing Committee. As you read these minutes you trace the story of the devel- opment of the present Mennonite Board utes of the previous meeting read and after a long discussion ap- proved. Committee adjourned to March 15th 1883. March 15th 1883. Joseph Summers chosen Moderator for the evening. Minutes of the previous meeting adopted. At this meeting the following rules of order were adopted. 1. In accordance with the decision of this district Conference held Oct. 13th 1882 that means should be collected for the purpose of de- fraying the expenses of ministers traveling to visit scattered members and churches, not supplied at all, or only partially supplied with la- borers, the church in Elkhart, Indiana, at a meeting held for the pur- pose, on the 28th of Dec., 1882, appointed M. D. Wenger, H. B. Brenneman and J. F. Funk a committee to take charge of the work. 2. At a meeting held this day the 15th of March 1883 it was decid- ed that this committee shall be known as the “Mennonite Evangeliz- ing Committee” of the church in Elkhart, and conduct its work under the direct charge of the church, to whom at stated times a report with the receipt, expenditures, etc. shall be made. 3. The means collected in accordance with the plan given by con- ; ference or otherwise shall be expended in defraying the expenses of i ministers traveling to labor among scattered brethren and churches not supplied, or only partly supplied with laborers, and also to preach the Gospel in places where our church and doctrines are not known. 4. In connection with this committee a Secretary, to keep the rec- ; ords of the meetings and issue orders on the treasurer shall be chosen. , 5. A Treasurer shall be elected who shall take care of and be re- j sponsible for all the funds belonging to the Committee. 6. All applications for funds must be made to the committee which » shall decide whether such application is in accordance with the pur- pose for which the funds are to be used. 7. When applications are granted, the Secretary shall issue an order r on the treasurer, which order shall be signed by at least two members ; of the Committee. 8. That the quarterly collections suggested by the Conference shall 1 be regularly taken in the Church on the 1st Sunday of Jan., Apr.,, July, and Oct. J. J. Hostetler, Secretary. Special Meeting Jan. 17th, 1884. According to a previous call a special meeting of the Evangelizing ; Committee was held in the Elkhart Meeting-house on the evening of January 17th, 1884. The meeting was called to order by the presi- dent, J. F. Funk. The report of the Treasurer of the Evangelizing Fund was read and accepted. The following resolutions were adopted: Resolved 1st That the President of the Managing Committee shall preside at all the meetings, and shall have the authority to call special meetings when he considers it necessary. 2nd. That an Annual Meeting shall be held on the third Wednes- day of each year, at which time the Committee shall give a full report to the church of all its work during the year. This report shall be made through the Secretary and Treasurer. 3rd. That the Committee, Secretary, and Treasurer shall be elected at each Annual Meeting; and the officers then elected shall hold office for a term of one year, or till their successors are elected. M. D. Wenger, Sec. 1st Annual Meeting Jan. 24, 1884. The first Annual Meeting of the Mennonite Evangelizing Com- mittee was held in the church-house in Elkhart, Ind., on Thursday evening January 24th, 1884. M. D. Wenger, the President of the in the Mennonite Church of Missions and Charities. These minutes have never been published before. They will be made available to our constituency in booklet form after the series has been completed in MISSIONS. If you want one or more copies please write now to Mennonite Board of Missions and Chari- ties, Elkhart, Indiana. Managing Committee, presided at the meeting and J. S. Coffman was chosen Secretary. The minutes of the special meeting, held on the 17th of January, were read and accepted with a resolution that they shall be arranged and copied into the Secretary’s book. The Treasurer’s report for 1883 was read and adopted, the report to be filed with the minutes of the present meeting. A balance of $135.76 remained in the hands of the Treasurer at the time of this meeting. The Committee of last year, consisting of Martin D. Wenger, Henry B. Brenneman, and John F. Funk were re-elected. John S. Coffman was elected Secretary, and Joseph Summers was elected Treasurer. A resolution was passed that the next Annual Meeting be held in public assembly, on the third Wednesday in January, at 10 o’clock in the forenoon, and an evangelizing sermon be preached, and the busi- ness of the meeting be transacted afterward. An invitation was made to the church to contribute such means as the members see fit to use by this committee for the purpose of spread- ing the gospel. It was agreed that a brief report of this meeting be published in the Herald of Truth. J. F. Funk, President. J. S. Coffman, Secretary. 2nd Annual Meeting January 21, 1885. The Second Annual Meeting was held in the Shaum Meeting House, according to the minutes of the last Annual Meeting, on the third Wednesday of January, 1885, (Jan. 21st), at ten o’clock, A.M. On account of a funeral appointment near the same hour, the business of the meeting was hurriedly transacted, and the sermon on Evan- gelizing was omitted for the present. The meeting was opened by singing and prayer. The minutes of the Annual Meeting of 1884 were read and approved. Next the report of the Managing Commit- tee was made from memory by John F. Funk. The report of the Treasurer was then read and accepted. An election of members of the Managing Committee was held. Martin D. Wenger was elected President; Henry Shaum was' elected; and H. B. Brenneman was re- elected. John S. Coffman was elected secretary; and Jos. Summers was re-elected Treasurer. J. F. Funk, President. J. S. Coffman, Secretary. During the two preceding weeks an appointment was circulated among the brotherhood to hold services in the interest of the cause of Evangelizing in the Shaum Meeting House on Sunday, the 1st day of February, 1885. The meeting was well attended by members from several of the districts, and many others. There seemed to be con- siderable interest in the meeting, probably from the fact that it was the first public meeting of the kind held in this county. The principal part of the service was conducted by J. S. Coffman, followed by J. F. Funk. The third chapter of Ephesians was read, and several texts from I Cor. 9, and 2 Cor. 9. Appointment was made for the Annual Meeting on the 3rd Wednesday of January, 1886, the place of meet- ing to be decided upon hereafter. J. S. Coffman, Secretary. 3rd Annual Meeting January 21st, 1886. The third Annual Meeting of the Mennonite Evangelizing Com- mittee was held on Wednesday, 10 o’clock, January 20th, in the Yel- low Creek Meeting-house. The service was well attended, and much interest was manifested by many of the members. A sermon was preached by John F. Funk on the subject of Evangelizing. The line of thought presented was chiefly the need of labor in new fields, and in places where there are small churches and scattered members. Many Bro. John F. Funk who presided at the very first meeting of the Mennonite Evangelizing Committee and for many years was one of the guiding lights of the missionary movement in our church. places were named where there is urgent need of ministerial labor, and the doctrine we hold dear is suffering because there is an in- sufficiency of ministers. The sermon in full will be published in the Herald of Truth. It will be written out from notes taken while it was being delivered. After the sermon officers were elected for the ensu- ing year. Martin Wenger and H. B. Brenneman were re-elected and Noah Hoover was elected as Managing Committee. Joseph Summers was re-elected Treasurer, and J. S. Coffman, Secretary. The Managing Committee made a report of their work. The Treas- urer made an itemized report of his receipts and expenditures for the year. The receipts for the year, together with cash on hand, amounted to $284.75. The disbursements were $40.52, which left in the hands of the treasurer a balance of $244.23. Appointment was made for the next Annual Meeting on the third Wednesday of January, 1887, the place of meeting to be hereafter determined. J. S. Coffman, Sec. 4th Annual Meeting January 19, 1887. The fourth Annual Meeting of the Mennonite Evangelizing Com- mittee was held in the Shaum Meeting-house on Wednesday, 10 o’clock, January 19th 1887. On account of the deep snows and much drifted roads the attendance was not large. The exercises were be- gun by singing hymn 49 of the appendix. Eng. Hymns. Introductory remarks were made by Bro. Funk, in which he referred to the great Commission, “Go teach,” etc. Prayer was offered by the same. Then a report of the last Annual Meeting, held at Yellow Creek, was read and approved. An itemized report was then read by the MISSIONS SECTION 232 GOSPEL HERALD March 1951 Treasurer. The collections during the year amounted to $141.35 which with the cash on hand amounted to $385.58. The expenditures for the year amounted to $247.31, which leaves in the treasury the sum of $138.27. The report was approved. An election of officers was then held, resulting in the re-election of the old committee, Martin Wenger, Henry B. Brenneman, and Noah Hoover. J. S. Coffman was re-elected secretary, and Jos. Summers was re-elected treasurer. After the business of the meeting was finished Bro. Wenger and some others made remarks referring to the expediency of the churches holding quarterly collections as the Elkhart church has been doing since the organization of the Evangelizing work. A discourse was held by Bro. Coffman, in which he referred to the need of a home mission fund and work as felt by some members of the Mennonite church twenty years ago. He presented a number of facts and argu- ments showing also the present need. Bro. Shaum then spoke of the different talents of different individuals, showing that not all are adapted to the work of an evangelist. Each should labor in that part of the work to which his talents best adapt him, and where he can be of most use. He referred to the time when the Savior chose his apostles and set them apart to their special work. He noticed also the fact that Paul and Barnabas were chosen, as directed by the Holy Ghost, for a special work to which their talents adapted them. One may be a good pastor and yet a poor evangelist. Each man should find his own work and be diligent in it. As the churches in general are drifting away from the simple truths of the gospel, we as Men- nonites should do all we can to keep on the true foundation, because we believe that the church and her principles are founded on the teachings of the Scriptures. We should be faithful in maintaining them as were our fathers through the persecutions of times of the reformation. Prayer was offered by Bro. Shaum. The services were closed by singing the 46th hymn in the appendix. The meeting ad- journed to meet on the third Wednesday of January, 1888. J. S. Coffman, Sec. 5th Annual Meeting January 18, 1888 The fifth Annual Meeting of the Mennonite Evangelizing Com- mittee was held in the Yellow Creek Meeting-house on Wednesday, 10 o’clock, January 18th, 1888. There was a fair attendance of mem- bers from the district notwithstanding the cold weather. In the in- troductory exercises Hymn 279 was sung, and the 35th chapter of Isaiah was read, comments being made, showing that the advent of the Gospel would bring fruits of righteousness as the desert place is made fruitful by refreshing showers. Prayer was offered by J. S. Coffman. The report of the last Annual Meeting by the Secretary was read and approved. The Treasurer’s report was then read, item by item, showing the expenditures and collections for the year. The collec- tions for the year amounted to $118.61. The expenditures for the year amounted to $172.00, leaving in the treasury a balance of $84.88. The report was approved. Bro. Summers made some timely remarks to show that we must be in active earnest to lead lost souls out of sin by a knowledge of the Gospel, using Lot and the manner of his de- liverance from Sodom as an illustration. As Lot and his family were hurried out of Sodom, the angels even taking them by the hands to lead them out in haste, so we should be in sufficient earnest to drive us into great and immediate effort to get the sinner to flee from the wrath to come. An election of officers for the ensuing year was held. Martin D. Wenger was re-elected president of the Managing Committee. Noah Hoover was re-elected and A. B. Kolb elected in the place of H. Bren- neman deceased. J. S. Coffman was re-elected Secretary, and Jos. Summers was re-elected Treasurer. A resolution was passed requir- ing two of the members of the Managing Committee to examine the books of the Treasurer some time previous to each Annual Meeting. After the business part of the meeting was over Bro. Funk read as a text Acts 13:46-49 from which he delivered a discourse especially ap- propriate to the subject of Evangelizing. He showed first that God gave His Word in the Old Testament and the New that men may become acquainted with God, and learn to know Him according to His will. The commission “Go teach” to the disciples enjoins a most MISSIONS SECTION pressing duty to those who have received God’s Word to impart this j knowledge to those who do not understand His Word. Statistics were given showing how few comparatively of the world’s inhabitants have any knowledge of the true God, and what a small percent of that number have a true knowledge of the teachings of Jesus, etc. etc. ; This discourse was followed by earnest remarks from Bro. Shaum, in which he set forth in vigorous language the necessity that we as a people make all possible effort to teach the doctrine of Christ as the Scriptures have revealed it to us. Bro. Metzler also followed in earnest remarks showing how careful we should be that when we go : forth to teach God’s will that we are truly converted ourselves. The meeting adjourned to meet at some place hereafter named, on the third Wednesday of January 1889. J. S. Coffman, Sec. . 1 6th Annual Meeting January 16, 1889 The sixth Annual Meeting of the Mennonite Evangelizing Com- mittee was held in the Elkhart Meeting-house on the evening of Janu- ary 16, 1889. The weather being very inclement the attendance was small. Bro. Samuel Yoder opened the meeting with prayer. J. F. Funk was elected moderator of the meeting, after which the secretary’s report of last meeting was read and the report adopted. The Treasurer’s report, which was then read, showed a decided in- crease over receipts of the previous year. The total receipts from all sources amounted to $561.23; total disbursements, $298.43; leaving a cash balance on hand of $262.80. The report was approved. The election of officers for the ensuing year was then held. A. B. Kolb was elected President of the Managing Committee; Noah Hoover was re-elected and Samuel Yoder was elected. A. B. Kolb was elected secretary, and Joseph Summers was re-elected treasurer. The following resolutions were also adopted: 1. That a sermon on the work of Evangelizing be preached at Shaums Meeting-house in this conference district as opportunity may afford, and with the consent of the presiding minister a collection be taken for the Evangelizing fund at the close of said service. 2. That the secretary be instructed by the committee to give a re- port to the church at Elkhart, Indiana of the work done through the committee during the year, and that said report be published in the Herald of Truth. 3. That every minister sent into the field of labor by the Evan- gelizing Committee deliver a full report of his work to the Managing Committee. Remarks were then made by the brethren Funk, Summers, Yoder, and Kolb on the expediency and necessity of putting forth greater efforts to disseminate the Gospel as taught by our brethren that unity of action may be established in the different churches, that the com- mon bond of brotherhood be strengthened and many souls be led to Christ. The meeting then adjourned to meet at some place to be hereafter decided upon the third Wednesday in January 1890. A. B. Kolb, Sec. 7th Annual Meeting January 15, 1890 The seventh Annual meeting of the Mennonite Evangelizing Com- mittee was held on the appointed time, January 15, 1890, in the Yel- low Creek Meeting-house, Elkhart, Indiana. On account of the severe weather the attendance was not large. The meeting was opened with singing followed by prayer. In the absence of the secretary, A. B. Kolb, Bro. A. Mumaw was appointed secretary pro. tern, and Bro. J. S. Coffman chairman of ! the meeting. J The secretary being absent the general report of the committee was not read. The treasurer’s report was read, showing the receipts and disburse- ments for the year 1889 to have been as follows: Cash on hand balance, January 1, 1889 Bills receivable Amt. received during year of 1889 $262.80 80.00 383.10 Amount $725.90 Paid out during year of 1889 Cash balance on hand, January 1, 1890 Bills receivable $410.97 204.93 110.00 Amount $725.90 March 4, 1952 GOSPEL HERALD 233 At the election of officers the following brethren were elected: Managing Committee — A. B. Kolb, Samuel Yoder, and Noah S. Hoover. Treasurer — Joseph Summers. General Secretary — A. B. Kolb. After the close of the business meeting a part of the fifteenth chap- ter of the Acts of the Apostles was read, whereupon Bro. J. S. Coff- man delivered an interesting sermon on Evangelizing. Next Annual Meeting to be held on the third Wednesday in Janu- ary 1891 at a place to be hereafter decided upon. A. Mumaw, Sec. Pro. Tern. 8th Annual Meeting January 21, 1891 The eighth Annual Meeting of the Mennonite Evangelizing Com- mittee was held on the above named date in the Holderman Church, Elkhart Co., Indiana with a fair attendance, considering the incle- ment state of the weather. The meeting was opened at 10 a.m. with singing, followed by in- troductory remarks by Bishop Henry Shaum, who also led in prayer. Bro. Samuel Yoder was elected chairman of the meeting. The treasurer, Bro. Joseph Summers, was called upon and gave a detailed account of the monies contributed to, and also the amounts paid out of, the Evangelizing fund of which the following is a summary: Cash balance on hand, January 1, 1890 $204.93 Bills receivable 110.00 Total collected during year of 1890 718.97 Amount $1033.90 Paid out during year of 1890 $559.73 Cash balance on hand, January 1, 1891 224.17 Bills receivable 250.00 Amount $1033.90 The report was approved. The secretary’s report, which was next read, contained statistics, as far as the committee succeeded in obtaining them, showing the total number of persons received into church membership during the year, so far as reported, to be 617. Of this number 417 were received as a result of Evangelizing work. While 431 does not constitute quite the total number brought into the fold through Evangelizing work, the remainder, 186, is still further below the actual number otherwise received, as from many churches the accessions were not reported. The report was also adopted. The election of officers for the year 1891 resulted as follows: Manag- ing Committee — Abram B. Kolb, Samuel Yoder, and Noah S. Hoover. Treasurer — Joseph Summers. General Secretary — Abram B. Kolb. After the close of the business meeting Bro. J. F. Funk preached a sermon on Evangelizing which was listened to with marked interest. The collection taken for the Evangelizing fund amounted to $13.83. The meeting was then closed. The next Annual meeting is to be held on the third Wednesday in January 1892 at a place to be hereafter decided upon. A. B. Kolb, Sec. Special Meeting November 18, 1891 A special meeting of the Mennonite Evangelizing Committee was held on the above date at the Mennonite Meeting-house at Elkhart, Indiana for the purpose of electing a committee to draw up a con- stitution and by-laws governing the Evangelizing Committee, and present the same for consideration at the next annual meeting. The meeting opened at 7:30 p.m. by the chairman Bro. Samuel Yoder, and the committee chosen was as follows: J. F. Funk, J. S. Coffman, Joseph Summers, A. B. Kolb, and Samuel Yoder. There being no further business the meeting adjourned. A. B. Kolb 9th Annual Meeting January 20, 1892 The ninth Annual Meeting of the Mennonite Evangelizing Com- mittee was held on the above date at the Salem Mennonite Church, Elkhart Co., Indiana. The attendance was fair. The meeting was opened at the appointed hour. Bro. D. Graber of Goshen conducted the devotional exercises reading Romans 14 as a lesson. Bro. J. S. Coffman preached from the text Matt. 28:19, 20 and was ofllowed by Bro. J. P. Smucker in the German language, Bro. J. S. Lehman offered prayer. The contribution for the Evangelizing fund amounted to $23.17. A business meeting was then held. Bro. J. F. Funk was chosen moderator. The minutes of the last meeting were read by the secretary and were adopted. In the absence of the treasurer, Bro. Joseph Summers, the treas- urer’s report was read by the secretary. The secretary’s report showed that during the year the total number of accessions to the church so far as reported, was 785, of which number 558 were reported as a result of Evangelizing work. The treasurer’s report summarized is as follows: Receipts Balance on hand, January 1, 1891 $224.17 Total collections for 1891 560.67 Total receipts during year $784.84 Disbursements For traveling expenses $432.87 Postage etc. .25 Balance, January 2, 1892 351.72 Total $784.84 Resources Mennonite Publ. Co. Stock $175.00 Bills receivable 200.00 Total $375.00 With this Annual meeting the work of the Evangelizing Com- mittee ended. As the Evangelizing Committee had heretofore been a local one, and the gradual extension of the Evangelizing work necessitated a change so as to make it more general, and as both the Amish and Mennonite branches of the church were represented, the following preamble, as prepared by a committee prior to this meeting was presented: Preamble Whereas, The necessity of more active work in the churches and the spreading of the Gospel had been felt for years, and impressed itself deeply upon the hearts and minds of many faithful brethren in the church throughout the land, and Whereas, As a result of this necessity, on the thirteenth of October 1882, a resolution was passed by the Annual Conference of the State of Indiana, authorizing the creation of a fund to be used for Evan- gelizing purposes, and a committee to have charge of and disburse, the same, and Whereas, This work was organized at Elkhart, Indiana as a local organization, under the name of the Evangelizing Committee, and as such has now been carried on for nearly ten years with excellent results to the great blessing and upbuilding of the church, as the secretary’s record shows, and Whereas, Through the efforts of this local organization, the work has met with such hearty approval, not only in our own branch of the church, but also among kindred branches, and the calls for help have become so numerous, and have extended over so wide a field, that it has become an urgent necessity to make the organization a general one, and place it upon a permanent and better defined basis, and Whereas, Our Amish brethren have since the existence of the Evan- gelizing Committee, contributed liberally to this fund, and have al- ways largely aided us in the work of visiting the scattered churches, and at their late conference in Seward Co., Nebr. in which seven states were represented, passed a resolution to join with us in the maintenance of this fund and work, and appointed also a committee to act in conjunction with our committee, therefore, Resolved. That the organization heretofore known as the Evan- gelizing Committee shall hereafter be known as, and conducted under the name of the Mennonite Evangelizing Board of America. 2. The object of this organization shall be to collect means and maintain a treasury for the purpose of carrying on a general mission- ary work, and with means to send men to labor and preach whenever there is need for such work, or wherever a field may open, whether among Mennonites or other classes of people in accordance with the commission of our Savior, Matt. 28:19-20 but especially among scat- tered members of the church and churches not supplied at all, or insufficiently supplied with laborers. (To be continued) MISSIONS SECTION 234 March 4, 195 2 THE KINGDOM TO THE SOUTH VII By J. D. Graber There are times when individuals are pe- culiarly ready to receive the Gospel. The Spirit of God has prepared them. Every per- sonal worker knows the joy of finding some- one who does not need to be convinced. He is ready. The fruit is ripe and needs only to be plucked. So God through the Spirit prepares peo- ples and nations. Brazil and Japan are two nations I believe He has thus prepared today. After the cold secularism of Uruguay, and the somewhat hard, dry soil of Argentina, it was an inspiration to see what is going on in Brazil. The churches are numerically large in Brazil. I talked to a missionary of the As- semblies of God and asked him about the number of their members in the entire coun- try. He said it is difficult to say; that the head office in the U.S.A., he notes, puts the figure at 100,000, but he said he believes there are twice that many. What an amazing testi- mony of figures ! As if a hundred thousand more or less were not even important — I mean only in the statistical and not in the personal sense. Our own Mennonite Church after 400 years is not nearly at the 100,000 mark, but the Assemblies came to Brazil from Sweden thirty years ago and were joined by their brethren from the U.S.A. only twenty years ago. The official Southern Baptist Almanac for 1949 (the latest available; statistics cannot keep pace with the rapid growth of the church) gives a total membership figure of 104,256. Certainly there are many more now. The Methodists and Presbyterians also have really large churches in many parts of the country. In Rio de Janeiro itself I saw two churches with more than a thousand mem- bers each, and was told of another one in the same city with 1,700. One of these churches is in process of erecting an adequate building. All the money is raised in Brazil. The missionary said the Brazilian pastor would not accept gifts from North America or Europe for the building program. It would damage his self-respect and would weaken the congregation. The huge building is not yet completed. It will seat at least 3,000 when the last bench is in- stalled on the last of the five spiraling bal- conies. A total of .five million Brazilian Cru- zeiros have been spent and about two million more are required. The Baptists have a revolving loan fund for church building. While congregations are raising money for building, the central fund holds their balances and gives 5 per cent interest. When they are approved for a loan to erect a church, they pay 6 per cent on the money thus borrowed until the loan is completely repaid. Since the fund has been in operation, for perhaps forty or fifty years, an officer of the fund assured me they had MISSIONS SECTION GOSPEL HERALD never lost a single dollar on a loan thus made to a congregation. The church shows also an unusual spiritual vitality. Street preaching and evangelism of every kind is accepted by the church as a high privilege. That is, of course, why the churches grow, and only a growing church can be a strong church. A missionary from one of our well-known North American de- nominations said their church in Brazil is different from the home base pattern; that the home church would probably hesitate to own their brethren in Brazil. He said the Brazilian people are more emotional than the scientific North American and so their wor- ship services are a bit noisy; the people en- gage in open-air evangelism; they exercise discipline over members who fail to live up to proper Christian standards. This pattern, he went on to say, is much like that of their home church a hundred years ago. This prac- tice of church' discipline appears to be quite universal. The Southern Baptist Almanac for 1949 lists 3,974 excommunications and 1,562 reclaimed during the year. They also list 8,982 baptisms. The prohibition of the use of tobacco is a regular practice in most churches. Someone remarked this was a bit hard on a few of the missionaries from the North, but they were either quitting the prac- tice or were being driven underground with it! In the pressroom of the Assemblies of God printery is a sign for all salesmen and visitors to see and observe — “Do not smoke here — this is Jesus’ house.” And there is the recent postage stamp to commemorate Bible Day in Brazil. Although Brazil is a Catholic country, in a sense at least, she prides herself in being democratic and tolerant. The stamp pictures an open Bible shedding light over a map of Brazil, and in the lower left corner are the words “Dia Da Biblia” (Bible Day). I am told this is the first time any nation has ever issued a stamp in commemoration of the Bible or of Bible reading. “The Protestant World” in referring to this stamp quotes a Protestant spokesman as saying that the issue of the stamp “means the government realizes and is emphasizing the importance of Bible read- ing.” But whether this is the correct evalua- tion or not, we do know that the Gospel has free course in Brazil and that there is no official restraint. This is a very superficial review of the evangelical situation in a large country. It does not mean that it is easy to be a Chris- tian or that spiritual victories are won with little effort in Brazil. The old man can be expected to resist self-crucifixion, and the devil goes into action where the Spirit of God is working. There is much spiritualism and ancient African voodooism about — the devil’s counterfeits for the true coin. Sec- ularism, materialism, and all the sins of the flesh are rampant. But in the midst of this is the Spirit of God preparing for Himself a people. The church is growing; the Gospel is being spread; souls are finding Christ. Shall we not also have our share of the joy of witnessing in that great land, among a people prepared? Elkhart, Ind. M.C.C. Weekly Notes President Signs CO Draft Regulations On February 20 President Truman signed the regulations under which conscientious objectors will be assigned to civilian work contributing to the maintenance of the na- tional health, safety or interest. The provi- sions of these regulations are quoted here- with. Before any drafting of CO’s can begin, Selective Service will need to send to local boards copies of these regulations together with more specific Administrative Directives and some new forms. We offer the following immediate and preliminary observations on these regulations. As soon as the Administrative Directives clari- fy some of the points of question, we will release more detailed analysis and interpreta- tion. 1. Conscientious objectors will be used in government or public agencies, or in non- profit private agencies. It will not be possible for CO’s to be assigned under the draft to ordinary private businesses such as farms, shops, mills, or factories. Men who are need- ed in such work will need to obtain regular occupational deferment in the same manner as any other employee. 2. Church directed work which benefits the general public or improves the health or welfare is acceptable; but work of strictly missionary nature to increase the member- ship of the church, would not be acceptable. 3. Beyond the general definition of ap- propriate civilian work as given in the regu- lations, each specific place of employment will need to be approved by government Di- rective, on the basis of application by each respective employer. 4. It will be possible for men to be assigned near to their homes if the local board deems this desirable. However this will likely not be the pattern. (It is known that a number of State Directors take the position that men must be assigned some distance from their homes, even out of their state in some cases.) t 5. CO registrants may volunteer to their local board for approved types of work be- fore they are called by the local board. These regulations do not define the advantages that the volunteer will realize. (We hope that the Administrative Directives will provide that a volunteer will have greater degree of assurance of being assigned where he wishes to work. The exact degree of assurance will need to be more clearly defined in the Di- rectives.) 6. Conscientious objectors will receive the regular Armed Forces Physical Examination before they are assigned. 7. If the local board and the registrant are unable to agree on appropriate assignment, there is no provision for an appeal as such; but the State Director will first mediate, and if this is unsuccessful, the National Director of Selective Service (General Hershey) must approve the issue of a work order. If the registrant violates a work order, the case is turned over to the National Director for de- cision on whether prosecution shall be pressed. 8. It will be possible for men to be trans- ferred from one place to another under cer- tain conditions. However, the regulations March 4, 1932 GOSPEL HERALD 235 state that transfer will be to work of the same type with another employer. There may be further clarification on this point by the Directives, but it is clear that men will not have wide opportunity to initiate transfers. 9. It will be possible, in cases of genuine dependency need, for men to be released be- fore their two year term is completed. 10. During the time of service, the records of the registrant will be held by the State Director in the state where the work is being done, except for those assigned overseas, whose records will be held by the National Director. 11. When the registrant has completed his two years of work, it is the responsibility of the State Director to report this to the local board, which in turn will send to the regis- trant a certificate of his completion of the required work. 12. Nothing is stated in the Regulations :oncerning wages. It is understood, and will probably be indicated in the Administrative Directives, that CO’s will receive the pre- vailing wages for the work in which they ire assigned. 13. Nothing is stated in the Regulations :oncerning exemption of ex-CPS men. Of- icials insist that the law does not provide iuch exemption. There is a faint possibility hat the Directives may cover this point, but here is no assurance of this. 14. It is proper for men to communicate vith the MCC or other church counsellors oncerning their interest or intention to vol- mteer for work, even when they want to dually enter service in the future rather han immediately. However, once a man olunteers to the local board, he becomes ubject for immediate call-up (as soon as :0’s are called up). Thus men should not e in a hurry to volunteer to the local board ntil they are actually ready to enter service. We will release further information on the :0 draft and CO services just as soon as iis is available. Released Feb. 22, 1952 via Mennonite Central Committee Women’s Activities ' Here is a suggestion in advance for Inter- mediates. Adopt the slogan: Every member i heart sister to a sister missionary, a sister 1 :lief worker, a sister voluntary service work- •, a sister student nurse. All of these need jur prayers, your remembrances, and your tters. You need the inspiration of this un- :lfish fellowship. If you are interested in 1 sts of student nurses, write to Sister Orpah losemann, Goshen College, Goshen, Ind., ! ■ Miss Edna Amstutz, Mennonite Hospital, 1 a Junta, Colo. There are Mennonite girls raining in other nursing schools. Let’s re- member them, too. If you are interested in lief workers, write to Miss Ida Stoltzfus, : kron, Pa., or to Mr. Levi Hartzler, 1711 : rairie Street, Elkhart, Ind. Brother Hartzler 1 so has the lists of voluntary service work- s. If you are interested in missionaries, rite to Miss Esther Graber, 1711 Prairie :reet, Elkhart, Ind. Write to someone, and write faithfully. 1 Here is another hint. Write for the joy your letter will bring to your sister in Christ. Don’t even expect an answer to your second or third letters — and then give up if no let- ter comes. Remember you are writing to show love and interest in an unselfish, hard- working individual who needs your cheerful encouragement in her lonely hours. Put your- self in her place. The day begins early, often too early; the duties of the day are many — no opportunity for that ten-minute rest. At the end of the day there are callers who need comfort. The hour is late. Our sister work- er must sleep. The next day is here. More work, no time to acknowledge that much- appreciated letter! Write! Write faithfully, not for the joy of receiving letters from faraway countries of wonder — but for the comfort and refresh- ment you can offer. Your heavenly Father will reward you. Every member a sister-pal in God’s service. Let’s begin today ! HESPELER, ONTARIO (Wanner Congregation) Greetings to all Herald Readers. As we cross the threshold of another year we have much reason to praise Him who supplies our every need. Our pastor, Bro. Merle Shantz, is again as- sisting in the teaching of God’s Word at the annual winter terms of the Ontario Mennon- ite Bible School at Kitchener. Several of our young people are attending the Bible school, and others have gone back to their respective places of learning following the Christmas recess. During the past six weeks we have enjoyed programs in our evening services given by members of the Bible school and other visit- ing groups. Bro. Herman Neff, Regensburg, Germany, who is spending some time in our community, has also brought us interesting messages on “The Church in Germany” and “The Rise of Humanism in the Fifteenth Century.” Sister Arlene Sitler of the La Junta School of Nursing staff and Sister Ruth Bean, re- cently returned missionary from China, both met with our women’s groups during the month of January and brought messages of inspiration. On Jan. 20 a daughter was born to Bro. and Sister Oliver Good. On Feb. 2 one of our number, Bro. Edwin Shantz, was called to his eternal reward. Bro. Shantz had been a member of the con- gregation for almost 60 years, coming to this community during his early teens. He served for many years in various offices of the Sun- day school and on the Church Board. Keen- ly interested in missions and all church ac- tivities, he was especially known for his for- ward look. Our hearts are saddened by his departure, but we know that our loss is his eternal gain. We held our annual business meeting on Feb. 2. The financial report presented by our church treasurer, Bro. O. A. Snyder, showed The Blooming Glen, Pa., sewing circle met for an all-day meeting on Wednesday, Jan. 16, with an attendance of thirty-five to quilt and sew for Palestine needs. Among the ready- made items contributed were 3 men’s shirts, 10 sweaters, 13 baby shawls and blankets, 20 union suits, 30 children’s shirts, 27 boys’ caps, 8 boys’ union suits, 11 polo shirts, 13 bath- robes, 7 baby sweaters, 3 crib pads, 4 crib blankets; donated were 5 slips, 8 blankets, 1 pair shoes, 2 skirts, 5 dresses, 3 comforters, 42 printed feed bags, 2 blouses, 26 boot socks, 30 children’s garments, and yard length ma- terials. Eighty-nine pieces were made by the group. This list included: 15 ladies’ skirts, 9 dressing sacques, 2 children’s dresses, 12 pillowcases, 2 children’s pajamas, 6 comfor- ters, 1 blanket, 1 lady’s short coat, 12 kimonos, 4 aprons, 2 boys’ pajamas, also a large amount of secondhand clothing and robes. — Mrs. C. L. Shank. that the Lord had again richly blessed us with material prosperity. We covet your prayers that a corresponding spiritual enrich- ment and indwelling of His Spirit may be ours, and that we may seek His guidance in all things. On Feb. 7 Bro. and Sister E. G. Snyder left for Indiantown, Fla., where Bro. Snyder has potato interests. On Feb. 18, in company with Bro. and Sister B. B. Shantz of the Hagey congregation, they left by plane for Puerto Rico to visit Sister Marjorie Shantz and other workers in Puerto Rico. Bro. Allen Schiedel, of this congregation, and Sister Laura Good of Guernsey, Sask., were united in marriage on Feb. 9 at the home of the officiating minister, J. W. Wit- mer of Hespeler. Lillian N. Snyder. JOHNSTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA The M.Y.F. of the Johnstown District is conducting a week-end conference at the Thomas Church, March 1, 2, beginning Sat- urday evening and with sessions all day Sun- day. The guest speaker is B. Charles Hostet- ter from Harrisonburg, Va. Everybody is welcome; come praying and expecting great things of the Lord. Evangelistic meetings will be held at the Thomas Mennonite Church, Thomas Mills, Pa., March 20-30, 1952. Bro. Harry Y. Shetler is the evangelist. Prayer is requested for these meetings. Fannie E. Thomas. BRUTUS, MICHIGAN (Maple River Congregation) Dear Christian Friends. Nov. 30-Dec. 2 we were blessed by a week-end conference. Bros. Floyd Bontrager and Edward Jones were the speakers. The theme of our con- ference was Faith and Practice. Lydia Burkhart has gone to E.M.C. for the second semester. Ruth Gregory attended six weeks’ Bible school at Fairview this winter. The week end of Feb. 8-10 we enjoyed having a group of Fairview Bible School stu- CHURCH CORRESPONDENCE 236 GOSPEL HERALD March 4, 195 2 dents with us. On Friday evening they pre- sented our M.Y.F. program and on Sunday evening the Y.P.B.M. program. Quite a few of our group enjoyed the music program and Christian Workers’ Normal at Fairview Feb. 14, 15. They were a real in- spiration. Cor. MISSION NEWS (Continued) A two-week language study orientation for Bro. and Sister Delbert Erb, who arrived re- cently in Argentina, was arranged at Pehuajo for the last half of February. Bro. and Sister Daniel Miller and Bro. and Sister Lawrence Brunk, all of whom studied at Medellin, Colombia, directed the study. Elizabeth Penner and Goldie Hummel, sta- tioned at Drug, India, were on evangelistic tour at Arjundah on Feb. 15. Later they plan to go to other near-by villages, and then to the north of Drug to the village of Damdah. Samuel E„ Miller and family, missionaries in the Argentine Chaco, are planning to move in the near future to Quitilipi, a town on the railway west of Saenz Pena. This locates them more conveniently to League 17 and also opens possibility for expansion on another Indian reservation. Bro. S. Paul Miller, missionary in India, wrote recently: “In the one village where we were on tour, a group of women stated very openly that they believed what they had heard and wanted to hear more. They want- ed the Bible women to come to the village in the forenoons and all of us to come to their section for night meetings. Besides that, they all came to the camp to hear more in the af- ternoons.” Pray for these who hear. MENNONITE RELIEF (Continued) more. All young men, however, should fill out the MCC Peace Section questionnaire indicating what kind of service they will want when they are ready to volunteer or when called. All cases of 1-0 men may be reopened and reviewed. Some states may require men to fill out new forms (SSS Forms 100 and 150). Conscientious objectors should be very care- ful to file complete information about them- selves so as to reflect properly their beliefs and present marital and employment status. Special forms for job volunteering may also need to be provided by Selective Service for securing information on the registrant’s quali- fications for certain types of work, forms which can be submitted to prospective em- ployers for inspection. Work opportunities for CO’s will be limit- ed to employment by the government — feder- al, state, or local — or by non-profit organiza- tions engaged in charitable, health, welfare, educational, or scientific activities. Work for co-operatives and for profit-making organiza- tions or businesses will be excluded. City, county and state agencies may submit to the State Director and National Director of Se- lective Service job openings for CO’s. Our church agencies are registering all church institutions and service projects with the National Selective Service Director. It is ex- pected that some overseas projects will be approved for CO service. A conscientious objector may volunteer -his services to his draft board at any time after he enters the draft age range — once the reg- ulations are interpreted. If found acceptable he is to be classified and assigned to service as soon as a job is available. However, be- fore being assigned he will be given a regular army physical, and if he does not pass, placed in IV-F. A CO who fails to appear for his physical when called up has ten days from the time he was to appear for his physical to submit to his draft board three types of civilian service acceptable to him. He will likely be assigned to service immediately. Work assignments for the CO will be made outside his home community, except when the local board deems assignment in the home community to be in the national inter- est. Transfers will be few and will likely need to be due to circumstances beyond the draf- tee’s control. Releases will also be possible for physical, mental or dependency reasons. When a man receives a work order he will be placed in class I-W. His file will be sent to the State Director in whose state he is to be employed, and that State Director will supervise his work, returning his file to the local board at the end of 24 months with a letter stating that the registrant has satisfac- torily completed his service. We urge our young men to use the draft call as a means to witness for Christ when- ever possible. MRC stands ready to help the young men of its constituency find significant service. FIELD NOTES (Continued) made and anyone desiring a copy should send a self-addressed envelope with their request to Words of Cheer, Scottdale, Pa. Bro. H. J. King, Moderator of the Illinois Conference, has extended a call to the Illinois churches to make March 2-8 a week of prayer. Not Charity, but Brotherhood Entire congregations invited to join. For particulars, write to: MENNONITE AID, INC. 1413 South Eighth Street Goshen, Indiana Abraham Zegel, a Hebrew Christian from Philadelphia, demonstrated Jewish synagogue worship at Johnstown, Pa., on Feb. 23. The Girls’ Club Chorus from Pueblo, Colo., assisted in the evening service at Colorado Springs on Feb. 17 which was under the di- rection of the musical instructor, Paul Yoder. Bro. Yoder conducted singing classes at Pueb- lo and La Junta Feb. 5-26, spending a week with each congregation. Girls interested in doing housework in Buffalo, N.Y., should write to Mrs. Esther Diener, Clarence, N.Y. She has places to recommend where the conditions will be favorable and the work constructive. Sister Diener plans to develop in their community a sort of “center” for such girls. Christian Laymen’s Tent Evangelism, Inc., is the name of a group of Christian laymen of Wayne Co., Ohio, who have organized to carry out an aggressive program of tent evan- gelism. Bro. Howard Hammer will serve as evangelist in meetings now being planned. Membership in the group is open to any member in good standing of the (Old) Men- nonite Church or any related Mennonite group. Persons becoming members pay $50 and must be accepted by the Board of Direc- tors. However contributions of any size will be gladly received. Gifts may be sent to Sylvester Lehman, Apple Creek, Ohio, Treas. Other officers are M. A. Martin, Chm.; D. W. Zuercher, Vice-chm.; and Edward Ger- ber, Sec. Visiting Speakers Jan. 27: S. C. Yoder, Goshen, Ind., at East Goshen, Ind. Feb. 6: Robert Harnish, Morton, 111., at Locust Grove, Elkhart, Ind. Feb. 10: J. M. Nissley, Sarasota, Fla., at Redland Farm Camp, Homecraft, Fla.; Paul Lederach, Lederach, Pa., at Bayshore, Sara- sota, Fla.; Daniel Kauffman, Hesston, Kans., at Peabody, Kans.; Aaron Mast, Belleville, Pa., at Pinto, Md.; Nelson King, Fairpoint, Ohio, at Britton Run, Pa. Evangelistic Meetings Russell Krabill, Goshen, Ind., at Prairie Street, Elkhart, Ind., Feb. 27-March 9. Ed- ward J. Miller, Gulfport, Miss., at Peabody, Kans., March 2-9. Harold Lahman, Elkton, Va., at Britton Run, Pa., beginning March 16. Milton Brackbill, Paoli, Pa., at Sunnyside, Dunlap, Ind., Feb. 28-March 2. J. J. Hostet- ler, Canton, Ohio, at Maple Grove, Topeka, Ind., March 16-23. Jess Kauffman, Colorado Springs, Colo., at Cheraw, Colo., Feb. 27- March 9. John Garber, Alma, Ont., at Colo- rado Springs, Colo., March 23-April 3. Wil- bur Yoder, Middlebury, Ind., at Providence, Oyster Point, Va., March 7-16. Linford Hackman, Carstairs, Alta., at Sweet Home, Oreg., beginning Feb. 17, and at Cascadia, Oreg., closing March 2. Announcements Christian Life Conference at Eastern Men- nonite College with Henry Ginder, Man- heim, Pa., and Paul Lederach, Lederach, Pa., as speakers on March 8-9. Ralph Palmer, Denbigh, Va., at Protection, Kans., March 25, and at Yoder, Kans., on March 26. Bible Conference at Yoder, Kans., with Clayton Beyler as speaker, April 11-16. Communion dates from Aaron Mast: March 30, Johns- town; April 6, Cumberland; April 13, Pinto; April 20, Barrville; May 4, Altoona; May 11, Belleville. All day meeting at Frazer, Pa., with Aaron Mast as speaker, May 9. Prophecy Conference, Prairie Street, Elkhart, Ind., April 2-5. Ordination service for deacon to serve Groveland Church to be held at Deep Run, Pa., on March 8. Home Conference at Groveland, Pa., with John R. Mumaw as speaker, March 30. Arlene Sitler, La Junta, Colo., at Roanoke, 111., March 19 and at Flanagan, 111., March 20. Levi C. Hartzler at Metamora, 111., May 4. M. S. Stoltzfus, Gap, Pa., in a series of studies on Daniel at Norristown, Pa., beginning March 13 and continuing to May 29, each Thursday eve- ning. Abner Stoltzfus, Kinzers, Pa., at March 8 meeting of Youth Gospel Evangelism at Vine St. Church, Lancaster, Pa., on the sub- ject “Observations in Palestine.” March 4, 1952 GOSPEL HERALD 237 CHURCH MUSIC (Continued) church were rather uncertainly trying to find a new basis. But the English hymns had not yet won the day. Deutsche Lieder- und Melodienbuch was published at Elkhart in 1895. To meet the demand for Eng- lish hymns it had an appendix of English hymns entitled, “A Copy (nearly) of Hymns and Tunes.” In 1901 the Amish published at Belleville, Pa., Eine Samm- lung von Schoene Lieder. Finally in 1902 appeared a book which was in some sense a hymnal of the entire Mennonite Church. The Church and Sunday School Hymnal represented the combined choice of a Virginia commit- tee, and an Ohio committee, besides an advisory committee and a compiling committee. It was copyrighted by one of the compiling committee, J. S. Shoe- maker, but was sold from Elkhart as well. A supplement to this hymnal was published at Scottdale in 1911. This hymnal has had frequent reprintings. It has had a very wide distribution throughout the church and is still used by some congregations which prefer it to the Church Hymnal. This hymnal was published with a German supplement. Its use throughout the church has had a tremendous influence in the unifying of the musical expression of our religious life. In 1916 the Mennonite Publishing House brought out Life Songs, a collec- tion of lighter songs of a more recent type. In 1924 a small book entitled Children’s Hymns and Songs was pub- lished at Scottdale, followed by another book of children’s songs in 1929, Songs of Cheer. C. F. Derstine compiled in 1925 a group of hymns and songs from many sources and entitled the collection, which included a lengthy essay on songs, The Sheet Music of Heaven. The most extensive effort in Mennon- ite hymnody was the Church Hymnal, Mennonite, published at Scottdale in 1927. The hymn editor of this collection was Bro. S. F. Coffman; the musical edi- tor, Bro. J. D. Brunk, who has probably surpassed all other Mennonites in the amount and the quality of his musical composition. Although Bro. Brunk passed away before his hymnal was pub- lished, it bears the marks of his musical ability and judgment. This hymnal, which may be thought of as the official hymnbook of the Mennonite Church to- day, enjoys an increasing use and appre- ciation. It has a range and a quality that will probably make it unnecessary to think of bringing out another hymnal for some years to come. Among the non-Mennonite songbooks which found a wide use among our peo- ple around the turn of the century was Gospel Hymns, a product of the Moody- Sankey revival movement. A widely felt need for the perpetuation of the best of these Gospel hymns resulted in the publication in 1938 of Life Songs No. 2, which is of great value to the church today in preserving the best of the Gospel hymns, some of the good things in recent publications, and some of the classic gems which the hymnal overlooked. A new type of songbook is Favorite Selections for Male Voices, edited by Walter Yoder and John Duerk- sen and published in 1945. It was writ- ten especially for the needs of our C.P.S. camps, but should be of use anywhere that good arrangements for men’s voices are desired. Worthy of note here is Amische Lieder, compiled and published by J. W. Yoder in 1942. The singing of the Aus- bund and other hymns among the Old Order Amish has through the years been in tunes passed down from generation to generation by ear alone. J. W. Yoder, who himself sang these songs as a boy in an Amish home, transcribed into shaped notes the tunes as sung by present-day leaders in Mifflin County, Pa. His pur- pose was to preserve the traditional way of singing these hymns and to bring about a uniformity in the tunes through- out the various Amish communities. The book contains also many more recent songs and a simple presentation of musi- cal rudiments. Junior Hymns was published at Scott- dale in 1947. It is a book of three-part arrangements, mostly of familiar hymns, for the unchanged voices of juniors. Most of these arrangements are by Wal- ter Yoder. This book has already proved in a number of communities that simple harmony can be beautifully mastered by our older children. Singing Together is a small book pre- pared by a committee under Mennonite Youth Fellowship to supply songs for the social singing of Christian young people. It contains hymns new and old, chorales, Christmas songs. Gospel songs, spirituals, and folk songs of many nations. It was published by the Mennonite Publishing House in 1950. Hymns are not only an expression of religious emotion; they are teachers of Christian truth. It is tremendously im- portant that we keep our hymnody pure. The words of our songs are drawn from many sources, so far as denomination is concerned. We need to watch, therefore, that truth and balance are preserved in the hymns which we sing and teach others to sing. So much in modern reli- gious song, both in the words and the music, is frivolous and jazzy that we need to make a constant effort to develop and maintain a sound musical heritage. Our fathers have recognized the important place of the musical portion of our pub- lic and private worship. Let us build on the foundation which they have laid, profit by what they can teach us, and continue to develop a hymnology which will be a glory to God and a real profit and pleasure to our people.— Revised from the author’s “The Hymn in the Life of the Mennonite Church,” Chris- tian Monitor, August, 1946. BIRTHS Bender. — To Urie A. and Dorothy (Kipfer) Bender, Baden, Ont., a daughter, Mary Jane, Feb. 9, 1952. . „ , Billedeau. — To J. Victor and Naomi Ruth (Gingerich) Billedeau, Baden. Ont., a fourth child, a daughter, Deborah Yvonne, Nov. 19, 1951. „ u , Christophel. — To Eldon and Betty (Garber) Christophel, Goshen, Ind., a second child, a daughter, Sheila Kay, Feb. 18, 1952. Clemmer. — To James and Ethel (Alderfer) Clemmer, Souderton, Pa., a son, Kenneth James, Feb. 12, 1952. , v Cressman. — To Lester and Gladys (Brunk) Cressman, Elida, Ohio, a second child, a daugh- ter, Sherrill Joan, Feb. 11, 1952. Denlinger. — To Mark E. and Ruth (Herr) Denlinger, Intercourse, Pa., a third son, Mark Eby, Jr., Feb. 7, 1952. Geiser.— To Clayton D. and Della (Nuss- baum) Geiser, Orrville, Ohio, a son, W arren Keith, Feb. 13, 1952. Good.— To Aaron and Mary (Burkholder) Good, Petersburg, Ont., a son, Harold Ralph, Jan. 23, 1952. /T> , . _ , Good.— To Noah and Bertha (Ressler) Good, Wooster, Ohio, a son, Dennis Blaine, Feb. 6, 1952 Hahn.— To Willis and Ethel (Macks) Hahn, Wakarusa, Ind., a third child, a daughter, Mir- iam Ellen, Feb. 9, 1952. . Hartman— To Lowell and Dons (Miller) Hartman, Wakarusa, Ind., a first child, a daughter, Sandra Jean, Feb. 4, 1952. Hershberger. — To Truman and _ Dorothy (Steiner) Hershberger, Wooster, Ohio, a son, Timothy Vern, Dec. 23, 1951. Hertzler.- — To Allen and Phebe Shenk Hertz- ler, Denbigh, Va., a third child, a daughter, Kathryn Joyce, Jan. 31, 1952. Hess. — To John and Ruth (Bechtel) Hess, Kitchener, Ont., a son, John Orley, Feb. 16, 1952. /T> . Hoover. — To Herbert and Anna Mary (Bei- ler) Hoover, La Junta, Colo., a first child, a daughter, Mary Fay, Feb. 11, 1952. Hunsberger. — To Ronald and Mary (Clem- mer) Hunsberger, Lansdale, Pa., a son, Ronald Feryl, Feb. 4, 1952. , „ /MJ_ . , Kauffman. — To John and Marilyn (Steiner) Kauffman, Dalton, Ohio, a son, John Stanley, Jan. 31, 1952. A „ ^ /cs. Keens. — To R. Samuel and Anna Ruth (bher- er) Keens, Lititz, Pa., a son, Jay Edwin, Feb. 6 1952 ’ Kraus. — To Norman and Ruth (Smith) Kraus, Goshen, Ind., twins, Robert Eugene and Bonnie Elaine, Feb. 15, 1952. . Kurtz. — To Jacob M. and Ada (Kauffman) Kurtz, Fleetwood, Pa., a son, Samuel Harvey, Feb. 15, 1952. , /TT7 , Leichty.— To Jacob and Norma Jean (Warye) Leichty, Albany, Oreg., a second child, a son, Calvin Nicholas, Feb. 4, 1952. Martin. — To Alvin G. and Elva S. (Bow- man) Martin, New Holland, Pa., a daughter, Karen Lorraine, Feb. 14, 1952. Meyers. — To Garwood L. and Marion (Alder- fer) Meyers. Bedminster, Pa., a daughter, Phyllis Ann, Feb. 2, 1952. Myers.— To Charles and Mary (GodshaU) Myers, Doylestown, Pa., a daughter, Karen Pauline, Jan. 8, 1952. . Riegsecker. — To Orval and Lois (Miller) Riegsecker, Wauseon, Ohio, a daughter, Ardis Dawn, Feb. 2, 1952. Roggie. — To Wilford Beryl and Eunice Mane (Lehman) Roggie, Castorland, N.Y., a son, Bruce Linford, Feb. 15, 1952. Shank. — To Daniel M. and Florence (Slatter) Shank. Filer, Idaho, a son, Randy Eugene, Jan. 6, 1952. Shertzer.— To C. Charles and Helen (Niss- ley) Shertzer, Millersville, Pa., a daughter, Eleanor, Feb. 1, 1952. Snyder. — To Allen and Norma (Shenk) Sny- der, La Junta, Colo., a second child, a daughter, Cheryl Lynn, Feb. 12, 1952. Steiner. — To Donald and Norma (Conrad) Steiner, Orrville, Ohio, a son, Donald Steven, Dec. 27, 1951. Swartzentruber. — To Eli A. and Katie (Schrock) Swartzentruber, Kalona, Iowa, a son, Laban Andrew, Jan. 7, 1952. ^ _ "”Umble.— To John and Susanna (Kurtz) TJm- ble, Atglen, Pa., a son, Allen Roy, Jan. 22, 1952. 238 GOSPEL HERALD March 4, 1952 Weirich. — To Harry D. and Orpha (Miller) Weirieh, Middlebury, Ind., a first child, a son, Marvin, Feb. 19, 1952. Widmer. — To Galen and Marie (Ediger) Widmer, Crawfordsville, Iowa, a son, Gay Lynn, Jan. 29, 1952. Witmer. — To Raymond and Alice (Horst) Witmer, a fourth child, a daughter, Linda Jean, Feb. 14, 1952. Yoder. — To Mervin and Joanne (Hostetler) Yoder, Millersburg, Ind., a daughter, Ruth Elaine, Feb. 2, 1952. Yoder. — To Paul E. and Naomi (Bender) Yoder, Meyersdale, Pa., a fourth child, a son, Wendell Paul, Feb. 17, 1952. Zimmerman, — To Lester J. and Erma (Zook) Zimmerman, Goshen, Ind., a daughter, Judy Elaine, Feb. 17, 1952. MARRIAGES Brownsberger — Bnibacher. — Joseph Browns- berger and Elma Brubacher. both of the Wide- man congregation at Markham, Ont., bv Flovd Schmucker at the groom’s home, Nov. 17, 1951. Ebersole — Sollenberger. — Ralph H. Ebersole and Mildred C. Sollenbercer, both of the Pleas- ant View congregation, Chambersburg, Pa., by Amos E. Martin at the home of the officiating minister, Feb. 9, 1952. Funk — Kreider. — E. Curtis Funk, of the Ha- becker congregation, and Bettv Jane Kreider, Mountville, Pa., by Christian K. Lehman at the bride’s home, Feb. 2, 1952. Hershberger — Gerber. — Paul Hershberger and Marilyn Gerber, both of the Walnut Creek con- gregation. Sugarcreek, Ohio, by Alvin W. Miller at the Walnut Creek Church, Jan. 12, 1952. Sangrey — Hostetter. — Landis Sangrey, .Tr., of the Masonville, Pa., congregation, and Marian Hostetter. Rohrerstown congregation, by Chris- tian K. Lehman at the Rohrerstown Church, Feb. 20, 1952. Yoder — Hooley. — Oscar Yoder. Emma con- gregation, Topeka, Ind., and Esther Hooley, of the Shore congregation, Shipshewana, Ind., by Percy ,T. Miller at the home of the officiating minister, Jan. 26, 1952. OBITUARIES Bechtel. — Noah C., son of the late Noah and Veronica (Christner) Bechtel, was born in Wil- mot Twp., Waterloo Co., Ont., on Nov. 20, 1856; died at the Kitchener-Waterloo Hospital Nov. 11, 1951; aged 94 y. 11 m. 21 d. On March 7. 1882. he was married to Mary Ann Snvder. In their youth thev joined the Latschar Men- nonite Church at Mannheim, Ont. Mr. Bechtel served his Lord for 81 years. His wife and 3 children (Moses, Herbert, and Elizabeth May) predeceased him. Surviving are 5 daughters (Sarah Ann — Mrs. William Knarr. Kitchener, Ont.; Lucinda — Mrs. Isaiah Detweiler and Ida - — Mrs. John Shantz. both of Breslau, Ont.; Edna — Mrs. Alvin Lugibihl, Pandora. Ohio; and Nettie — Mrs. Roy Snyder. Millbank, Ont.), 2 sons (Eden and Owen of Kitchener, Ont.), 46 grandchildren, and 23 great-grandchildren. The funeral was held on Nov. 14 from his late home near Kitchener. Ont., by Manasseh Hall- man, and at the Latschar Church by Oscar Burkholder and Osiah Horst. Burial was in the adjoining cemetery. Camp. — Anna Elizabeth, daughter of the late John and Elizabeth -Schertz, was born Feb. 25, 1878 ; passed away at her home near Roanoke, 111., Jan. 6. 1952;' aged 73 y. 10 m. 12 d. On Feb. 13, 1900, she was united in marriage to John J. Camp. In her early youth she accepted Christ as her personal Saviour and united with the Metamora Mennonite Church in 1891, re- maining faithful until her death. She is sur- vived by her husband, one son (Ezra, St. Paul, Minn.l. 4 grandchildren, and 2 brothers (Eman- uel, Washburn, 111., and John W., Metamora, 111.). She was preceded in death by her par- ents, 2 sisters, 2 brothers, and one foster daugh- ter, Addie Ralston. Funeral services were held at the Metamora Mennonite Church with H. R. Schertz and J. N. Kaufman in charge. Burial was made in the Hickory Point Cemetery. Hostetler. — Mattie, daughter of the late Wil- liam and Frances (Gerber) Miller, was born April 5, 1883; passed away at her home in Shanesville, Ohio, on Jan. 25, 1952 ; aged 68 y. 9 m. 20 d. At the age of 15 she accepted Christ as her personal Saviour and united with the Walnut Creek Mennonite Church where she was a member until 1938. Then she and her husband accepted a call from the Kolb and Longenecker congregation. She was in active service until shortly before her death. On March 19, 1905, she was united in marriage to Milton B. Hostetler. To this union were born 3 sons (Orris, Mt. Vernon, Ohio: Lloyd, at home; Carl, Goshen, Ind.) and 2 daughters (Alice — Mrs. Glen O. Mast, Millersburg; Mary — Mrs. Forrest Kerlin, Goshen, Ind.). These children, her companion, 10 grandchildren. _ 3 brothers (Alvin and Orus, Sugarcreek, Ohio, and Moses, Orrville, Ohio), and 2 sisters (Elva — Mrs. Ira T. Yoder, Lagrange, Ind., and Mrs. Mary A. Hershberger, Sugarcreek, Ohio! sur- vive her. Her parents and one brother (David) preceded her in death. Funeral services were conducted at the Walnut Creek Mennonite Church Jan. 29 by Paul R. Miller and D. D. Miller. Burial was in the church cemetery. Kauffman. — Jacob B., son of the late Jacob and Fannie ( Smoker) Kauffman, was born Sept. 29, 1893 ; passed away at his home in Weavertown, Pa., very suddenly Jan. 2. 1952; aged 58 v. 3 m. 4 d. In addition to his wife (the former Elisebeth Kauffman), he is survived bv 2 sons (Jonas and Jacob. Jr., Ronks, Pa.), 3 daughters (Katie— Mrs. Aaron S. Riehl, Honey Brook, Pa. ; Fannie — Mrs. Emanuel Fland, Bird-in-Hand, Pa. ; and Mary — Mrs. Benjamin Lantz, at home), 8 grandchildren, 3 sisters (Mrs. Mattie Stoltzfus, Bareville. Pa.: Mrs. A. F. King, New Holland. Pa.: Mrs. Isaac M. Smoker, Gap, Pa.), and one brother (Benjamin, Ephrata. Pa.). He joined the Amish Church in his youth and was a faithful member to the end. His parents, 3 sons, and one daughter preceded him in death. Funeral services were held at the home of Eli Riehl Jan. 4 -bv John Lapp and Mose Blank. Interment was in the Gordon- ville Cemetery. Kropf. — Darlene Louise, daughter of John P. and Blanche (Esch) Kropf, was born Aug. 26, 1944, at Eugene, Oreg. : passed away of rheu- matic fever Jan. 28. 1952, at her home near Halsey, Oreg. ; aged 7 y. 5 m. 2 d. She is sur- vived by her sorrowing parents, 3 brothers (Rex Eugene, Elton Jay, and Gary John), her pa- ternal grandparents (Mr. and Mrs. S. J. Kronf, Tampico, 111.), her maternal grandparents (Mr. and Mrs. Aaron Esch, Milwaukie, Oreg.), and numerous other relatives and friends. The fu- neral service was held Feb. 1 at the Harrisburg Mennonite Church in charge of John Yoder and Levi Kropf. Burial was made at the Alford Cemetery. Kessler. — Stillborn daughter of Allen B. and Pauline (Good) Ressler, Wadsworth, Ohio, was born Jan. 6, 1952. She leaves her saddened parents, one brother, Dana, and her grand- parents, Mr. and Mrs. Abram Good and Mr. and Mrs. Milo Ressler, all of near Wadsworth, Ohio. Graveside services were conducted on Jan. 7 by Abram Good and Moses G. Horst at the Lower Mennonite Cemetery. Schrocb. — Clarence P., son of Peter S. and Barbara (Troyer) -Schrock, was born Sept. 1, 1891, in Lagrange Co., Ind. ; died Oct. 6, 1951, at the Hutchinson Hospital, Oregon City, Oreg. ; aged 60 y. 1 m. 5 d. In 1902 the family moved to Reno Co., Kans., where he grew to manhood. He was married Aug. 9. 1919, to Fanny Hos- tetler, who survives. Also surviving are one son (Paul Edward. Oshkosh, Wis.), one foster daughter (Mrs. Henrietta Ratzloff. Winton, Calif.), 2 grandchildren, 4 brothers (Samuel P., Molalla, Oreg. ; Jerry P., Middlebury, Ind. ; Fred P., Goshen, Ind.; and Edd P.. Odon, Ind.), one sister (Edna — Mrs. Noah Miller, Hutchin- son, Kans.), and 5 uncles. One son (William Kenneth) preceded him in death. At the age of 21 he became a member of the Amish Church, but soon transferred his membership to the Mennonite Church. At the time of his death he was a member of the Zion congregation at Hubbard, Oreg. The funeral service was at the Zion Church conducted by C. F. Kropf and Chester Kauffman. Steffan. — Anna Barbara, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Godfrey Steffan, was born in Greene Ck)., Ohio, June 1, 1862 ; died at the Miami Valley Hospital in Dayton, Ohio, Jan. 9, 1952; aged 89 y. 7 m. 8 d. She is survived by her brother (Samuel) and 5 nephews and nieces. She was a member of the Huber Mennonite Church, Med- way, Ohio, for about 67 years. She attended services last on Dec. 9, 1951. She has won the affection of the entire community in which she spent her lifetime caring for the sick and help- ing those in need. Funeral services were con- ducted at the Morris Funeral Home in Dayton, Ohio, by her pastor, Lloy A. Kniss. Burial was made in the Huber Mennonite Cemetery. Sommer. — Christ P., son of the late Peter C. and Anna (Gerber) Sommer, was born Aug. 11, 1886, east of Kidron, Ohio ; passed away Jan. 3. 1952 ; aged 65 y. 4 m. 22 d. On March 29, 1907, he was baptized and received into the fellowship of the Mennonite Church to which he remained true and faithful until death. He was married to Ida Lehman on Nov. 4, 1915, to which union were born 3 sons and one daugh- ter. He leaves to mourn his sudden denarture his loving companion. 3 sons (Clarence, Kidron, Ohio ; Ira, Dalton, Ohio ; Norman. Apple Creek, Ohio), one daughter (Dorothy — Mrs. Raymond Hofstetter, residing on the home farm at Kid- ron, Ohio), 10 grandchildren, 3 brothers (Daniel P., Kidron. Ohio ; David, Ft. Wavne. Ind. ; Joel, Orrville, Ohio). 2 sisters (Fannie and Emma Sommer. Orrville, Ohio), and many oth- er relatives and friends. Two brothers and one sister preceded him in death. Funeral services were held Jan. 6 at the home and at the Kidron Mennonite Church in charge of Reuben Hof- stetter, Isaac Zuercher. and Allen Bixler. Inter- ment was made in the adjoining cemetery. Stouffer. — Henry N.. son of Jacob and Nancy (Nold) Stouffer, was born near Leetonia, Ohio, Oct. 3. 1864 : departed this life at his residence Jan. 13, 1952: aged 87 v. 3 m. 18 d. He was married to Elizabeth Kreider Feb. 13. 1890. Four children were born to them. 3 of whom survive (Mahlon, Bessie — Mrs. John Snvder, and Eva). Five grandchildren, 5 stepgrandchil- dren, one brother (Jacob S., Lisbon, Ohio), and 2 sisters (Martha — Mrs. Howard Cope and Amanda — Mrs. John Wisler of Leetonia, Ohio) also survive. His wife and a daughter (Ruth) preceded him in death. Through the evangelis- tic efforts of J. S. Coffman, both he and his wife were converted and became members of the Bethel congregation about 1893. He served faithfully in -many capacities in the church. Fu- neral services were conducted at Bethel Church, Wadsworth. Ohio, with J. Robert Kreider. Abe Good, and -S. D. Rohrer in charge. Burial was made in the Lower Mennonite Cemetery. Swartzentruber. — Harold LeRoy, eldest son of John E. and Ruth (Esch) Swartzentruber, was born near Gasport, N.Y., Nov. 26, 1924 ; passed away very suddenly in an automobile accident near White Pigeon, Mich., on Jan. 13, 1952 ; aged 27 y. 1 m. 18 d. When he was two years old his parents moved to Lagrange Co., Ind., where he grew to manhood. He became a Christian in his youth, uniting with the Emma Mennonite Church. He was a member of the Church of the Brethren at the time of his death. He is survived by his parents, 2 brothers (Mer- vin Joseph and Paul Edwin), and one sister (Edna Marie). Funeral services were held Jan. 16 at the Middleburv Church of the Brethren conducted by T. G. Weaver, pastor, and Harold Yoder of the Middlebury Mennonite Church. Burial was in Grace Lawn Cemetery. Zook. — Edward, son of Eli and Catherine (Oswald) Zook, was born near Colfax, Fair- field Co., Ohio, Oct. 16, 1869 ; departed this life at the home of a son (Ralph D.l in Walnut Creek, Ohio, Jan. 25, 1952 ; aged 82 y. 3 m. 9 d. As a young boy he, with his parents, moved to Holmes Co., Ohio, where he lived the greater part of his life. Dec. 27, 1896, he was united in marriage to Katie Ann Mast. To this union were born 3 sons and 2 daughters. His Barents, 1 daughter, and his wife preceded him in death. He leaves to mourn his departure 3 sons (Earl, Sugarcreek, Ohio; Ralph, Walnut Creek, Ohio; and Palmer, Sugarcreek, Ohio), 1 daughter (Irene. Trail, Ohio), 8 grandchildren, 5 great- grandchildren, and many friends. In his youth he accepted Christ as his Saviour and joined with the Mennonite Church at Walnut Creek which he attended as long as health permitted. He spent the greater part of his life as a tiller of the soil, in which occupation he found great joy. Funeral services were held at the Walnut Creek Mennonite Church in charge of Paul R. Miller and A. W. Miller. Interment was in the church cemetery. March 4, 1952 239 THE BOOK SHELF Our Baby God’s Gift, by Frances Young- ren; Moody Press; 1950; $1.50. To any Christian parent whose desire it is that his child might grow “in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man,” this baby record book will be a real “find.” The compiler, knowing the tendency of parents to manifest a great interest in the physical development of their children and at the same time to show little concern for their spiritual growth, has endeavored here to place a proper balance between the two. Quoting from the foreword: “This Baby Book for Christian parents includes some growth guideposts, some inspirational thoughts to warm their hearts and give them courage, some bits of advice and wisdom from those who have gone before them down the road of parenthood, and some gems from God’s own Word to strengthen them and give wisdom.” Space is provided for recording the an- nouncement of Baby’s arrival, autographs, identification, family tree, Baby’s physical and mental development, habit training, photo- graphs and snapshots, Sunday-school record, illnesses and preventive measures, develop- ment of self-help, birthday celebrations, nurs- ery, kindergarten, and first-grade records, development of character, special aptitudes, clever sayings, and other little items. Besides the above features the book is made attractive with numerous interesting photographs of babies and small children, ft has washable cardboard covers and the plastic binding opens flat. This is a baby book which most certainly will be appreciated by any parent interested in the spiritual and physical welfare of his child. — Mrs. Russell J. Baer. A Child’s Book of Prayers; Augsburg Pub- lishing House, 1949; 32 pp.; 35 0. This little booklet of 32 pages contains 35 short prayers, mostly in verse form, but some in prose. It also contains a number of very appropriate Scripture verses. Then there are some short poems or verses which contain prayer thoughts apd meditations, although they are not addressed to the Father, such as the following: My heart is God’s little garden And the flowers blooming there each day, Are the things He shall see me doing, And the words He shall hear me say. There are evening prayers, morning pray- ers, general prayers, prayers for school, for Sunday school, for times of sickness, and many others. A child’s book of prayers like this one can be quite helpful in stimulating a child’s pray- er life in giving him an avenue of expression to God, at the same time awakening the bet- ter qualifies in his life, leading him to the higher forms of motivations for Christian liv- ing, giving him a keener sense of God con- sciousness. The general religious tone, I am sure, will be acceptable and quite satisfying GOSPEL HERALD to our readers. It will be a welcome help to young parents in their concern for practical help in the training of their children in the spiritual realm. — Amos W. Weaver. A Little Treasury of Daily Prayers; Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1949; 86 pages; $1:00. This book of meditative gems was trans- lated from an old classic which has enjoyed long popularity, both in the German and in the Dutch. It contains “prayers” for each day of the year, beginning with January 1 and continuing month by month to the end of the year. It is not quite correct to call these gem§ “prayers,” for they are really meditations de- signed to place one in a prayerful and medita- tive mood. For example, this is the selection for July 5: “Gracious God, make me com- passionate, even as Thou art. Make me ten- der hearted and lovingly sympathetic to all those who grieve or are heavily burdened. Enable me to give comfort and encourage- ment to Thy suffering disciples.” This is a very helpful book. Many Chris- tians develop fixed patterns of prayer, in which there is little variety or originality. They tend to pray in the same phrases day after day. One’s prayer life should constant- ly grow richer, deeper, broader. A book such as this which contains 365 different prayers, each of which has several different requests or items for praise, can well lead a Christian into a more meaningful prayer life. The publisher suggests the following con- cerning its use: “It is a handy little thing, as pleasant a companion for the leisure of travel and of walks as it is for the business of the home and office.” It may well be used in family worship, as the chief meditations around which the prayer will be built. — Mel- vin Gingerich. Joy Shop, by Brenda Cannon; Moody, 1951; 59 pp.; 75 f Brenda Cannon’s ability to write chil- dren’s stories well is again demonstrated in this little book, Joy Shop. She has taken the theme of the second coming of the Lord, and has put it into a simple form that children will understand and enjoy. The author prepared for the main idea of the book by introducing the reader to Judy, John, and Jean, who are busily preparing for a visit from grandmother. The grandmoth- er, whose room is named “Joy Shop,” is a good storyteller. She also teaches the chil- dren new songs, and throughout the week she tells them the story of the Lord’s return. The author stays by the Scripture. The lan- guage of the book is simple, and the style is pleasing. She introduces the Lord Jesus to the child as a near and dear friend. She deals with the matter of sin, and of being ready for the coming of Jesus. She does it in a way that will not frighten the child by making it seem natural, rather than super- natural. Parents and teachers will find this little book a help in teaching this particular truth. The book is bound in hard paper. It has an attractive cover design. The print is clear and large enough for children’s eyes. — Leah C. Kauffman. ITEMS and COMMENTS According to figures officially tabulated in the Pathfinder, the total bill for World War II, just recently calculated by Library of Con- gress statisticians, amounts to four trillion dollars, or $1,708 for every man, woman, and child on earth. Military outlays amounted to one and one-tenth trillion; civil destruction, two and two-tenths trillion; economic and personal losses, six hundred and fifty billion. In terms of human lives, the figures are still more appalling: a total world casualty list of 40,000,000 people. * * * Mennonites are named among the nineteen denominations which constitute religious minorities in Germany and which have been given regular radio broadcasting time over the American-sponsored radio station in West Berlin. This is the first time in German radio history that minority groups have been allocated regular time on a German station. * * # There have been over 100 cases of Catho- lic violence against Protestants and Protestant buildings in the last two years in Colombia, South America, according to a speaker at the Foreign Missions Conference in Toronto recently. * * * Two delegates to the Foreign Missions Conference at Toronto were refused admis- sion to the country by Canadian authorities. One was from Formosa, and the other from Pakistan. Both are in universities in the United States. * * * Three Ohio State University seniors who stole statues of St. Joseph and the lamb from a Catholic Cathedral nativity scene must pay $100 and costs to the municipal courts. Uni- versity officials have in addition required that they apologize to the Bishop, donate a quart of blood to the Red Cross, complete a course in ethics at the University, and refrain from driving autos during the winter quarter. * * # The Church of the Nazarene made mem- bership gains of 4 per cent in 1951. Financial contributions were $111.00 per capita, $7.00 more than in the previous year. * * * Plans to publish a Roman Catholic daily newspaper in New York City have been dropped, because of insufficient response to appeals for funds. The Sun Herald, a Cath- olic daily in Kansas City, Missouri, went into suspension in April, 1951. * * # Under the new prohibition laws in India no one can drink alcoholic beverages without a permit, including a sworn statement that the applicant’s health requires alcohol. The individual is then classed as an alcoholic — but an alcoholic is not granted a driver’s per- mit!— The Free Methodist. * * * Every year the Protestant churches of the United States spend well over a million dol- lars in ministering to American Indians. More than 800 missionaries serve in church- 240 March 4, 1952 Best Sellers A Religious best-seller list looks dif- ferent from current popular lists. Why not check your library against these titles, chosen from a variety of steady - selling books in the Herald Press Catalog? ANSWER TO WAR by Millard Lind Published, in January. Already high on the selling list. For junior and senior high-school age. Excellent for discussion groups. S1.75. assurance of salvation by John R. Mumaw Sets forth clearly the basis of our salvation. How we can know we are saved. $1.75. DANNIE OF CEDAR CLIFFS by Christmas Carol Kauffman Warm-hearted story of Daniel Martin. You will remember Dannie long after finishing the story. $2.75. DECLARATION OF CHRISTIAN FAITH Selling by thousands. A pamphlet every Christian will read with profit. Concerning our peace testimony. Ea., 5c; doz., 40c; 2V2C ea. for fifty or more. DOCTRINES OF THE BIBLE edited by Daniel Kauffman A "must" for any well-rounded library. Valuable reference tool. Helpful for study oi the great doctrines of our faith. $3.00. EGERMEIER'S BIBLE STORY BOOKS Every child has a right to hear and read well-written Bible stories. The Egermeier books continue to rank at the top of the list. "A," $2.95; "B," $3.95; "C," $4.95. MIDDLE-EAST SOJOURN by Samuel A. Yoder A FULL year of relief work on the Sinai peninsula— a tour of Ethiopia ending in a be- ginning of relief and mission work there. Sincere. Spiced with humor. $2.75. MUST CHRISTIANS FIGHT? by Edward Yoder Searches Scripture. Solid, logical proof against Christian participation in war. 20c. PARAGUAYAN INTERLUDE by Willard and Verna Smith Pioneering in the Chaco. A story of heroism and courage. Mennonite refugees build a new home in Chaco jungles. $2.25. RACHEL by Agnes Scoff Kent Thrilling story of a Jewess who gave her heart to Christ and became an outcast from her home. $1.50. SEPARATED UNTO GOD by John C. Wenger Recent reprint is selling rapidly. First print- ing sold out in less than 5 months. A book for all Christians. $3.50. WINGS OF DECISION by Eunice Shellenberger David, handsome high-school senior, chooses the nonresistant path — a rough road when best friends disapprove. Now being reprinted. $2.75. Check books you wish to buy. Clip and mail to MENNONITE PUBLISHING HOUSE, Scott- dale. Pa. Name Address Amount Enclosed Q Check p] Money Order GOSPEL HERALD # es, schools, hospitals, and community cen- ters; on reservations and in rural areas, in villages and in cities. There are 36 denomina- tional sponsors of 437 mission stations in 375 communities in 30 states. These figures point up a Christian concern for the Indian that dates back to the seventeenth century when John Eliot, graduate of England’s Cam- bridge University, preached to the Indians of New England in their own language, translated the Bible for them, converted hun- dreds to Christianity, and established four- teen communities of Christian Indians. # * * Despite the fact that the Bible or parts of it has been published in 1,100 languages, there is still an amazing amount of Bible translating and revising to be done and there are many missionaries giving part or full time to this most important work. In so far as we can estimate there must be nearly 1,000 such missionary translators who are dedicat- ing their efforts to the revision of earlier translations, producing more books in lan- guages which already have something of God’s Word, or reducing to writing some of the approximately 1,000 languages which have nothing of the Bible translated into them as yet. In terms of the total task throughout the world, the program of Bible translating cannot be said to be half com- pleted, for the vast majority of languages have inadequate portions and in so many of the major languages of the mission field there is an acute need for immediate revision. — Dr. E. A. Nida, in The Bible Translator. * * * A recent observer describes Korea as the most devastated land in history. Of the 20,- 000,000 people in the republic of Korea, as many as 8,000,000 may be described as the victims of war. At least 4,000,000 are still exiles from their homes. Three million are utterly destitute, and 2,000,000 are supposed to receive daily a tiny grain ration. # # * General Mark W. Clark, convinced that his confirmation as ambassador to the Vati- can would be most improbable, asked the President to withdraw his name. President Truman announced that he would submit another nomination at another date, in spite of the tremendous volume of opposition which has been expressing itself. * * * An overflow crowd of 10,000 persons at- tended the opening of a two-week revival in Washington, D.C., conducted by evangelist Billy Graham. The evangelist claimed 400 converts in his first day of efforts. * * * Christian leaders in Korea are concerned over what may happen if Christians among the North Korean prisoners of war are turned over to the Communists by the U.N. forces under an armistice agreement. Some tens of X thousands of prisoners of war in South Korea are said to be Christians. It is felt that if they should be returned to Communistic territory they would probably be executed. * * * Martin Niemoeller, in opposing West Ger- man rearmament, said, “The state is not the master over man’s conscience, and the tradi- tional German concept that everything which the state orders must be done as a matter of course must be finally exterminated.” * * * Raymond R. Gregory, retiring after forty years of work in distributing the Scriptures in Latin America, says, “There is one thing that my forty years in Latin America has taught me. I know that wherever the Gospel is given free course in the lives of men a fel- lowship is created that transcends the bar- riers of language, customs, and race, and they begin to think of belonging — members of the household of God.” * * * Dr. Eugene Nida, Secretary of Transla- tions for the American Bible Society, says that the Book of Mark is always the first Gos- pel translated for Indians because it is the easiest one for them to grasp. Thank God for the simplicity of the Gospel. * * * Phillip Oommen, a priest of the Mar Tho- ma Syrian (Orthodox) Church in southern India, has declined a bishopric and has an- nounced that he will become a railroad porter in order to evangelize the humble workers of South India. “You don’t preach at others lower down the social ladder — not in these days,” he exclaimed. “You level down with them to uplift them. Maybe then they will 1 listen to the Gospel.” # * * During the first three days of the Hyman i Appelman evangelistic campaign in Mexico City, approximately 500 persons responded to the altar call. Revival fires are reported as spreading in that city of 2J4 million people. 1 * * # Our militaristic government is finally hav- ■ ing its way in West Germany. The Associat- • ed Press reports that secret plans have been drafted for an army modeled on American lines to join the proposed European defense ; force. Young Germans betweeen the ages of 18 and 21 are to be drafted, making an army of probably a million and a quarter. Chief men in drawing up these plans are former leaders in the Hitler era. Only a few years ago we were certain that Germany must be demilitarized; now we are certain that she must be militarized. The plan, now leak- ing out, is creating tremendous protest among the German people. * # * The Pennsylvania Legislature has appropri- ated $30,000 for restoration work on historic Ephrata Cloisters at Ephrata, Pennsylvania. n I Si 0SV01H3 3 AV NAIUsnaOCM N 1 iNBViHVlA v % GOSPEMHERALD “In the defence and confirmation of the gospel" "J~low beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace * volume XLV TUESDAY, M ARGliTT;' 195 2 number 11 Ye Have Done It unto Me The Loneliest of Earth By Almeta Hilty Good BY IDA STOLTZFUS As supervisor of clothing centers, I am sometimes asked, “Is relief still needed? How great is the need for relief? And what materials are most in demand?” Our answer is, “Yes, there is a continu- ing need for relief. There is need for food and clothing and for funds to process and distribute them. The needs in the world are greater than we can imagine from our viewpoint here in America.” During the past twelve years M.C.C. has been active in relief work in 24 dif- ferent countries. Nearly 700 persons have served as relief workers during that time. Varied types of services have been given. The hungry have been fed, the naked clothed, medical assistance given to the sick, shelter and protection provided for those whose homes were destroyed. Un- dernourished and orphaned children have been cared for, means and assist- ance has been given to mothers to sew for themselves and their families, refu- gees and displaced persons have been helped to emigrate and find new homes in other lands, foreign missionaries have been assisted, and spiritual help has been given to those in need. This has been made possible by the support of consecrated ones at home who during these years have responded to the needs of their fellow men in an act of Christian love. But the present? What is the picture now? In certain areas needs have less- ened and types of services have changed. Community centers, children’s homes, and spiritual help have taken the place of the soup kitchen and clothing depot that were the great emergency need a few years ago. But in some areas the need for food and clothing has not lessened, due to the greatly overcrowded living conditions and the unimproved econom- ic status under which refugees must live. In still other areas fresh wounds have been made, and humanity suffers and hungers. Work is now being done in 14 differ- ent countries, and approximately 130 workers are serving in various ways. M.C.C., as always, is working with the funds, material, and personnel avail- There is a sadness in my heart today For all the hearts who’ve missed Love’s joy and mirth. Who know not why they walk a lonely way. The unloved are the lonely ones of earth. Loving God, oh, love those hearts so sad, Who have not known the tenderness of Love; I no more merited the joys I’ve had Than they, but oh, what is their life made of? They needed to be loved and loving, too, (Watching the others with their radiant eyes. As years creep slowly by and youth is through!) What lacked they yet? They only can sur- mise. Perhaps, with ideals high they’d cherished long, They looked for someone perfect ( there are none!) Or else, it may have been, the one they chose Loved someone else, and so their hope was gone. Maybe some loved not God, nor understood That one who knew Him could not walk with such: Thinking themselves quite good, they found too late. Refusing God, they had refused too much! There is a sadness in my heart today For all such lonely hearts that I have known: But most of all for those who’ve lacked Thy Love, The great, great Love of God — they’re so alone! Hammett, Idaho. able. In other words, M.C.C. is what its supporting constituency makes it. Dur- ing the past several years the relief pro- gram has needed to contract. In some areas work has closed entirely and in others, lessened. This was usually not because workers and directors felt that there was not a worth-while contribution being made; in fact, in most instances, they regretted very much having to close or withdraw, but were forced to do so, mainly because of lack of funds. Work- ers who have witnessed the closing of units for these reasons have greatly re- gretted it, but have been helpless to do anything about it. The budget for the present year has again been cut, and the directors of for- eign units are making desperate struggles to continue the much-needed services of units with these reduced funds. They need to do this in spite of the fact that This is one of the “hard core” — the sick, the old, the political rejects — at Gronau. This old woman has some of her children in Canada. She herself will likely never be able to go because the tests are too difficult to pass. She is in the hospital here because of t.b. A Dutch Mennonite nurse is attending her. The hospital has been converted into a part t.b. recuperation center, so that more cases may be built up so that they may be presented again for presentation to the commission. Must these aged and infirm be passed by? 242 March n, 1952 all around them are needs that call for expansion rather than withdrawal. The administration is being forced to take steps to reduce programs and close units. Some units whose budgets have been cut previously, and are now being cut again, cannot see how they can reduce further. They say, “Where some have corn hakes and wheaties for breakfast with fresh milk and fruit, we have cof- fee, bread, and jam (without butter). Never in our history have we bought fresh milk. We have not tasted fresh fruit since July [report was written in Decem- ber]. Sometimes we have fresh meat once a week. We have bought horse ham- burger because it is the cheapest. We ride third class on trains unless it is im- possible” (from a director in Europe). These are the standards on which they have been living, and now the adminis- tration has been forced to make another sizable cut in their budget for the com- ing year. i cannot forget my personal reaction as a returning relief worker from the Orient where I saw crying needs and open fields for service. When I saw the abundance in America which we take for granted, and then learned that contribu- tions for missions and relief were fall- ing below that of the former year, I could satisfy myself with only one an- swer. It could not be that people were uninterested in helping and serving in these fields; they just did not know of the need! They were busy with the normal duties and the rapid pace of life in America which left them little time to look across the waters or to the other side of the world and see the burdens of men over there. None of us want to be guilty of this, and yet we very easily can take the place of the priest and the Le- vite and pass by on the other side. The following descriptions and inci- dents are taken from reports of relief workers and may give you some idea of the conditions in other lands. From Germany: “I am minister of a refugee church [Kiel, Germany], Ap- proximately sixty per cent of the church members are unemployed. In many places over ninety per cent are unem- ployed. They live on unemployment support. After paying the rent, sixty pfennig (15^) is left per person per day. Since bread is so expensive, the house- wife uses potatoes. . . . For these reasons the material aid of the Mennonite Cen- tral Committee is very much appreciated. The food still helps to satisfy the hunger, and the clothes of M.C.C. are often the only new things that we have had.” (Continued on page 261) GOSPEL HERALD Our Readers Say — . . . The colored population of Tampa is more than 26,000 .... A colored minister one week after obtaining a Gospel Herald said, “I am glad for that Gospel Herald. I learned some things that will be helpful in next Sunday’s sermon.” Another . . . said, ‘‘I re-read it and memorized some so as to get all the good out of it.” Kind reader, these were old Gospel Heralds. Many appreciate our old church pa- pers and old Sunday-school materials. Dozens of colored children, and some adults, come out on the streets and ask for papers and cards (we are at this time well supplied with these) . . . . Recently a poor colored man living alone in a small shack, wishing to show his appreciation for tracts, gave us his last penny. — C. B. Byer, Tampa, Fla. A Letter to Sam Hoskins Dear Cousin Sam, Before I wash the breakfast dishes, I must tell you how much I enjoyed reading about your observations in the churches you visited last summer. I wanted to tell you before, how much 1 appreciate your letters in the Herald. I must admit (with no pride either) that I’m a typical Mennonite in that respect. We Mennonites don’t believe in a display of flowers at funerals, and too often we forget to send “bouquets” to the living. (At least I do!) I thought you might enjoy hearing about my trip to the Board of Education meeting last October. My neighbors decided to go, and knowing I was interested in our church schools, they insisted that I go with them. Well, I suppose you know how hard it is for you to get Cory to decide to leave home several days, i thought I would have to refuse, but my sister very kindly offered to move to our home to take charge. How I did enjoy that auto trip through the Pennsylvania mountains! I settled back in the car, forgot my home duties, and enjoyed the scenery. Memories of my own college and university days and the short period of teaching in a church school all crowded into my mind. By the time we reached our destination I was all set to enjoy the meeting; and I was not disappointed either. The theme of the program was “Forward with Christ in Our Education,” and I appreci- ated the challenging messages, as well as the work of the business sessions. It was very gratifying to observe how the educational pro- gram of our church has developed in the last twenty years. But I was secretly amused when I heard a number of brethren stressing the need for more church schools lest we lose our children. You know, Cousin Sam, that I never set my foot inside a church school until I had completed four years at college and a year at university. I think sometimes we forget there were some “pioneers” in higher education in our church who had to obtain their training else- where than in our church schools. Yes, we had church schools when I was college age ; but they were not qualified to grant degrees in all courses of study. I recall hearing a prominent bishop say that he was a Mennonite — not because he attended a church school, but he was a Mennon- ite in spite of the fact that he did not have that privilege. Now I am not criticizing their con- cern for more church schools on the elementary and secondary level. I’ll be glad my children have opportunities for a Christian education which I never had. But I do think we owe a certain debt of gratitude to those who saw the need for higher education in our church and were willing to attend non-Christian schools to meet that need. You recall, Cousin Sam, how folks in our congregation were sure I was headed straight for perdition when I went to a state- controlled school. Well, those were some of the things I was thinking about during the last session when the president of the Board gave the opportunity to anyone who wanted to give a testimony, or add anything to some idea that impressed them during the meeting. Again I was a typical Men- nonite ! Instead of saying what I’ve written you, I sat glued to my seat. You know I always was a bit shy, and I felt rather rusty after those years away from the educational problems of our church. My college psychology teacher would have called my attitude an “inferiority complex,” I suppose. Another thing that disturbed me was this. There were sectional meetings for college, ele- mentary, secondary, seminary, and nursing edu- cation; also a section for winter Bible schools. Being a woman, and interested in higher edu- cation for women, I chose to attend the nurs- ing education section. But all during that pro- gram an idea disturbed me again and again. If the nurses rate a special section to discuss their problems, why shouldn’t home economics education also have the opportunity of a special section devoted to a discussion of problems affecting the home? I always thought we Men- nonites considered the home an educational agency second to none. Then why shouldn’t it be represented at an Education Board meeting? I was glad to meet several of the home economics teachers from our church schools who were at- tending the sessions. I am sure the homemakers present would have enjoyed hearing them speak on phases of education of vital interest to both groups. You can imagine, Cousin Sam, how interesting such a session would have been to me ! I may have contributed a few ideas my- self to an open discussion. Being away from the classroom such a long time, I possibly would have felt a bit rusty, but with my six chil- dren I would have had at least six different j viewpoints on almost any subject concerning the home. You know, Amos said one time you would think each of our children had different parents. None of them react alike! Now, Cousin Sam, I don’t want to bore you with my opinions, but I was even more disturbed to find that nurses were the only women repre- j sented on the Board of Education. Well, I sum- moned enough courage to ask some folks why : they were the only ones. No one seemed to know exactly! Most of them thought the church assumed that men didn’t know enough about nursing education. But that didn’t make sense to me! There are doctors of medicine on the Board of Education. From my past experience on the faculty of a church school I think I’m safe in asserting that doctors of medicine know more about the content of nursing education and what is expected of a nurse in the practice of her profession, than doctors of philosophy know about the content of home economics education on secondary and college levels, or the wide areas in which home economists serve in teach- ing, extension service, dietetics, institutional management, research, child welfare, and in business as home economics directors for food, 1 textile, housing, and utility firms. (Continued on page 261) GOSPEL HERALD ESTABLISHED ISOS AS SUCCESSOR TO GOSPEL WITNESS (ISOS) AND HERALD OF TRUTH (18S4) PAUL ERB, EDITOR CATHERINE HERNLEY, EDITORIAL ASSISTANT J. D. GRABER, MISSIONS EDITOR JOHN L. HORST, MILLARD C. LIND, associate EDITORS THE GOSPEL HERALD IS A RELIGIOUS WEEKLY PUBLISHED IN THE INTERESTS OP THE MENNONITE CHURCH BY THE MENNONITE PUBLICATION BOARD, SCOT TD ALE, PA. ENTERED AS SECOND-CLASS MATTER IN 1908 AT THE POST OPP1CE AT SCOTTDALE, PA., UNDER ACT OF MARCH S, IB79. SUBSCRIPTION PRICE. SS.00 PER YEAR. THREE YEARS IN ADVANCE, SS.OO, FIVE YEARS IN ADVANCE, SIS.BO. SAMPLE COPIES SENT FREE ON REQUEST. SEND ALL MATERIAL FOR PUBLICATION TO GOSPEL HERALD, SCOTTDALE, PA. PRINTED IN U.S.A. March n, 1952 GOSPEL HERALD 243 EDITORIAL The Promised Sword The young mother Mary was told that a sword should pierce her soul. Hers was a greatly privileged position— to be the mother of the promised Messiah. But it was a privilege which had a price— a price of suffering and anguish. The promised sword entered her heart that day when in speechless sorrow she stood at the foot of the cross. And Jesus told His disciples that He came not to bring peace, but a sword. He went on to explain what He meant. Those who confess Him, He explains, will find themselves in conflict with their society, even in the closest of family re- lationships. Discipleship has its price— the pain of going against those whom we love the most if they are unwilling to follow Christ with us. There is certain conflict between the kingdom of Christ and the powers of this world. On a thousand fronts the battle is joined between righteousness and un- righteousness, between godliness and un- godliness, between spirituality and worldliness. The ethics of our Lord are unpalatable to men of this world; His ideals make no appeal. The course of Satan’s kingdom is directly counter to the laws which God has given. The Christian way is beset by many difficul- ties, by sore testings and trials, by bitter opposition, and sometimes by cruel per- secution. The Christian must expect his sword. He has announced his candidacy for it when he proclaims his allegiance to Christ. Confessing himself to be a fol- lower of Christ, he throws down his challenge to the world — a challenge which will surely be taken up in some form or other. We are not to expect a smooth course, an easy road. The Chris- tian hope, it has been pointed out re- cently by the great historian, Arnold J. Toynbee, “is not a hope for the elimina- tion of suffering in this world.” God has some better thing than that for us. He can turn the torture of a cross into a means of grace. He has promised, with the sword, His never-failing presence and His overcoming Spirit. Our hope is that the sword shall accomplish within us the purpose of God in our hearts and lives. Into our wounds He will pour the healing oil. This is what is involved in Christian soldiership. We do not flee the danger, the difficulty, the pain. We do not flinch under the attack. At His command we rush straight into the points of the spears. Ease and comfort and safety are not our chief desire. We want to be proved good soldiers. We did not enlist in order to lounge in some retreat. We want to face the enemy and be valiant in the defense of our spiritual cause. Be- cause the sword is His will for us, we even welcome its ministry in our hearts. The pain of its thrust is peace and joy. The Religion of Man The advance of scientific knowledge in the world, with the resultant destruc- tion of superstition and ignorant fears, has largely brought to an end the wor- ship of nature. Men see the natural world today, not as a god to be feared and worshiped, but as a set of forces which may be harnessed for their busi- ness and pleasure. Man is progressively the conqueror of nature; why should he worship his servant? The successor to the goddess of Nature is the god of Man himself. The golden calf of the modern Aaron is his own power and wisdom. Bowing at the shrine of his own accomplishment, modern man cries out, “These be thy gods, which have brought thee up out of dependency into sufficiency and self-respect.” From the time of the Renaissance, humanism, the religion of man, has grown until to- day it is the bold rival of the worship of the God who has revealed Himself in the Bible and in Christ His Son. The religion of Man takes two direc- tions currently. One is communism, which frankly renounces God, sets up a bold system of thought for collective mankind, and preaches this system with evangelistic fervor. Already the religion of communism, for it is a religion, has won the allegiance of multitudes. The other form is our western materialism which has made a god of prosperity and culture. Sometimes the materialist car- ries the name of Christian, but his real god is the success of private enterprise. Living in a luxurious house, chiefly con- cerned about his own physical comforts and pleasures, oftentimes giving to God only a bit of casual recognition, he is a worshiper at the shrine of man. True worshipers of God see in com- munism a deadly enemy of their faith. They must also see that materialism is as truly the religion of man as is com- munism. At the present juncture it is probably far more dangerous because we are not aware of its nature and its threat. The man-worshiping materialist, hav- ing renounced the true spirit of Chris- tianity and without a trust in the pro- tective care of God, is arming himself for a deadly struggle with the man-worship- ing communist. It is a futile and foolish strife, for at heart they have a common loyalty— to God-denying Man. Christians cannot take sides in the titanic struggle now in the making. They are not at home in either camp. They are striving to keep themselves clear from every taint of humanism. They fear both of its expressions: the com- munism on the other side of the iron and bamboo curtains, and the material- ism on this side. “Thou shalt have no other gods before me.” The Danger of Reactions One of the chief dangers in an extreme position on almost any question is the reaction which drives one to the opposite extreme. Sometimes it is the one who holds the position who reacts, flopping like a pendulum from one far side to the other. Sometimes it is another per- son who reacts. Our fanaticism in one direction drives him far away on the other side. One could warn parents in this con- nection that a very strict discipline may drive children in an opposite conduct when they get on their own. One could point out that puritanic primness is probably responsible for making many a libertine. But we would here counsel the reactor to be aware of the danger of pushing too far away from the thing he has come to dislike. Because William Miller in 1844, and many before and since, made the serious mistake of setting: the time of the Lord’s advent, some do not want to believe that He will ever come, an error that is just as bad and even worse. Because some people put their religion into the clothes they wear, others con- clude, that religion, has nothing: .whatst); 244 ever to do with costume, a position which is unscriptural and unreasonable. Because some Christian professors em- phasize creed at the expense of behavior, others forthwith stress conduct at the expense of creed. Because some hold to a social gospel which has not Christ, others turn to a Gospel of Christ which has no social concerns. People who were brought up by very strict standards express their rebellion by wrecking those standards, and their livesl Seeing one who is loud and self- assertive, some of us may be inclined to pull ourselves behind a curtain of tim- idity and self-repression. Hearing the foolish presumption of the eternal se- curity advocate, some are inclined to fear the doctrine of assurance of salva- tion. In reaction against the surplus or- ganization in many Christian circles, there are people who block the needed implementation of plans which would greatly enlarge our testimony as a church. There are people who will die outside of Christ because they were so disgusted by a group of hypocrites. Let us not shy away so far from the ditch on one side of the road that we fall into the one on the other side. Our reactions are likely to have more feeling in them than good sense. The antidote for an evil is not found in an opposite evil. The Calvary Hour Marches On By William G. Detweiler The Calvary Hour recently took an- other step forward. Now in its sixteenth year, it is released over twenty stations in the English language. In addition to this, the Calvary Hour also underwrites La Hora del Calvario, Spanish broad- casts by Bro. Lester Hershey in Puerto Rico. Bro. Hershey had the opportunity of broadcasting over a number of Latin- American stations but had not the finan- ces needed to do so. For this reason the Calvary Hour undertook to underwrite his programs a few years ago. Last summer Bro. Hershey tried to get on Radio International, Tangier, which is only twenty-three miles from Spain across the Mediterranean Sea. But he was given a flat, negative reply. How- ever, recently he was informed that that station was now willing to carry his Gos- pel broadcast. At once the Calvary Hour agreed to underwrite this extra expense, and thus to make possible that the Gos- pel could be carried into the entire coun- try of Spain by radio. As you may know, Spain is very largely Catholic. Spain’s Protestants are virtual- ly isolated from normal life. They may not mark their churches, publish re- GOSPEL HERALD ligious literature, or hold services in pri- vate. They have difficulty even to get married. But these Protestants and many others can be reached by radio. This is the one medium that can get beyond the seemingly unsurmountable barriers put up by bigoted, anti-God forces. In fact, Spain’s 28,000,000 population can best be reached with the message of salva- tion through Radio International in Tangier, for this station covers all of Spain. Other doors are open to the Calvary Hour. Some months ago a pastor in Idaho wrote to me requesting that we try to cover that state since there are whole counties there not touched by Protestant work. When we were in Idaho some time ago, we were told that while it is very difficult to induce the large Mormon population to attend Protestant services, they will nevertheless listen to Gospel radio programs. But because of the fi- nancial factor we have been unable to enter all the open doors. Our challenge comes through the mail. If you could read the mail and see the hunger and the needs of hearts and homes as expressed in the letters re- ceived, you too might see the challenge as never before. Over and over again our mail indicates that in many, many churches the Gospel is no longer being preached. People are hungry for the old- fashioned, blood-stained Gospel. If they cannot hear it in their churches, they can hear it, and many do hear it, over Gospel radio programs. At present the Calvary Hour is being released over the following stations: SCHEDULE OF BROADCASTS EACH SUNDAY KM PC (710) Los Angeles, Calif. 7 :00- 7 :30 a.m. WTRC (1340) Elkhart, Ind. 8:30- 9:00 a.m. WCFL (1000) Chicago, 111. 7:30- 8:00 a.m. WIRL (1290) Peoria. 111. 8:00- 8:30 a.m. KIOA (940) Des Moines, Iowa 8:00- 8:30 a.m. KXIC (800) Iowa City, Iowa 7:30- 8:00 a.m. KFBI (1070) Wichita, Kans. 8:30- 9:00 a.m. KFAB (1110) Omaha, Nebr. 8:00- 8:30 a.m. WWNY (790) Watertown, N.Y. 9:30-10:00 a.m. WHKC (610) Columbus, Ohio 7:30- 8:00 a.m. WKBN (570) Youngstown, Ohio 7 :30- 8 :00 a.m. WCHA (800) Chambersburg, Pa. 9 :00- 9 :30 a.m. WLAN (13901 Lancaster, Pa. 7:30- 8:00 a.m. WIBG (9901 Philadelphia, Pa. 7:30- 8:00 a.m. WSVA (550) Harrisonburg, Va. 7 :30- 8 :00 a.m. WRVA (1140) Richmond, Va 7:30- 8:00 a.m. KWTJ (1080) Portland, Ore. 1:00- 1:30 p.m. WWST (960) Wooster, Ohio 1 :00- 1 :30 p.m. WADC (1350) Akron, Ohio Saturday 6 :00- 6 :30 p.m. HCJB (9.9, 12.5, 15.1 S.W.) Quito. Ecuador Tuesday 10:30-11:00 p.m. About thirty dollars a month is pledged for Bro. Hershey’s program over Radio International, Tangier, Africa. If you would like to contribute to this work specifically, you may send your contribu- tion to the Calvary Hour, Orrville, Ohio, and state that you want it used for this purpose. Or, if you would like to see the Calvary Hour continued and ex- March n, 1952 \ | panded in the English language by the writer, we invite you to pray and to pay that this might be the case. Bro. Hershey also broadcasts over about nine other stations in Puerto Rico, Costa Rica, Panama, Haiti, and Nicara- gua. Pray for the Calvary Hour, in Spanish and in English. Address your mail— The Calvary Hour, Orrville, Ohio. What Is Wrong with the Scofield Bible? By Aaron M. Shank _ « I With the Scofield Bible and the Sco- field Bible course receiving more prom- | inence among us in recent years, the above question is being asked frequent- i ly. Repeatedly I have heard it stated to this effect: “We are continually hearing the Scofield Bible criticized but are not being told why.” Perhaps the day in which we live has been unparalleled in J history for diversified voices in ethics of religion, and, since the Bible tells us to J try the spirits, we feel justified, if not called upon, to examine the Scofield theology as held forth in the footnotes of the Bible bearing his name. The Scripture text of the Scofield Bi- J ble is the same as any other Authorized Version. The Bible contains an intro- J duction to each Book, book and chapter divisions, marginal references and read- ings, and frequently at the foot of the page his own notes endeavoring to en- ! lighten the reader and explain difficult passages of Scripture. Some of these foot- notes in particular are what we wish to call attention to at this time. We want I to examine these notes by comparing spiritual things with spiritual and let “what saith the scripture” be the answer. Let us begin with his note on the Ser- mon on the Mount. Matt. 5:2, note #2 he says, “. . . the Sermon on the Mount in its primary application gives neither the privilege nor the duty of the 1 Church.” He further states that “these are found in the epistles.” Here in this second assertion he perhaps unknowing- ly disproves the former statement, for, if the duty of the Christian is found in the Epistles, we must needs search the Epistles and see what they say about the early teachings of Jesus. Heb. 1:2: “God . . . hath in these last days spoken unto US [not some future people] by his Son.” Heb. 2:3: “How shall we [again not some future people] escape, if we nesrlect so great salvation; which AT THE FIRST beean to be spoken by the Lord.” Heb. 12:25: “Much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him [Tesus] that speaketh from heaven.” II Thess. 1:8, 9 states that Jesus Himself will take vengeance on them that obey not the Gospel. I Tim. 6:3, 4: "If any man . . . consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is ah- March n, 195 2 GOSPEL HERALD 245 cording to godliness . . . Please notice that here the Bible declares that those responsible for a condition of strife in the church are the ones who teach away the teachings of Jesus. Sometimes the blame is placed unfairly on those who hold that the teachings of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount are basic Chris- tian principles. In this Sermon we have the highest standard of holiness (doc- trine according to godliness) ever given to man. Then there is the all-inclusive “whosoever heareth . . . and doeth” Matt. 7:24-27, at the close of the Sermon, and the solemn responsibility of the Great Commission, “Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you.” If the “whosoever” promise of John 3:16 is all-inclusive, why should not the “whosoever” responsi- bility of Matt. 7:24-27 be just as all-in- clusive? The postponement theory which Sco- field teaches does not fit in with the promises and prophecies concerning the sufferings and death of the Messiah. Simeon in his prophecy seemed to know something of the suffering and death of the Saviour, and John mentioned Him as the Lamb to take away sin. It is true that Jesus told those who rejected Him that the kingdom would be taken from them and given to another people. But if the kingdom which Jesus gave to the Gentiles was not literal, how then dare we say that the kingdom taken from the Jews was literal? As a matter of fact this could not have been present church kingdom nor future literal king- dom apart from the accomplishment of Calvary which was planned before the foundation of the world. Next notice Jude 23, note #3. In his summary on the flesh he states that “The regenerate man . . . may according to his choice walk after the flesh.” Then on Matt. 25:1, note #2, he says, “Nor could our Lord say to any believer how- ever unspiritual, ‘I know you not.’ ” Thus he is teaching that unspiritual be- lievers can choose to walk after the flesh and be saved. While we believe that there are sincere weak members and baby Christians who have some degree of carnality to whom our gracious Lord will be a special Saviour, to choose to walk after the flesh is intentional dis- obedience to the will of Christ. Romans 8:1, 13 plainly state that when believers in Christ, who have no condemnation so long as they walk not after the flesh, turn again and choose to live after the flesh, they shall die. On note #1, I Cor. 9:37, he teaches that failure to keep the flesh in subjec- tion may result in loss of rewards though not of salvation. On I. Cor. 11:31, note # 1, concerning self-judg- ment he teaches that “If neglected . . . the result is chastisement but never condemnation.” A similar assertion is made on II Cor. 6:17, note #1. He says, “World conformity involves the loss of these (special blessings and rewards) Toward America — A Haven By Edna Hull Miller At Ellis Island the D.P.’s wait Facing America, their back to hate ; Their eyes still hold the hopeless fear Of cruel camps year after year; Dear God! You know their misery— Your Son was once a refugee! Oklahoma City, Okla. though not of salvation,” ignoring the fact that Scripture here lays down separation as a condition by which we may be received of the Father. Scrip- ture is very plain that if we fail to keep the flesh in subjection, mortify the deeds of the body, or, if we love this present evil world, we shall perish with the world. I John 2:15, 16, 17. John is writ- ing to saints when he says that if any man love the world the love of the Fa- ther is not in him, and that all that is of the world passeth away, but he that DOETH the will of God abideth for- ever. Scofield is continually trying to give all believers the assurance of the impos- sibility of their relationship with Christ ever being severed. Perhaps the boldest of these assertions is found in note #4, Rev. 22:19. “The life of God in the be- liever is an unsevered part of life . . . in Christ Jesus.” In other words, once in grace, always in grace. From I Tim. 5:12 we learn that it is possible to once have faith, and then cast it off and be damned. He here uses the vine and branches to prove his point but completely ignores the fact that the branches that are in Him that do not bear fruit are severed from Him and cast into the fire. Concerning election he teaches that it is certain to every believer by the “mere fact that he believes.” I Pet. 1:20, note #1. In this fractional gospel assertion he completely ignores such Scriptures as Heb. 5:9: “He became the author of eternal salvation to all them that obey him.” (Here the assurance of eternal security is to them that obey Him.) Also, in II Pet. 1:10 Peter lists diligent Chris- tian living and faithfulness as that which makes our election sure. See also Rev. 22:14. Concerning the New Covenant, he says it “is absolutely unconditional ... no responsibility is by it committed to man.” Heb. 8:8, note #2. This seems like a bold denial of the truth of Scrip- ture and altogether unreasonable. Under this logic all would be saved, for God is not willing that any should perish, and Christ atoned for the sins of the whole world. The New Covenant presents the greatest blessings with the highest de- gree of responsibility ever given to man, with the greatest penalty attached for unfaithfulness. Heb. 10:28, 29. He teaches further on Heb. 8:8, note #1, that the New Covenant is without “if’s” and its promises are better because they are unconditional. One wonders how any sincere Bible teacher can fail to note the catalogue of conditions and “if’s” of the New Covenant. In the very book of the New Testament that deals at length with the New Covenant are found some of the most binding “if’s” of the Bible. Heb. 3:6, 14. The word “unconditionally” is used again in his note on I Pet. 2:9. “In the dispensation of grace all believers are un- conditionally constituted a kingdom of priests.” Would not the word “uncon- ditional,” as he repeatedly uses it, bring his teaching under the awful verdict of Rev. 22:19? It should be stated that, along with handling the Word of God deceitfully or ignoring it altogether, there is some helptul material for the student of the Word. But the teaching as a whole is the type that will help people to feel at ease in doctrinal negligence, world con- formity, and revolting against church authority. It tends to turn the grace of God into lasciviousness leading to a re- ligious condition wherein people say, “Lord, Lord, and do not the thing which I say,” to be sentenced to perdition as workers of iniquity in the judgment day. Matt. 7:21-27. Other notes perhaps should be con- sidered, but let the loregoing examples suffice. May I make a closing appeal to the reader? Since the Scofield Bible is per- haps one of the most popular Bibles sold, since it is perhaps one of the most popu- lar Bibles used in our Lancaster Confer- ence, since one of the most effective ways of poisoning living creatures is to mix the poison with their food and drink, since the inspired Word says concerning those who consent not to the wholesome words of our Lord Jesus Christ— “From such turn away,” and since the Scofield theology comes under this censure of the Word, I appeal to all lovers of the full saving Gospel to discontinue the use of the Scofield Reference Bible as one of the means by which we may help to halt this eating canker of fractional gos- pel truth which is subverting, if not shipwrecking, souls.— Reprinted by re- quest from the Pastoral Messenger. SECRET OF BIBLE STUDY IN FIVE SENTENCES 1. Study it through. Never begin a day without mastering a verse. 2. Pray it in. Never leave your Bible until the passage you have studied is a part of your very being. 3. Put it down. The thought God gives you, put it in the margin of your Bible or your notebook. 4. Work it out. Live the truth you get through all the hours of the day. 5. Pass it out. Seek to tell somebody what you have learned.— J. Wilbur Chapman, in Christian Digest. 246 GOSPEL HERALD March n, 1952 A Prayer for This Week Almighty God, whose blessed Son had no place on earth to lay His head, we thank Thee with all our hearts that, hav- ing kept us from the tribulations which many of Thy children suffer, Thou hast permitted us to dwell peacefully in the land that we love. Open our hearts to the sorrows of the refugees, who, through the cruelty of men, and for the sake of that which they believed, have suffered the loss of those good things which we enjoy, and now live as aliens and outcasts, having noth- ing that they can call their own. Help us to remember that it is not for our merits, but only of Thy grace that we have been preserved. Inspire our nations to take courageous and generous action for the sake of the refugees. And make Thy church a place in which the homeless find a home, the hopeless recover hope, and the wounds of men are healed, through the love of Thy only Son, our Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen. —Dr. George K. A. Bell. Our Spanish Gospel Herald By L. S. Weber DO YOU KNOW . . . That we publish a monthly Gospel Herald in the Spanish language, called El Heraldo Evangelico? That most of the articles in our Span- ish monthly are of an evangelistic char- acter? That many of these papers are going regularly to the readers in Spain, Mexi- co, Argentina, Puerto Rico, and other countries on a missionary basis? That the missionaries and national workers in our Spanish missions should receive some free copies for free distribu- tion? That hundreds of additional copies should be sent if the publishers might count on your financial and prayer sup- port? WILL YOU HELP . . . By praying for the wisdom and guid- ance of the co-editors, Lewis S. Weber and Lester T. Hershey? By sending in names of persons who should receive the message of the Gospel in Spanish? By sending $1.25 to the Publishing House for one such subscription for a year? By subscribing at the rate of $1.00 each, for 5 or more subscriptions (at this rate up to 49) to the same address for one year? By subscribing at the rate of 80^ each for 50 or more to the same address for one year? By appealing to your local Sunday school, M.Y.F., or other organization to send an offering for the distribution of El Heraldo Evangelico ? By doing your part in the name of the Lord now? Scottdale, Pa. Laurel ville Church Music Conference August 25 to 29, 1952 Dear Mennonite Preachers: You are a busy set of men. Many of you serve with little or no material re- muneration; few receive adequate prayer support and commendation from your members. You have been divinely called to shepherd your respective congregation which is a small part of a sector of Christ’s kingdom on earth. You have a big, important place to fill in the life of the church; your personal convictions and devotion to Christ will largely de- termine the state of the church in years to come. Whether you realize it or not, music and preaching have a vital interdepend- ence upon each other. Sacred song has significantly entered into every produc- tive preaching movement according to history. You, too, can depend on the po- tential of good choral congregational singing to assist you in making your church a spiritual dynamo. By virtue of your calling, you are ideally situated to be the fountainhead for good church music. At least, you must be vitally interested in the musical program of your people. Kindly indulge me the right to ask a number of ques- tions. Are your song leaders exemplary Chris- tians? Are they qualified musicians? Is their work effectively causing the entire congregation to unite in the most active, engaging form of worship— congregation- al singing? Have you discussed with your song leaders ways and means of improv- ing the singing? Are you promoting a singing class, church music conference, congregational song rehearsal, or a hymn interpretation service? Are you familiar with your denominational Hymnal? Do you always sing as you should with your congregation? Is the singing in your church being abused in any way? Are you giving your people a fair share of the service time for worship in song? I would like to cordially invite you to attend the Church Music Conference at Laurelville, August 25 to 29. In case you cannot come, be sure to encourage your song ieaders or other members to do so; they can be of great help to you in more efficiently leading your people in wor- ship through hymnody. There is only Prayer Requests — Pray that foreign missionaries in prison in China on false charges may be de- j livered by God's power, and that God may give their families His keeping in heart and mind, and impart courage 1 and patience and unwavering faith. Pray that the curse of permanent mili- tarism may not come upon us through Universal Military Training. Pray for the Mission and the Church in ] India as they prepare to operate unit- : edly under a new constitution, begin- ning July 1. Pray for our young men of draft age, and their parents, that they may stand for Christian convictions on nonresist- ance, and be willing to make personal sacrifice in the interests of Christian witness. Pray for tent meetings being planned by our missionaries in Argentina. ; Pray for the recovery of the wife of a minister, the mother of two sons, who is in a tuberculosis hospital. A mother requests prayers that her daughter may not go through with a contemplated marriage. (Requests for this column must be signed .) j one sure way to keep choirs, organs, and pianos from entering our service; this way requires that we keep our congrega- li tional music strong, beautiful, and spirit- , ual. May we count on you to contribute to this end? May the Lord bless your ministration, j Sincerely, J. Mark Stauffer, Director. A UNIVERSAL TONGUE There is a moral omnipotence in holi- ness. Argument may be resisted; per- suasion and entreaty may be scorned. The thrilling appeals and monitions of the pulpit, set forth with all vigor and logic and all the glow of eloquence, may be evaded or disregarded. The exhi- bition of exalted piety has a might which nothing can withstand. It is truth em- bodied. It is the Gospel burning in the hearts, beaming from the eyes, breath- ing from the lips and preaching in the lives of its votaries. No sophistry can elude it, no conscience can ward it off. No bosom wears a mail that can brave the energy of its attack. It speaks in all languages, in all climes, and to all phases of our nature. It is universal— invincible. Clad in immortal panoply, it goes on from victory to victory.— Anon. March n, 1952 GOSPEL HERALD 247 Wanted: Full-time Christians By Stanley C. Shenk. There are an unlimited number of special openings just now in the king- dom for men who mean business with God. No previous experience is neces- sary. The Head of the organization guarantees each applicant a period of thorough training in order that he may come to apply 111 life the ideals of the Founder. further information: This work is sacrificial in nature, it will re- quire a personal purity, a transformation of the mind, and a willingness to serve in any capacity to which you may be called. Many of our men have labored “beyond their power.” It is a part of the spirit of this organization to regard not one’s own life. No references neces- sary. All are welcome. Wages: "An hun- dredfold” of personal satistaction, “with persecutions”; “and in the world to come eternal life.” Apply at the nearest prayer meeting, secret chamber, or Christ-hon- oring church. Act nowl This offer may be withdrawn “in the twinkling of an eye.” The Owner has in mind a sudden, final dissolution of all things.— Herald Youth Bible Studies. “WHAT SHALL IT PROFIT?” “What shall it profit a man?” If this world were gold, or a sparkling diamond, or a million times more than that, and if a man could gain it and enjoy it for a season, it would not exceed in value the preciousness of the soul; nay, it would not in any proportion equal it. All earthly pursuits and possessions satiate, and so in time would this imagin- ary golden or diamond mass. Remember that nothing material can meet the de- mands of an immortal spirit. See the value of the soul in its nature. It is immaterial, immortal, and capable of enjoying or suffering inconceivable happiness or woe; also, it has capability of making perpetual progress in knowl- edge and happiness. Behold the Saviour’s agony. His tragic death and His glorious resurrection, as- cension, and intercessory and regal office; behold the vast provision He has made for the happiness of the soul forever and ever, and then ask, “What shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” Deliverance from the everlasting burn- ings; promotion to the ambrosial sweets of heaven— weigh the soul with thesel In the temple of glory, fast by the throne of God, the redeemed spirits say, “I am happy, perfectly happy, and shall be so foreverl” O agesl O millions of ages! O duration, the longest that can be imagined by an intelligence composed (if we may so speak) of all intelligences, how short must ye appear to a soul thus saved and glorified I— John Wesley. Reprinted from The Burning Bush. REPORT TO THE MENNONITE CHURCH of Publishing House Operations for 1951 A more complete report has been giv- en to the Publication Board in its an- nual meeting at Wayland, Iowa, Feb- ruary 20, 21. A limited number of copies of the more complete report are avail- able and will be sent upon request as long as the supply lasts. Lnder the blessings of the Lord, the co-operation of the brotherhood, and the iamuui labors of about 150 workers, the past year has been another reasonably successful one in the church’s publish- ing program. We shall examine a few items in the accompanying treasurer’s report which reflects the finances of the year's operations. For tne first time our annual sales passed the million dollar mark, being $1,075,610.00. This is $263,252.00 more than the fast twelve-month period. Our assets of $1,283,000.00 appear to be con- servatively appraised. Inventories are the largest single items, being more than 40% ot the total. Real estate is next, being about 33% of the total assets. Both the real estate and the outfit and equip- ment items are worth considerably more at current appraisals than is shown on our books. I fie accounts receivable are of good quality. Our liabilities consist largely of in- debtedness on the new building and operations of the business, together with annuities and life subscriptions. We are grateful for the substantial gain in operations. It may appear more than necessary, but since this is our only means of providing additional capital for expansion and to meet inflation, and since we hope by this means to liquidate building indebtedness, similar gains are necessary, unless the church wishes to provide additional capital by some other means. The donations by the House of $32,000.00 are the highest in the history of the House. We are now publishing nineteen week- ly, monthly, and quarterly publications. Some have shown an increase in circula- tion; however, there is need of more ef- fort being given to increasing the cir- culation of all of our publications, both within and beyond our regular constitu- ency. El Heraldo, our Spanish publication, is now being published entirely by the House. This is one of our heavier sub- sidized projects. A little more than three thousand dollars was put into it above the receipts last year. The Revised Herald Uniform Sunday School Series is being well received with- in and beyond our own denominational circles. Kindergarten I of the preschool Sunday-school series is also serving quite acceptably. We regret that Nursery and Kindergarten II of this series is not yet available. All our summer Bible school materials are now in use. The circulation is now up to about 130,000 pupil’s workbooks annually. Substantial quantities are be- ing reprinted each year. Minor revisions are being made to further improve the quality. Plans are going forward for helping to supply the foreign literature need. In addition to El Heraldo, our Spanish monthly publications, we are translating the summer Bible school manuals into the Spanish language. Several grades are already completed and in use. Transla- tion work on the others is going forward. We are also planning to assist in supply- ing Christian educational materials for several European countries. All this pro- vides the additional opportunity for further subsidies or donations. The volume of printing handled by our Production Division continues to grow substantially. With increased de- mands for our own literature, we are do- ing practically no commercial printing excepting for our own church. Even then, we are having some printing done elsewhere. This is especially true ot some of our summer Bible school materials which are run in large quantities on web-fed offset presses which are better adapted to this type of work than our own equipment. There has been some major investment in equipment in the postwar period, but not in the past year. Additional investments are necessary if we are to keep our plant up-to-date and well adapted for our requirements. Our sales continue to be handled in three major areas: (1) the six retail stores located at Scottdale, New Holland, Lancaster, Souderton, Goshen, and Kitchener, (2) retail mail order with ap- proximately 30,000 catalogs put out each year, and (3) trade or wholesale. In this latter we fiave approximately sixty ac- counts; that is, stores and agents that handle our publications. In addition to this, the Sales Division includes the ad- vertising office and the Book Review Service. With an increasing number of our own publications suitable for cir- culation beyond our denomination, there is a growing demand for a more carefully organized sales division. For the first time, the more than thirty peo- ple in our sales division at Scottdale and all our retail stores will be holding a sales conference lor two days this spring. Our Tract Department continues to expand in its scope of service. More than 4,uU0,U00 tracts have been distributed during the past year. . The circulation of The Way has reached almost a quar- ter of a million monthly. Tracts and Way together constitute our main out- reach to the unsaved. Testimonies of folks finding Christ through this minis- try continue to come in. Services for and by House workers are carried for- March n, 1952 248 GOSPEL HERALD ward in various forms. There are a number of committees chosen by the workers to serve in the areas of social and spiritual life, mutual aid, and otherwise. The Training-in-Service Committee con- tinues to study ways and means of offer- ing courses or providing schooling for workers interested in further training. A Writers’ Conference was sponsored by the House during 1951. This was held at Laurelville Mennonite Camp and at- tended by about fifty writers. Early in 1951 a cafeteria was installed for the benefit of House workers. With the re- vised Social Security laws of 1950, the Publishing House availed itself of these provisions for the workers, beginning January, 1951. Members of the Publishing House staff have always served the church locally as well as in the district conference and the church at large. At present fourteen staff members are serving sixty-three various church agencies on a marginal time ba- sis. This includes committees, boards, and other avenues of service. During 1951 eight new books and booklets were published. This is the largest number of new titles published in any one year. There are quite a num- ber of additional manuscripts in various stages of preparation. There is a grow- ing need for more and better Gospel lit- erature in every area of our church’s work and service. There is a constant need for the church to invest heavily of her prayers, workers, and finance in this great work. Your support in days past is appreciated. We crave the same for ! the future. Yours for a greater literature ministry, J A. J. Metzler, Publishing Agent. Annual Report of MENNONITE PUBLICATION BOARD MENNONITE PUBLISHING HOUSE BRANCH BOOK STORES CONSOLIDATED EARNINGS REPORT January 1 to December 31, 1951 House Stores Board Total SALES INCOME $751,269.28 $324,340.73 $1,075,610.01 Cost of Goods Sold 537,883.93 215,531.94 ($20,304.39)* 733,111.48 Freight, Express, Parcel Post Administrative and Editorial Expense Selling Expense Provision for Depreciation 27,157.93 54,798.50 54,166.54 13,794.64 1,620.38 63,988.35 789.36 (1,052.40) (6,000.00) f 13,152.20 28,778.31 55,850.90 112,154.89 27,736.20 687,801.54 281,930.03 (12,099.79) 957,631.78 Earnings from Operation 63,467.74 42,410.70 12,099.79 117,978.23 OTHER INCOME Donations Received 2,026.09 2,026.09 Interest Earned 2,053.27 27.54 2,080.81 Rent 11,587.18 11,587.18 Advertising 3,257.29 3,257.29 Misc. Income 370.58 370.58 Cafeteria Sales 7,224.83 7,224.83 Subscription Income 802.84 802.84 24,493.15 830.38 2,026.09 27,3 49.62 OTHER DEDUCTIONS Donations — Free Lit. 32,135.98 410.15 32,546.13 Interest Paid 3,903.19 7,911.12 11,814.31 Apartment Expense 1,558.79 1,558.79 Cafeteria Expense 7,768.90 7,768.90 Pension 287.50 287.50 Loss on Sale of Real Estate 750.00 750.00 Worthless Accounts 376.32 376.32 Total Other Deductions 46,780.68 410.15 7,911.12 55,101.95 Net Earnings 41,180.21 42,830.93 6,214.76 90,225.90 * Rent charged to House Operating Costs by Publication Board f Rent charged to Book Department as selling expense CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL REPORT December 31, 1951 ASSETS House Stores Board Current Assets Cash on Hand and Deposit 18,996.94 44,899.49 5,953.65 Accounts Receivable 57,064.20 14,017.36 Inventory 345,571.57 162,979.11 Total 69,850.08 71,081.56 508,550.68 Total Current Assets 421,632.71 221,895.96 5,953.65 649,482.32 Fixed Assets Outfit and Equipment 129,934.63 7,762.94 137,697.57 Land and Buildings 463.00 426,754.31 427,217.31 Other Assets Mortgage Receivable U.S. Savings Bonds 9,000.00 Workers’ Properties 38,577.18 Historical and Workers’ Library 5,664.26 Negatives 1,659.00 Advance to Menn. Encyclopedia 12,020.57 900.06 825.00 825.00 9,90006 38,577.18 5,664.26 1,659.00 12,020.57 Total Other Assets 66,921.01 900.06 825.00 68,646.07 Total Assets 618,951.35 230,558.96 433,532.96 .1,283,043.27 LIABILITIES Current Liabilities Accounts Payable Notes Payable Pay Roll Tax Payable Adv. Deposit for Writers 1,898.10 86,691.16 4,496.25 150.00 10,756.33 5,000.00 91,191.6 7 12,654.43 182,882.83 4,496.25 150.00 Total Current Liabilities 93,235.51 15,756.33 91,191.67 200,183.51 Other Liabilities Savings and Retirement Mutual Aid Trust Account — J. N. Durr Mortgage Payable 13,687.46 984.80 200.00 9,500.00 2,654.73 12,000.00 16,342.19 984.80 200.00 21,500.00 Total Other Liabilities 24,372.26 2,654.73 12,000.00 39,026.99 Annuities Cash Annuities Periodical Annuities 43.450.00 32.910.00 43.450.00 32.910.00 Total Annuities 76,360.00 76,360.00 Net Worth 501,343.58 212,147.90 253,981.29 967,472.77 Total Net Worth and Liabilities 618,951.35 230,558.96 433,532.96 1,283,043 .27 M. B. Wyse, Treasurer. AUDITORS’ REPORT February 8, 1952 Mennonite Publication Board: We have examined the consolidated Balance Sheet of the Men- nonite Publication Board and the Mennonite Publishing House as of December 31st, 1951, and the related statement of Earnings for the year then ended. The improved presentation of the Balance Sheet is commendable and we recommend a further study be made with a view of having future Earning Reports conform more closely to general accepted practice. Attention is drawn to the fact that existing fire insurance coverage on the fixed assets and inventory is less than 20% of the book value. The statements submitted appear to be in accord with the neatly kept records. 564,914.88 Total Fixed Assets 130,397.63 7,762.94 426,754.31 Norman R. Wenger Edgar Honsaker M. R. Good March 11, 1952 GOSPEL HERALD 249 OUR SCHOOLS HESSTON COLLEGE The Elementary Education Club met Feb- ruary 20 in Charles Hall to see the pottery and ceramics demonstration given by Miss Lena Waltner, instructor in art at Bethel College. The next meeting to be held in March will also be in Charles Hall. A film, “Metals of Nevada,” will be shown. The demonstration is to show how films can be used to supplement the teaching of geog- raphy. Bro. Josef I. Herschkowitz, Harrisonburg, Virginia, a converted Jew, spoke to the stu- dents in Chapel Monday morning, February 25. He has an interesting story and testi- mony. His story of experiences in a German concentration camp during the Second World War was given at the Pennsylvania Church on Monday evening. Bro. Roy D. Roth, president elect, delivered a sermon on “Faithful Stewardship” Sunday morning, February 24, using the parable of the pounds as his text. Following the sermon Bro. Ivan R. Lind, instructor in Bible, pre- sented a plan for increasing the church build- ing fund. The ushers passed the offering plates — this time full of five- and ten-dollar bills. Students and members of the congre- gation took out what each felt he could invest. Sixteen hundred dollars was given out in this manner. The investment is due to re- turn next October. The sermon message on the parable was taken seriously. There are many faithful stewards. The Business Office remodeling is now completed. Three partitions were put in, making the former one room into three. Each partition is four feet high with a two foot glass on top. The business manager, accountant, and secretary now each have a private office. Bro. Ivan R. Lind attended a meeting of the General Conference Study Committee held in Wayland, Iowa, Feb. 22. Feb. 28 and 29 he served on the program of the Iowa- Nebraska Ministers’ Conference. His subject was “Expositions on Amos.” Registrar Gladys Winn announced on F'eb. 2 her engagement to Jack Swartzendruber of Hydro, Okla. The anti-alcohol orations were given Fri- day morning, Feb. 22, in chapel. Those par- ticipating were Willard Roth, Wayland, Iowa, MaDonna Kauffman, Hannibal, Mo., and John King, West Liberty, Ohio. The judges named MaDonna Kauffman as first- place winner. Miss Kauffman will give her oration at the State Anti-Alcohol Oration Contest which will be held in March. The contest is sponsored by the Christian Wom- en’s Temperance Union. A committee of twenty men representing the North Central Accreditation Association will visit the campus March 7. The admin- istration of Hesston College is making appli- cation for membership in the N.C.A. Only the high school department is being consid- ered at this time. The faculty has nearly completed the evaluation study and will pre- sent it to the committee on March 7. EASTERN MENNONITE COLLEGE Enthusiasm ran high as the students, facul- ty, and employees gathered in the chapel on Jan. 2: this was the morning to bring in the returns from the Christmas work project. A tabulation of the returns from this project indicates that $4,955.16 was received as earn- ings, $7,518.36 was contributed by friends, and $456.00 was allowed by the college for refund on meals missed by students in the dining hall, making a total of $12,929.52. This sum was placed in the Women’s Dormi- tory Building Fund and is being used toward finishing the first floor of that building. The annual Short Story Contest was held on the evening of Feb. 1. The four stories on some phase of the doctrine of nonresist- ance served well to stimulate interest in and strengthen conviction for this great doctrine. Alice Weber and Miriam Weaver received duplicate first prizes in this contest. The doctrine of nonresistance was given further attention during the following week — designated as Nonresistance Week. The chapel discussions, assembly program, Friday Morning Devotion program, and Prayer Cir- cles were all devoted to some phase of the doctrine. Bro. Paul Erb, Special Bible Term instruc- tor, delivered the second semester address during the Assembly period on Jan. 30. “I am debtor” was the theme of his challenging message. Visiting chapel speakers in recent weeks included Benjamin Shantz of Preston, Ont., and Milton Brackbill, Paoli, Pa. Special Bible Term opened on Jan. 29 with Bro. J. L. Stauffer serving as director. Paul Erb, Elmer Kolb, and Truman H. Brunk are serving as special instructors for this course. The enrollment stands at 120, with 12 of this number being registered for the special Ministers’ Course. Students and friends of the college were privileged to get a glimpse of life in other countries in recent weeks through several slide lectures. Ruth Zimmerman, relief work- er in Ethiopia, lectured on Jan. 14. On Wednesday of the same week Elizabeth Hos- tetter, who had been a member of the Eu- ropean Student Tour last summer, showed us some of the high points of Europe in her lecture to the high-school group. James Shank, missionary on furlough from Tanganyika lectured on the evening of Feb. 15. John R. Mumaw, President of the college, served on the Ministers’ Week and Christian Life Conference programs at Goshen College during the week of Feb. 4, and on the an- nual Bible Conference at Messiah College, Grantham, Pa., on Feb. 13-15. The annual midyear Missionary Confer- ence, held Feb. 2 and 3, had for its theme, “The Spanish at Our Door.” The visiting speaker for this program was Raymond Charles of Lancaster, Pa. The midyear revival meetings opened on Sunday morning, Feb. 17, with Roy Koch of St. Jacobs, Ont., as evangelist. Students and faculty are experiencing rich spiritual bless- ings as a result of the outpouring of the Spirit among us. On Sunday afternoon, Feb. 10, Norman H. Derstine, Dean of College Men, was ordained to the ministry at the Trissels Church, near Broadway, where he will serve as associate pastor. The annual Ministers’ Week will be held on the campus on March 3-6, with the Chris- tian Life Conference following on March 8 and 9. Feb. 21, 1952. Lester C. Shank. Calendar Southwestern Pennsylvania Conference. Ministers' Meeting, Martinsburg, Pa.. March 21, 22. Special session Indiana-Michigan Conference at MoorepaTk, Mich, on March 25, 1952. Conference on Christian Community Relations. Tis- kllwa. 111., March 27-29 General Council of Mennonlte General Conference, including invitational Prophecy Conference. Elk- hart, Ind., April 2-5. Lay Evangelism Conference. Goshen College, Go- shen. Ind., April 5-7 Illinois Mennonite Mission Board Annual Meeting, Roanoke, 111., April 16-17. Ohio Mennonite Mission Board Annual Meeting, Oak Grove Church, West Liberty, Ohio, April 25-27. Pacific Coast Conference. Western Mennonite School. Salem, Oreg., June 3-6. Fifth Annual World-wide Missionary Conference, East Chestnut Street Church, Lancaster, Pa., June 4-8. Mennonite Youth Fellowship Workshop, Iowa Men- nonite School, Kalona, Iowa. June 9-12 Mennonite Youth Fellowship Annual Meeting. Lower Deer Creek Church, Kalona. Iowa, June 13, 14 Mennonite Boara of Missions and Charities, Annual Meeting, Lower Deer Creek Church, Kalona, Iowa. June 14-17 Little Eden Camp, Onekama, Mich. Bible Conference, June 21-27 First Family Week, June 23-July 4 Senior High Week, July 5-11 Junior High Week, July 12-18 Boys and Girls Week, July 19-25 Young Adult Week, July 26-Aug. 1 Music Week, Aug. 2-8 Christian Business Mens' Week, Aug. 9-15 Farmers Week, Aug. 16-22 Second Family Week, Aug. 23-29 Rocky Ml. Mennonite Camp, Divide, Colo. Pre-camping Training Camp, June 23-27 Junior Boys Camp (ages 9-12), July 7-12 Junior Girls Camp (ages 9-12), July 14-19 Senior Girls Camp (ages 13-16), July 21-26 Senior Boys Camp (ages 13-16), July 28-Aug. 2 Family Week, Aug. 4-9 Youth Retreat, Aug. 18-23 Work Week, Aug. 25-30 Laurelville Mennonite Camp, Mt. Pleasant, Pa. Boys' Camp (ages 9-12), June 28 to July 4 Girls' Camp (ages 9-12), July 5-11 Junior High Camp (boys and girls, ages 13-15), July 12-18 Missionary Bible Conference, July 19-25 First Family Week, July 26 to Aug. 1 First Young People's Institute, Aug. 2-8 Second Young People's Institute, Aug. 9-15 Second Family Week, Aug. 16-22 Victorious Life Conference, Aug. 23-24 Music Week, Aug. 25-29 Southwestern Pennsylvania Conference, Springs, Pa. July 20-23 Virginia Conference and associated meetings, Trissels Church, Broadway, Va., July 21-24. Chesley Lake Camp, Allenford, Ont. Boys' Camp, Aug. 9-16 Girls' Camp, Aug. 16-23 Young People's Camp, Aug. 23-30 Ohio Mennonite Christian Workers' Conference, Mar- tins Church, Orrville, Ohio, Aug. 12-14. South Central Conference Annual Meeting, Hutchin- son, Kans., Aug. 12-15. Iowa-Nebr. Conference, Bethel Church, Wayland. Iowa, Aug. 13-15. Illinois Mennonite Conference, Flanagan, 111,, Aug. 19-21 Annual meeting of the Mennonite Publication Board, Scottdale, Pa., Feb. 18-19, 1953. Mennonite General Conference, Place Undecided Aug. 2640. I9S9 GOSPEL HERALD 250 FAMILY CIRCLE A Small Child’s Prayer By Opal Brammann Dear Father, though I am so small, I know you love me, too. Help me be kind to all I meet To show my love for you. Amen. Park Rapids, Minn. Increasing in Social Stature By Esther Eby Glass “Maybe your father didn’t have much money, but he had many friends who loved him,” someone said to me one day in tribute to my father who had recently passed on. Turning this over in my mijrid, my thoughts traveled back over the years. Perhaps the most significant training in social nurture we had as chil- dren was the everyday atmosphere of our home where guests of all ages were al- ways welcome. Our parents liked peo- ple! As proof of the oft-turned phrase, “more is caught, than taught,” children growing up in homes where Christian hospitality is practiced are likely to as- similate this grace. However, the art of living with people, sharing with people, liking people, is not an overnight growth. Little Susie likes to say “my doll, my mother, my candy.” She isn’t anxious to share her property with others. When a teacher stated that she could easily pick out the only children in her classes, we mothers of small families felt a bit disheartened. But there was the sting of truth in her statement. The normal give-and-take of family life is unequaled as a practical workshop in sharing. We long for per- fect homes where Junior never teases Sister or breaks her doll by accident, and Sister never loses patience with Junior’s manners or lack of them. And imperfect creatures that we parents are, our dis- cipline is not always just. But this is the ground in which children must grow to be prepared for adult life with its accidents and disappointments. The peo- ple with whom we live and work are not always fair or just. Even our best friends often misunderstand our actions and misconstrue our words. To teach our children to love others and to share with them, yet to respect their property and privacy, is the fearful but challenging responsibility of par- ents. The specific circumstances under which these lessons are learned vary with each family. When I was a schoolgirl, a kind-hearted older sister lent me her best coat to wear on a special occasion. Soon afterward, without asking her permis- sion, I wore the coat to school on an ordinary school day. The day wasn’t exactly an ordinary school day, not only because I was caught in a shower of rain wearing the coat, but because I learned a valuable lesson that stays with me yet. That coat rises before me when I am tempted to impose upon the generosity of others. If there were only some rule, we often sigh, that worked for all children. But even we mothers of two encounter two entirely different sets of problems; moth- ers of ten multiply the number. Sunny little Mae draws friends without effort. Shy Tommy retires and looks on. Bois- terous Benny pushes other children around. Sally sulks if she is not the cen- ter of attraction. What can one set of parents apply to all these personalities that will help them to grow up to ma- ture social stature? We’ve known adults who still retired into corners, or pushed other people around, or sulked if they weren’t the stars of the show. We don’t want this for our children. Maybe there isn’t one rule for all chil- dren, but the person who likened under- standing to the one powder for all ills came near to the solution. Let’s try to understand the cause of our child’s be- havior before we use corrective methods. We can’t keep Tommy from being shy by scolding, and calling attention to his fault. Worse still is constantly pushing him before strangers, or trying to get him to recite his little pieces. But we can teach him to like people, and help him to trust them. We can speak with pleasure of coming guests, and give Tom- my some special part in preparing for them. Then, when the guests arrive, al- low him to become naturally drawn to them, without calling undue attention to the child. Energetic Benny needs to have his en- ergy harnessed to useful occupations. Working with Father and older brothers, and learning teamwork by playing with other children under good supervision, are necessary discipline for Benny. He will learn in time that there’s more satis- faction in working with others than in pushing them around. Pages have been written about the child who constantly wants to be the center of attraction. No short article could begin to discuss the many causes. But often, in an ordinary household, some event such as the arrival of a new baby, or the prolonged illness of some member of the family, makes a child feel neglected. Mother becomes a harassed, busy person, always in a hurry, who says, “Yes, dear,” without actually listening to what the child is saying, or “Be quiet. Sh-sh-.” Sally, deprived of the attention she has always enjoyed, may try unpleas- March u, 1952 ant behavior to regain attention. She may resent the new baby or sick sister that she feels has robbed her of her mother. We who have gone through such experiences know the much pa- tience required to help a child back to a feeling of security and to improved behavior, when the emergency is past. It challenges one to make a desperate effort to arrange the household schedule, in spite of added strain, to allow each child some special attention. Taking time to talk over the circumstances with the children, and giving each some small responsibility connected with it will help maintain the “together feeling.” It will be “our baby” or “our patient” then. And to relax just for a few minutes to enjoy the older children or the well chil- dren pays dividends. No one is born with good table man- ners, or the ability to meet strangers with ease, or the knowledge of the correct thing to say at all times. These things are learned, and learned much more easily if children can see concrete exam- ples of the lesson they are being taught. A line I come across over and over in women’s magazines is this: “The hardest thing for the children of today, is to learn the good manners they never see!” And a wise schoolteacher adds: “We can augment good home training, but we can not substitute for it.” Granted that one may have a kind heart and poor manners, or a veneer of politeness over a sinful heart. But we save our children a world of embarrassment in later life when we equip them early with accept- able rules of social conduct, which are after all based on consideration for others. It is well for us to remember that not all children will develop alike. Some will be happy with a few congenial ; friends; others will have many. My own 1 parents never discouraged us from hav- ing special chums, but they made it a 1 point to see that we had a variety of E other friends as well. When snobbish- ness or discrimination in their dealings^ with other children shows up in our chil- dren, it is a good practice to turn the searchlight on our own social attitudes. Children who have seen rich and poor and people of other races and national- ities entertained in their homes as a mat- ter of course, will likely feel kindly to- ward all people. The cliques, all too common among the young folks of our I churches, are an indictment on the social habits of our homes. A child’s social life isn’t altogether concerned with other children; it in- cludes adults as well, parents, relatives, neighbors, teachers, ministers. Many children have firm friends among older people, who enrich their small lives: Re- spect for their elders is an indispensable ingredient in a child’s well-balanced social diet. Other adults could often help parents in this. The expansive unde who tosses the children to the (Continued on page 261) March n, 1952 GOSPEL HERALD 251 TO BE NEAR TO GOD THEME: “REJOICE EVERMORE” Sunday, March 16 "Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full' (John 16:24). Christ saw clearly His disciples. He knew how slow they had been to take of the riches He had put before them; He knew of their satisfaction with little when they could have had much. That word “nothing” must have shocked them as it would us if Jesus spoke it to us. Maybe there were some who thought they had asked much; maybe they even thought they had advanced to a “full joy.” How mistaken ! “Don’t be satisfied with lit- tle,” He is saying across the centuries. “Ask — ask — ask! And you will receive; then will your joy be full.” Dear God, you know the small timorous hearts of us. Help us to be expansive and free: to ask — to receive — to rejoice ! Monday, March 17 "Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O Lord God of hosts" (Jer. 15:16). Sometimes we fall on the Word of God as a last refuge in time of grave doubt or trouble. Again we approach it with near in- difference, willing to accept what we may learn there but not expecting anything great. Not so Jeremiah ! What zest and spirit in those words, “Thy words were found, and I did eat them.” And the result, “And thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart.” No heaviness or lethargy here. Then the lovely ending, “For I am called by thy name.” Is there any better reason for re- joicing in the Word? For the Word is a let- ter from the Father, wonderful to receive, life to read and follow, for His children. Re- joice in it! Tuesday, March 18 "Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them” (Acts 8:5). "And there was great joy in that city" (Acts 8:8). Why did Philip preach Christ? Because he loved Him. Why did people of Samaria stop their various busy hurrying ways to hear Philip? Because either they loved Christ or wanted to. And afterwards? Great joy in that city, in Philip, in the people who had heard of Jesus. Have you ever lived in or driven through a village or city where the Word of God was not preached? How joy- less the fertile fields and busy factories! Where He is preached let us be found for the increase and the fulfillment of our joy. Wednesday, March 19 "And they departed from the presence of the coun- cil, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name" (Acts 5:41). Nothing delicate or weak about the dis- ciples! Beaten and persecuted they could go forth rejoicing, knowing that only by glory- ing in that persecution for Christ’s sake could God recognize them as His own. Sometimes His children complain against Him when the trying, testing times come. “Why should this happen to me?” Don’t we accept His “Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteous- ness’ sake”? Christ glorified the Father through persecution; Christ and persecution can never be separated. Are we rejoicing that we are worthy to be a part of that pattern? Thursday, March 20 "Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation" (Hab. 3:18). Habakkuk thought of all the things that could happen to his possessions — no blossoms on the fig tree, no fruit on the vines, no yield from the field, flocks cut off from the fold, and no cattle left in the stalls. But in spite of it he says, “I will rejoice in the Lord.” How much rejoicing in the Lord followed the flood waters of 1951, the blights, storms, and droughts that struck various communities? The disasters of fire and accident to the pos- sessions of single individuals? — right down to the prized dish that was broken, the spot on the rug that defies removal? They dare not cast down the soul and they will not those of pilgrims and travelers to the city to which no one can take possessions nor will ever want to since the Father is there. Even though (here I put my personal loss- es) I will rejoice in the Lord, knowing “that ... in heaven a better and an enduring sub- stance” is waiting. Friday, March 21 "And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word" (Matt. 28:8). They had Jesus’ word for it that He would rise again, but between His assurance of that and this day when two Marys found the emp- ty tomb there had been the dark day of cru- cifixion and weeping and sorrow afterwards for His death. No wonder if doubts concern- ing His promises came to their minds! But sight of the empty tomb was enough. He had risen! Bright spring days bring life to earth again. What has seemingly been dead is about to be born again — the bare soil, the skeleton trees. The days march toward the Easter season, and caught in the spirit of new life we cannot help rejoicing as never before, that Jesus who died is alive forevermore. Saturday, March 22 "Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy pres- ence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore" (Ps. 16:11). God guides the feet on paths in the crowd- ed city, in the silent mountains, in the lands where there are literally only paths, no roads. For some it is a short journey; others are long on the road. Someone called it “a triumphal march to the Father.” Only those who are guided by the Father know that winding through danger or by the quiet waters, it is a joy. Today I will pleasure in that joy, praise God for it, and travel on by His grace. — Helen Alderfer. LYDIA, WHO OPENED HEART AND HOME Sunday School Lesson for March 23 (Acts 16:6-40) We thank God for the exalted place He has given to woman. So many peoples con- sider women as far inferior to men. Pity the many who live as virtual slaves. Indeed, womanhood is not too much respected in our own country today. This must be true, since moral laxness is almost the rule rather than the exception. Let the pupils prove from the Word that Christ appreciated the women and that they could believe to salvation. The Apostle Paul appreciated womanhood. According to the last chapter of Romans there were many Christian women who helped in Paul’s preaching at Rome. Paul saw a man calling him to Macedonia; yet when he went we find the first believer won was a woman, Lydia of Thyatira (Asia). Was this woman worth while? Had not the Spirit led him to this meeting of women? Although there were not many Jews in Philippi, yet there was a large colony in Thyatira. For some reason Lydia had for- saken the heathen worship and turned to worship God. This is all the more singular because she was a wealthy businesswoman, a widow, no doubt. Paul did not despise the little congregation nor the fact that they were women. He knew that salvation was for all. Lydia’s conversion to Christ is a proof of the work of the Holy Spirit in the heart. The Lord opened her heart. He opened her spir- itual eyes to the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ as Paul preached it to her and the others. It was Lydia’s faith that started the Christian church in Philippi. It seems she worked to win her own household first. And her house, a large one perhaps, became the meeting house. It is likely, too, that Lydia supported Paul, Timothy, Silas, and Luke as they preached here. This wealthy Christian was at once conscious of her stewardship privileges and obligations. Later we learn that the Philip- pians sent gifts to Paul three times. This might have been through Lydia’s example. There were brethren in the church when Paul left. There grew up a strong bond of love between Paul and this Philippian church. Later, too, there was a congregation at Thya- tira, perhaps due to Lydia’s influence. Why did Paul leave Philippi? The slave girl in this episode was probably more repre- sentative of the position of woman in the Roman world than was Lydia. Lydia was one woman whom money did not spoil. She was full of Christian service. What would many churches do if it were not for the women ! How happy we are that we as women are given opportunity to serve in the church, and in the world, as well as in the home, our chief sphere. This would be a good opportunity to dis- cuss woman’s place (see Gospel Herald Feb. 5, 1952, front page article). — Alta Mae Erb. Lesson based on "International Sunday School Les- sons: the International Bible Lessons for Christian Teaching," copyrighted 1951 by the Division ot Chris- tian Education National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. 252 GOSPEL HERALD March n, 1952 FIELD NOTES Items to appeaT in this column lor any issue of the following Tuesday must reach Scottdale by Wednesday morning. Four persons were received into church membership at North Goshen, Ind., on Feb. 17. Three by baptism and one on confession. Bro. E. S. Garber, Nampa, Idaho, brought timely messages at Winton, Calif., during a visit there. Bro. Ford Berg submitted to surgery at Mercy Hospital, Pittsburgh, on Feb. 28. He is recovering normally. Bro. Glen E. Musselman, who is complet- ing his work at Goshen College Biblical Seminary this spring, was ordained to the ministry at the Bethel Church, Mummasburg, Pa., the morning of March 2 for service at Bethel. The ordination was in charge of Bro. O. N. Johns, assisted by Paul R. Miller and Reuben Hofstetter. In a similar service in the evening of the same day, Bro. Michael M. Horst, Hancock, Md., was ordained to serve as pastor of the newly organized Black Oak Bethel Mennonite Church. This con- gregation is a member of the Ohio and East- ern A.M. Conference. Bro. Morris Buck- waiter will serve as deacon. The first members at Fish Lake, Ind., a missionary outpost of the Yellow Creek con- gregation, were baptized on Feb. 24. A Special Regional Conference, sponsored by the Ohio Christian Workers’ Conference, was held at Lost Creek Church, Defiance Co., Feb. 24. Bro. Robert Kreider was a speaker. A hymn sing on March 2 opened the an- nual music classes in the Midland, Ashley and Pigeon, Mich., congregations. The class- es are under the instruction of Bro. Paul M. Yoder, Harper, Kans. They will be held at each place an average of two nights per week. Table of Contents 241 — Ye Have Done If unfo Me The loneliest of EaTth (Poem) 242 — Our Headers Srry 243 — The Promised Sword The Religion of Man The Danger of Reactions 244 — The Calvary Hour Marches On What Is Wrong with the Scofield Bible? 245 — Toward America — A Haven (Poem) 246 — A Prayer for This Week Our Spanish Gospel Herald Laurelville Church Music Conference Prayer Requests — 247 — Wanted: Full-time Christians Report of Publishing House Operations for 1951 249 — Hesston College Eastern Mennonite College Calendar 250 — A Small Child's Prayer Increasing in Social Stature 251 — To Be Near to God Sundav School Lesson for March 23 252— Field Notes 253 — Mission News 254 — Pioneering for Missions In the Mennonite Church 257 — Women's Activities 258— M.C.C. Weekly Notes City Missions Roundtable Church Correspondence 262— Births Marriages Obituaries 263— The Book Shelf 264 — Items and Comments A final choral and hymn program will climax the work on Easter Sunday at Midland. Bro. J. R. Shank, Versailles, Mo., visited our brethren Bob Capps and Johnny Allison at Jefferson City, Mo., on Feb. 20. Bro. Amos W. Weaver has been elected assistant principal of the Lancaster Mennonite School. Bro. J. Paul Graybill will continue as principal, but without teaching responsi- bilities, and will give only a few half-days weekly to supervision there. The new church building at Freemanville, Ala., where Bro. Richard Kling is pastor, is completed. The first services were to have been held there Feb. 24. Bro. James B. Siegrist has moved to the Kralltown field, an outpost of the congrega- tion at East Petersburg, Pa. Lichty’s, a congregation in eastern Lancas- ter Co., is making alterations in its church building. Forty-eight students, including three min- isters, were enrolled in the six-weeks’ Bible term at Lancaster Mennonite School. A Christian Workers’ Training class is meeting two hours each Friday evening, Feb. 1 to March 28 at Leo, Ind. The class is spon- sored by the Sunday schools of the Leo, Cuba (Conservative), Anderson, Ft. Wayne, and Bethel churches. Instructors are James Mar- tin, Donald Reber, Gideon G. Yoder, and Merrill Swartley, all at present of Goshen, Ind. Charles Grikman, Latvian evangelical pas- tor who has labored among displaced persons in Europe and has been a close friend and helper of our relief workers in Belgium, gave an illustrated talk on this work at Scottdale on March 4. Bro. Nelson E. Kauffman, in the presence of about 100 men at the Missouri State Pris- on, on Feb. 24, baptized Bob Capps and re- ceived him into the fellowship of the Hanni- bal congregation. Bob was on the platform to make his confession of faith, to be bap- tized, and to be greeted with the kiss of love. The service brought tears and a fervent ex- pression of appreciation from a number of the men. We will publish next week a more extended story of the conversion of this man. Two new books in process at the Publish- ing House are In the Name of Christ by J. D. Unruh, a history of the Mennonite Central Committee, and Serving Rural Puerto Rico by Justus Holsinger, a history of our work in Puerto Rico. Church and Sunday school librarians should be sure to read the page written for the li- brarian in the Herald Teacher each month. Bro. G. Irvin Lehman, who spent the past few years in service in Ethiopia. Syria, Pales- tine and Greece, will teach Old Testament next year at Eastern Mennonite College. A special meeting will be held at Eastern Mennbnite College on March 19 to which all ordained men in Virginia, all Board mem- bers, all faculty members, and the wives of all, are being invited. The group will enjoy open house in the new women’s dormitory, supper in the dining hall with an address by Bro. John E. Lapp, a program in the audi- torium, and various demonstrations of the work of the school. The Doernte Bus Lines, the most direct passenger service from Pittsburg to Scottdale, now operate from the Greyhound Terminal located across the street from the Pennsyl- vania Railroad Station. The Gospel for Today, a broadcast directed j] by Bro. Howard Zehr at Peoria, 111., cele- brated its anniversary by publishing a neat booklet which contains, besides pictures, the ! first sermon of the broadcast, a brief state- ment of belief and a personal message from the radio pastor. The Sharon congregation, Guernsey, Sask., is enlarging its church building. Bro. G. G. Yoder, a student at Goshen Seminary this winter, is conducting discus- . sions on the home at the mid-week meetings of the Prairie Street congregation, Elkhart, Ind. The ordination of a deacon at Weavers Church, Johnstown, Pa., was announced for the afternoon of March 9. Bro. A. J. Metzler was scheduled to preach the sermon. The Associated Sewing Circles of the Lan- caster Conference was postponed from March 1 to March 15. The meeting will be at the East Chestnut St. Mennonite Church, Lan- caster, Pa. Evangelistic Meetings C. J. Ramer, Duchess, Alta., at Winton, Calif., Feb. 27-March 9 and at Los Angeles, Calif., March 17-23. Kenneth Good, Elida, Ohio, at Pigeon, Mich., July 7-20, with Paul Weaver as songleader. Jesse J. Short, Arch- bold, Ohio, at Ft. Wayne, Ind., March 23-30. | Joseph Pantana, Elida, Ohio, at Anderson i Church, Ft. Wayne, Ind., March 2-9. Aaron | Mast, Belleville, Pa., at Pinto, Md., April 6- 13. C. F. Derstine, Kitchener, Ont., at Holde- i man, Wakarusa, Ind., April 29-May 6. Ken- neth Good, Elida, Ohio, at Monterey congre- I gation, Bird-in-Hand, Pa., March 13-21. Silas Brydge, Lyndhurst, Va., at the Pond Bank " Church, Chambersburg, Pa., beginning March 12. Announcements Inspirational song service at 7:30 p.m. on March 16 at Marietta Mennonite Church, with Don Jacobs as songleader. Bible Con- I ference, March 16-23 at Pigeon, Mich., with Milo Kauffman, Hesston, Kans., as instructor. Bible Conference beginning March 9 at Meadville, Pa., with William A. Miller, Bre- men, Ohio, as instructor. The Ambassador Quartet and their wives at Westover, Md., Greenwood, Del., and in Franconia Confer- ence on May 9-11. Passion Week Bible Con- ference at North Goshen, Ind., April 6-13, with Raymond Byler, Pigeon, Mich., as speak- er. T. K. Hershey, with a group of singers [ at Bethel Church, Mummasburg, Pa., morn- ing and evening of March 16. Visiting Speakers Feb. 10: Leonard Haarer, Altoona, Pa., at Kitchener, Ont. Feb. 14: I. E. Burkhart, Goshen, Ind., at Lancaster Mennonite School. (Continued on page 260) March //, 195 2 GOSPEL HERALD 253 Go, Preach . MISSIONS • Give, Pray The General Board Headquarters for Missions. Relief and Service: 1711 Prairie Street, Elkhart, Indiana. Telephone, Elkhart 2-2786. Mission News Bro. J. D. Graber preached at the Prairie St. Mennonite Church in Elkhart, Ind., on Feb. 24. He brought greetings from our brethren in Argentina and Puerto Rico. Bro. R. R. Smucker, former missionary to India, showed pictures and spoke on India to the congregation at Canton, Ohio, on Thursday evening, Feb. 21. The pastor, Bro. J. J. Hostetler, is also giving a series of talks on the beginning of our mission work in Japan. At the quarterly meeting of the Eastern Mennonite Board of Missions and Charities on Jan. 10, Sister Ruth Miller was appointed as a missionary nurse for the Tanganyika mission field. Publicity posters on various foreign fields and home missions are now in preparation for the annual meeting of the Mennonite Board of Missions and Charities to be held at the Lower Deer Creek Church, Kalona, Iowa, June 12-17. Any district boards are invited to send pictures and data of the mis- sions under their supervision to the Board. Sister Ruth Bean, missionary returned from China, spoke at the Mexican Mennonite Mis- sion in Chicago on Sunday, Feb. 3. Bro. J. D. Graber arrived home on Feb. 20 from a six-weeks trip to Argentina and Puer- to Rico. Bro. Glen Yoder, superintendent of the Kansas City Children’s Home, will be the guest speaker at Hopedale, 111., on March 23. Sister Mary Ann Hostetler is helping with the missionary efforts in Chicago. Her ad- dress is 1509 S. Grenshaw, Chicago 7, 111. Four congregations in Nebraska are con- tributing a carload of flour for relief work. New York mission workers will have charge of a meeting at the Hammer Creek Church near Lititz, Pa., at 7:30 on March 9. The Brunk Brothers Evangelistic Cam- paign in Tampa, Fla., which began on Feb. 24, is being sponsored by the Ybor City and Ida Street Missions. Pray that souls may be saved. Bro. J. W. Shank, former missionary to South America, spoke at the Zion Church, Broadway, Va., on Feb. 24. Four Oregon brethren went to Sacramento, Calif., on Feb. 26, to plan for the opening of rescue mission work in that city and to ne- gotiate for a building to be used for that pur- pose. Daniel S. Sensenig and Chester L. Wenger have completed a tour of investigation in i British Somaliland. A school for the blind at Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, is nearing completion. The build- ! ing is 200 ft. long. A Bible class held in the Lee Kanagy home, missionaries in language school in Tokyo, Japan, recently had twelve in attendance. The ages ranged from 16 to 72. One young university student has accepted Christ since the beginning of the class. Lee says, “Since he made the step, we can see a big change in him — from a life of doubt and wondering to a step toward faith.” Young people of the Mennonite church of Puerto Rico have received a challenge and new vision at the Annual Meeting held in February. Two girls of the Pulguillas con- gregation have now joined the training class and are also giving several afternoons each week in contacting homes that need the Sav- iour. Bro. Cleo Mann, Goshen, Ind., spoke to the congregation at the Belmont mission in Elk- hart on Sunday evening, March 2. Bro. and Sister Weyburn Groff, mission- aries in India, have been teaching at the Yeot- mal Biblical Seminary at Berar, India, during the last year. Bro. Groff comments about this work: “Today is the last day of our school year here. ... It marks the close for us of an interesting and challenging year. We have enjoyed the fellowship and work with the Your Treasurer Reports On February 26 and 27 a special confer- ence of city mission superintendents and workers was held in Chicago. This meeting brought to our attention the challenge which faces the church in taking the Gospel to the lost in the cities of our own country. It was vividly pointed out that 75% of the popula- tion of the United States live in urban areas. This certainly should challenge us as a church to study and re-evaluate our responsibility to extend our witness in this area. The financial record of giving for city mis- sion work indicates a lack of interest or con- viction for this part of our mission program. Should we not be challenged to do a great deal more through financial support and per- sonal interest in our city mission efforts? One of the surprising things brought to our at- tention by Brother H. S. Bender in this con- ference was that we have been about as suc- cessful in mission work in our cities as we have been in many other mission fields. So often we are inclined to think that city mis- sion work is too difficult and not successful. I am sure that the Mennonite Church must face the challenge of the lost souls in the urban areas of our country. If you share this conviction with me, may I encourage your increased financial support for this part of the mission program being carried on by the General Board and by the District Conference Mission Boards. H. Ernest Bennett, Treasurer Mennonite Board of Missions and Charities Elkhart, Indiana MENNONITE RELIEF COMMITTEE (M.R.C.) Because Youth Wants to Serve is the name of a new multigraphed folder now being mailed to pastors of all local congregations and other interested individuals. We would encourage our young people to study the M.R.C. summer service program for 1952 as outlined in this folder and to give serious consideration to these opportunities for serv- ing Christ. Sister Elizabeth Williams, Naubinway, Mich., joined the service unit at the General Hospital, Kansas City, Mo., on March 1. Sis- ter Williams has had previous experience serving in this hospital. Sister Hazel Horst, South English, Iowa, arrived at the Mennonite Publishing House on February 26 to give a period of her time there on a voluntary service basis. Sister Horst will assist staff members of the Pub- lishing House with secretarial work for church committees and agencies which they serve outside of their duties at the Publishing House. Another opportunity has opened for young men who are interested in helping in a build- ers’ unit during the months of May and June. Help is urgently needed to complete the church building at Glendive, Mont., in time to provide facilities for summer Bible school. Who will respond to this call? For further information write the Secretary for Service and Relief. students. . . . We are happy to have had a part in preparing them for the work to which the Lord has called them.” The Annual Meeting of the Mennonite Church in Puerto Rico was held Feb. 15-17 at La Plata. Some interesting facts are as fol- lows: nine congregations representing 190 members sent eleven delegates besides mis- sionaries; average attendance was 200; largest attendance on Sunday p.m. was 230; total offering was $89.68. Theme: “Men shall know that ye are my disciples.” The brethren Homer Bomberger, Lancaster, Pa., T. K. Hershey, Elverson, Pa., and J. D. Graber were the visiting bishops present. Bro. Dorsa Mishler from the Relief and Service office in Elkhart, Ind., spoke to the Belmont M.Y.F. group in Elkhart, on “Op- portunities in Voluntary Service” on Sunday evening, March 2. Bro. and Sister Weyburn Groff, mission- aries in India, and their daughters, Rachel and Margaret, are scheduled to sail from Bombay, India, for furlough on March 20. Upon arrival at Montreal late in April they will proceed to Bro. Groff’s home at New Hamburg, Ont., where they plan to be for the month of May. (Continued on page 260) Joseph Summers was the first treasurer of the Mennonite Evangelizing Committee. He was elected at the first meeting, 1882, and served until his death, 1893. MINUTES OF THE MENNONITE EVANGELIZING COMMITTEE (Continued) 3. The Mennonite Evangelizing Board shall be composed exclu- sively of members of such branches of the Mennonite Church as are in sympathy and in unison in faith and practice with the Mennonite Church and her conferences. 4. The Evangelizing Board shall be composed of not less than seven members, and as many more as from time to time may be deemed advisable, embracing at least one from each conference dis- trict. Five members shall constitute a quorum to do business. 5. The members and officers of the Evangelizing Board shall be elected at the Annual meeting; and shall hold office for two years, or until their successors are elected and assume the duties of their position. 6. The officers of this Board shall consist of a President, a Vice President, a Secretary, and a Treasurer, who shall be elected by the Board. 7. All church members in good standing shall be entitled to vote in their respective districts in the election of members of the Board. 8. The president, or, in his absence, the vice-president, shall pre- side at all meetings. He shall call special meetings when necessary and attend to all meetings pertaining to his office. 9. The secretary shall issue all orders on the treasurer, and shall keep a record of the proceedings of all meetings, and shall make a general report of the work of the Board to the Annual meeting. 10. The treasurer shall receive and be responsible for the funds of the Board, and pay out the same upon the order of the secretary which order must be attested to by at least two members of the committee. He shall keep a correct account of the money received and paid out, and make a full report of the same to each Annual meeting. 11. The treasury shall be located at Elkhart, Indiana. 12. A committee of three shall be chosen by the Evangelizing Board, which committee shall be composed of members (of the Board) residing at or near the place where the treasury is kept. This committee shall decide upon all applications that are made for funds, at least two of their number shall sign all orders issued by the secre- tary on the treasurer, and this committee shall have in charge the di- rection and management of the work during the year. They shall also look about to see where work is. needed, and provide laborers for those needy places. All applications for funds must be made to the committee which shall decide whether such application is in ac- MISSIONS SECTION Pioneering for Missions This is the story of the beginning of missions in the Mennonite Church as re- corded in the minutes of the first mission- ary organization of the church, the Evan- gelizing Committee. As you read these minutes you trace the story of the devel- opment of the present Mennonite Board cordance with the purpose for which the funds are intended, and whether the person making the application is the proper person to go, or whether the intended visit is opportune or not. Application may be made by the minister himself, or by his church. Churches desiring to be visited may also make their desire known to the com- | mittee who shall do their utmost to supply them. 13. Ministers who shall be entitled to use the funds of the Evan- gelizing Board, and labor in the churches, shall be men who are in good standing in their respective churches, who are men of acknowl- edged ability as speakers, and teachers, and defenders of the faith and doctrine as maintained and taught by the 13 (or more) confer- ences of the Mennonite Churches in the United States and Canada, and so forth in the Eighteen Articles adopted at Dort in 1632; men who are well acquainted with, and well established in the form of doctrine which we teach, as repentance and conversion, baptism, with water upon confession of faith (as opposed to infant baptism), the peace or anti-war doctrine, the non-swearing of oaths, the anti-secret society principle, nonconformity to the world, simplicity in attire, feet-washing, etc., and the non-resistant doctrine throughout as taught by our church, men who are filled with love toward God, and zealous for the cause of Christ and the salvation of souls. 14. The above may be amended or changed by the Evangelizing Board at any Annual meeting by a majority of two-thirds of the members present. After some discussion, the Preamble was adopted as read. The following brethren were elected members of the Mennonite i Evangelizing Board of America: Herman Yoder, Goshen, Indiana; Chr. Z. Yoder, Weilersville, Ohio; Joseph Summers, Elkhart, Indi- ana; Noah Hoover, Goshen, Indiana; Fred W. Brunk, Elkhart, In-| diana; A. B. Kolb, Elkhart, Indiana; Lewis Kulp, Elkhart, Indiana; , Daniel Shenk, Elida, Ohio; Christian Albrecht, Tiskilwa, Illinois; Amos Landis, Sterling, Illinois; Levi Yoder, East Lynne, Missouri;;: j R. J. Heatwolc, Newton, Kansas; J. M. T. Miller, Milford, Nebraska.! I The following resolutions were adopted: Resolved, That the Men-i nonite Evangelizing Board of America invites and requests all con-;1 ferences in harmony with the above Preamble and constitution toi co-operate with us, and elect one man from their conference as a; member of the Evangelizing Board. Resolved, That a report of the meeting proceedings of this meet-lj ing be published in the Herald of Truth. An appointment was also made by the Board to meet at the rooms! of the Mennonite Publishing Co. at Elkhart, Indiana on Tuesday. January 26, 1892 to appoint a Managing Committee, after which the meeting adjourned. A. B. Kolb, Sec. Special Meeting January 26, 1892 According to previous arrangement, a meeting of the Evangelizing Board was held at the Mennonite Publishing House, Elkhart, Indiana on the 26th of January. Meeting was called to order, and prayer offered by Bro. F. W. Brunk. Bro. F. W. Brunk was elected chairman of the meeting, and A. B Kolb appointed secretary. The Preamble and Resolutions adopted at the annual meeting helc at Salem, January 20 were read, after which the following officer: were elected for the ensuing two years. President, F. W. Brunk Vice-President, Herman Yoder; Secretary, A. B. Kolb; Treasurer Joseph Summers. Managing Committee, F. W. Brunk, H. Yoder and Lewis Kulp. The duties pertaining to the different officers were set forth ant explained, whereupon the meeting adjourned. A. B. Kolb, Sec. in the Mennonite Church of Missions and Charities. These minutes have never been published before. They will be made available to our constituency in booklet form after the series has been completed in MISSIONS. If you want one or more copies please write now to Mennonite Board of Missions and Chari- ties, Elkhart, Indiana. Special Meeting May 18, 1892 A special meeting of the Mennonite Evangelizing Board was held at Elkhart, Indiana on the 18th of May. The meeting was called to order at 10 a.m. Prayer by J. F. Funk. The preamble and constitution adopted at the annual meeting was read. Bro. P. S. Hartman was appointed member of the Board for the Virginia Conference District. Some discussion followed concerning the individual duties of the members of the Board, after which the following resolution was adopted: Resolved, That each member of the Board shall look about him first in his own district (and he shall not be restricted in his duties from other localities), and report at least quarterly to the com- mittee any places that come under his observation where work is needed. We shall also recommend to the committee suitable minis- ters, if he knows who may be sent to do this work. It shall also be his duty to use his influence to induce persons who are so inclined, to contribute to the Evangelizing fund and in every way in his power to endeavor to awaken an interest in the cause of Christ and the spreading of the Gospel, not only among Mennonites but among oth- ers also. After some further discussion on field work the meeting adjourned at 11:30 a.m. A. B. Kolb, Sec. 10th Annual Meeting January 18, 1893 The Annual Meeting of the Evangelizing Board of America was held, according to previous announcement, on the 18th of January 1893, in the Clinton Amish M.H. The meeting was opened at 10:15 ,a.m. with a good attendance. Bro. D. J. Johns offered prayer. To the roll-call the following responded: Herman Yoder, Goshen, Indiana; A. B. Kolb. Elkhart, Indiana; F. W. Brunk, Elkhart, Indi- iana; Lewis Kulp, Elkhart, Indiana; Chr. Albrecht, Tiskilwa, Illinois; J. M. T. Miller, Milford, Nebr. j The minutes of the last Annual Meeting were read by the secretary land approved. The treasurer’s report was read. Following is a summary: Receipts Balance on hand, Jan. 1, 1892 $351.72 1 1 Contributions received during year 972.31 Total $1,324.03 Disbursements i Travelling expenses $893.00 Printing 4.80 ! Postage .92 Total $898.72 Cash on hand, Jan. 1, 1893 425.31 Total $1,324.03 Resources Mennonite Publ. Co. Stock $225.00 Bills Receivable 150.00 Total $375.00 j Letters and short addresses were read from absent members: Daniel J Shenk, Elida, Ohio; R. J. Heatwole, Newton, Kansas; J. R. Loucks, Scottdale, Pa.; C. Z. Yoder, Weilersville, Ohio. The following resolutions were adopted: Resolved, That we, the j members of the Mennonite Evangelizing Board of America assembled A. B. Kolb was one of the early secre- taries of the Board and for many years an active member. in regular session at the Clinton Amish M. H. gratefully acknowledge the receipt of letters from absent members of the Board and do thank them heartily for the deep interest they manifest in the Evangelizing cause, and for their prayers in our behalf in the work before us. The secretary’s report was read and approved and it was Resolved, That the secretary’s report together with the minutes of this meeting, be published in the Herald of Truth. On account of the death of Bro. Joseph Summers of Elkhart, Indi- ana, Bro. George L. Bender of Elkhart, Indiana, who had been ap- pointed by the Managing Committee of the Board to fill the vacancy pro. tern., was elected treasurer de-facto. Following this the brethren Jos. R. Loucks, Scottdale, Pa.; Stephen T. Miller, Wayland, Iowa; P. S. Hartman, Dale Enterprise, Va.; and S. S. Herner, Manheim, Ont., were formally added as members of the Board. After some deliberation upon different questions the following resolutions were adopted: Resolved, That members of the Board who receive money from the Evangelizing fund, to be used by ministers in their districts, shall submit a detailed report to the treasurer of the disbursements of such money. Resolved, That each member of the Board shall report to the Man- aging Committee, giving a list of all the churches and places in his district that need visiting, giving name and address of a proper per- son with whom to correspond, the nearest by station, the number of members, whether a minister is there or not, and any other informa- tion that may be profitable in regard to the necessity and condition of the church or community. Resolved, That as the sending of the Herald free is a means of do- ing much good to many who cannot be visited we earnestly recom- mend our ministers and our churches to take up collections for this purpose, and assist the Mennonite Publishing Co. in carrying this burden of sending the Herald free, not only to the poor of our own churches, but everywhere promulgating the doctrines and principles of the Gospel as taught by the Mennonite Church. Resolved, That the Evangelizing Board may be permitted to send two ministers at the same time to one place only when the Board is convinced that it is an actual necessity. Resolved. That we rejoice to see the efforts put forth by the Con- ference of Lancaster Co. Pa. to do evangelistic work and that we wish them a hearty Godspeed, and shall co-operate with them in any manner that may be in our power. Meeting adjourned for noon recess. . Afternoon Session The meeting was reopened with singing, after which Bro. J. S. Coffman delivered a sermon from Isa. 6:5-9. MISSIONS SECTION 256 March n, 1952 GOSPEL HERALD Following this discourse short addresses were made by the brethren Bishop D. J. Johns, Bishop J. F. Funk, Bishop Jon. Kurtz, J. S. Hartz- ler, Jos. Miller, D. Troyer, and I. A. Wambold. Additional resolutions adopted were: Resolved, That we publish the constitution and minutes adopted in pamphlet form, the same to be paid for from the Evangelizing fund, and that the president, secretary, and treasurer shall decide on the number to be printed in English and German. Resolved, That the next annual meeting of the Board shall be held in Elkhart, Indiana on the third Wednesday in January 1894. The collection amounted to $19.27. After closing prayer by Bro. J. S. Hartzler, the meeting adjourned. A. B. Kolb, Sec. 11th Annual Meeting January 17, 1894 The annual meeting of the Mennonite Evangelizing Board of America convened at Elkhart, Indiana Mennonite M. H. January 17, 1894 at 9 a.m. The meeting was called to order by the president, Bro. F. W. Brunk. Devotional exercises are conducted by Bishop D. J. Johns, Goshen, Indiana, assisted by Bro. J. H. MeGowen of Nappanee, Indiana. Bro. Johns delivered an impressive sermon on the subject of evan- gelization, and was followed by the brethren J. F. Funk and J. S. Coff- man. Regular business was next taken up, the secretary’s report of last meeting being read and approved. To the roll call the following responded: F. W. Brunk, president, Elkhart, Indiana; Herman Yoder, vice-president, Goshen, Indiana; Lewis Kulp, secretary of managing committee, Elkhart, Indiana; A. B. Kolb, general secretary, Elkhart, Indiana; G. L. Bender, treasurer, Elkhart, Indiana. District Committee: Indiana: Noah Hoover, Goshen. Ohio: Dan-’ iel Shenk, Elida. Kansas and Oklahoma: R. J. Heatwole, Newton, Kansas. The general secretary’s report was read and adopted. Adjournment for noon recess. Afternoon Session Meeting was called to order at twelve-thirty p.m. After the opening exercises the district committee members submitted their reports of work in their respective fields of labor. The fact was made evident that for want of evangelists the work is sadly impeded, the field having enlarged much more rapidly than the number of evangelists increased. Encouraging letters from absent members were read. A number of bishops and ministers added appropriate remarks. The treasurer’s report was read and approved. Following is a summary: Receipls Balance on hand Jan. 1, 1893 $425.31 Contributions during the year 947.86 Total receipts during the year $1,373.17 Disbursements Traveling Expenses $968.55 Postage 9.90 Printing and 250 postal cards 3.50 Printing 8,000 constitutions (M.P.C.) 35.00 Printing applicating blanks 2.50 Total amount paid out during year $1,019.45 Balance on hand Jan. 1, 1894 353.72 $1,373.17 Resources Nine shares Menn. Publ. Co. Stock $225.00 Bills receivable 150.00 Total $375.00 The revision of the constitution adopted at the Salem M. H. Elk- hart Co., Indiana, January 29, 1892 was next proceeded with. The revised constitution as adopted reads as follows: 1. This organization shall be know as the MENNONITE EVANGELIZING BOARD of AMERICA. 2. The object of this organization shall be to collect means and MISSIONS SECTION maintain a fund for the purpose of carrying on a general missionary work, to send men to labor and preach wherever there is need for such work, or wherever a field may open, whether among Mennonites or other classes of people, in accordance with the commission of our Saviour, Matt. 28:19-20, especially among scattered members and congregations not supplied or insufficiently supplied with ministers 3. The Mennonite Evangelizing Board shall be composed exclusive- ly of members of the Mennonite Church who are in sympathy and in unison in faith and practice with the church and her conferences as these have been maintained and practiced by the Mennonites for centuries, and every member of such church, both among the Amish and Mennonites shall be considered a member and entitled to a vote in the meetings of the same. 4. The officers of the Evangelizing Board of America shall con- sist of a president, vice-president, secretary, treasurer, and a board of managers, who shall be elected by the annual meeting, and shall hold office for one year or until their successors are chosen. 5. The president (or in his absence, the vice-president) shall pre- side at all meetings. He shall call special meetings when necessary, and attend to all duties pertaining to his office. 6. The secretary shall issue all orders on the treasurer, and shall keep a record of the proceedings of all meetings, and shall make a general report of the work of the Board at the annual meeting. 7. The treasurer shall receive and be responsible for the funds and pay out the same upon the order of the secretary, which order must be attested to by the president. He shall keep a correct account of the money received and paid out, and make a full report of the same at each annual meeting. 8. The treasurer and funds shall be located at Elkhart, Indiana. 9. The Board of managers shall consist of not less than seven mem- bers including the president, secretary, and treasurer, and as many more as from time to time may be deemed advisable, embracing at least one from each conference district. 10. It shall be the duty of each member of the Board of Managers to report quarterly to the committee any places that come under his observation in his district and other local ties where work is needed. We shall also recommend to the committee suitable ministers, who may be sent to do this work. It shall also be his duty to use his in- fluence to induce persons so inclined, to contribute to tbe Evangelizing fund, and in every way in his power to endeavor to awaken an in- terest in the cause of Christ and the spreading of the Gospel, not only among Mennonites but among others also. 11. The president, secretary, and treasurer shall compose a committee which shall decide upon all applications that are made for funds, and shall have in charge the direction and management of the work during the year, and provide laborers for the needy places. All applications , for funds must be made to the committee, which shall decide whether such application is in accordance with the purpose for which the funds are intended, and whether the person to go, or whether the intended; visit is opportune or not. Application may be made by the minister himself, or by his congregation. Those desiring to be visited may also make their desire known to the committee, who shall use their utmost endeavors to supply them. 12. Ministers wbo shall be entitled to use the funds of the Evan gelizing Board and labor in the churches, shall be men who are in good standing in their respective congregations, men of acknowl- edged ability as speakers and defenders of the faith and doctrine as maintained and taught by the fourteen (or more) conferences of the Mennonite church in the United States and Canada, and as set forth in the eighteen articles adopted at Dort in 1632, men who are are well acquainted with, and well established in the form of doctrine which we teach, as repentance and conversion, baptism upon faith (as op- posed to infant baptism) with water, the peace or anti-war doctrine, the non-swearing of oaths, the anti secret society principle, non-con- formity to the world, simplicity in attire, feet washing etc, and the non-resistant doctrine throughout as taught by our church; men whc are filled with love toward God, and zealous for the cause of Chrisl and the salvation of souls. 13. The annual meeting of the M.E.B. of A. shall be held at such a time and place as the Board of managers may determine. 14. Five members of the Board of Managers shall constitute i quorum to do business. 15. The above may be amended or changed at any annual meeting by a majority of two-thirds of the members present The officer: 257 f March n, 1952 GOSPEL elected were as follows: president, Herman Yoder, Goshen, Indiana; vice-president, Noah Hoover, Goshen, Indiana; secretary, A. B. Kolb, Elkhart, Indiana; treasurer, G. L. Bender, Elkhart, Indiana. The district members were retained with the exception of Bro. Herman Yoder, Bro. Silas Yoder, was appointed in his place pro tern., subject to the action of the Northern Indiana Conference. Alter some deliberation on mission work the meeting was adjourned until 7:15 p.m. Evening Session The committee appointed to frame a resolution in relation to the Mennonite Home Mission in Chicago, Illinois, presented the fol- lowing: , _ Uui Resolved, That the Mennonite Evangelizing Board of America rec- ognizes the necessity of mission work, such as the Mennonite Home Mission recently established in Chicago, and that we are heartily in sympathy with the same, and with our prayers and best wishes in all the efforts to do Gospel work in accordance with the faith and princi- ples upheld by our conferences, and that an annual report, financial and general, of said mission be submitted to the annual meeting of the M.E.B. of A. Adopted. Other resolutions adopted were: Resolved, That this Evangelizing Board is heartily gratified to learn of the measures recently adopted by our conferences in Virginia and Canada, to do evangelizing and other Gospel work, and that we wish the brethren in the work a hearty God-speed, hoping their efforts will be fruitful to the salvation of many souls. Resolved, That this Board urge upon our ministers and bishops the great need of more men to labor in the evangelizing field, and that, in accordance with our Savior’s last commission, and the action of our brethren in conference at Augsburg in 1527, our Amish and Men- nonite bishops co-operate in finding and ordaining men especially qualified for this work, that the home congregations may be properly cared for, and that a force of men be kept in the field continually to do evangelizing work; and that we urge that our ministers in every or- ganized congregation occasionally preach a sermon on the need of laborers in the field, and in doing all they can to acquaint themselves and our people with the needs of the work. Resolved, That we encourage ministers who have experience and ability, to locate with congregations where ministerial work is needed. Resolved, That Bro. J. R. Loucks be instructed to supply the charge at Rockton, Pa.; and that the M.E.B. of A. meet the necessary expense of sending ministers there at regular intervals. Resolved, That when individuals or congregations give money to our traveling ministers, the purpose for which said money is given shall decide whether it shall be turned over to the Evangelizing fund, or kept by the minister. After some pointed remarks by several brethren, Bro. M. S. Steiner offered the closing prayer, after which the meeting adjourned to meet at a time and place to be decided upon by the Board of Managers. A. B. Kolb, Sec. 12th Annual Meeting October 10, 1894 The Annual Meeting of the Mennonite Evangelizing Board was held on the tenth of October 1894 at the Yellow Creek M. H. Elkhart Co., Indiana. The meeting was opened at nine a.m. by the president, with a large attendance present. Bishop Elias Weber of Berlin, Ontario conducted the devotional exercises. It was decided to change the order of the meeting, and attend to the business of the Board first and have the sermon afterward. HERALD At the roll call the following brethren responded: Herman Yoder, president, Goshen, Indiana; Noah Hoover, vice-president, South West, Indiana; C. Z. Yoder, Weilersville, Ohio; L. E. Yoder, East Lynne, Mo.; S. S. Herner, Mannheim, Ontario; G. L. Bender, Elkhart, Indi- ana; A. B. Kolb, Elkhart, Indiana. The secretary’s report of the previous meeting was read and ap- proved. The treasurer’s report was read and on motion adopted. Reports from absent district members were read. Morning session closed with prayer by Bishop D. J. Johns. Afternoon Session Opened with singing. Prayer by Bishop J. M. Shenk, Elida, Ohio. S. S. Herner presented a report of the condition of the work in Canada. The general secretary’s report was presented with some suggestions to the Board. The report of the Home Mission at Chicago was presented by Bro. M. S. Steiner. A report of the advisory committee of the Home Mission was read. The election of officers resulted as follows: President: Herman Yo- der; Vice-president, Noah Hoover; Secretary, A. B. Kolb; Treasurer, G. L. Bender. All the outgoing field officers were re-elected. There being no further business Bro. D. D. Miller of Middlebury, Indiana preached a sermon on evangelizing work from Matt. 9:37-38. The contribution for the Evangelizing fund amounted to $35.10. The following resolutions were adopted: Resolved, That the stationery and postage needed by the members of the Board for necessary correspondence in evangelizing work be paid out of the Evangelizing fund. Resolved, That the Mennonite Evangelizing Board of America ask our Amish and Mennonite Conferences to come to our aid in simpli- fying the evangelizing work and reducing the expenses of the same, by adopting such measures as will permit our Amish evangelists, for convenience sake, to receive converts in Mennonite districts, into the Mennonite church by baptism with the consent of the Mennonite bishop having charge of that district and that our Mennonite evan- gelists be accorded the same liberty by our Amish bishops in their districts, seeing that we preach, teach, and practice the same Gospel principles. Resolved, That the field officers be advised to visit each place where there are members of our faith, and such other places where work can be done, to ascertain the condition of affairs there and aid in the work as may be found advisable and that they also advise the evan- gelists who work in their fields, the traveling expenses of the field officers to be paid out of the Evangelizing fund at the discretion of the Evangelizing Board. Resolved, That the Mennonite Evangelizing Board of America recommend that the Canada Conference of the Mennonite church be earnestly requested to ordain brethren to the ministry who are quali- fied to aid or engage in evangelistic work. Resolved, That the M.E.B. of A. recommend that an evangelizing sermon be preached on the first Sunday in January in all our congre- gations wherever practicable. Resolved, That the minutes of this meeting be published in the Herald of Truth. After prayer by Bro. D. D. Miller the meeting adjourned. The meeting was attended by eleven bishops, twenty-two ministers and many brethren and sisters. A. B. Kolb, Sec. (To be continued) Women’s Activities We are happy to announce that the manu- script for the 1952-53 Prayer Guide is in the bands of the publisher at Scottdale, Pa., and fiat it will be ready for distribution in early -April. You are urged to place your orders aow so that you will be ready to join with uany others on May 1, praising and thanking Cod for blessings received and praying for His blessings on the activities of the Mennon- te Church. Two new features add to the usefulness of the Prayer Guide, first the daily titles with the Scripture readings of our Sunday-school lessons; and the plan for memory work sub- mitted by a committee of the Indiana-Mich- igan Christian Workers’ Conference. The plan consists of a passage of Scripture and a hymn to be memorized each month. The hymns are all good doctrinal hymns with good music. The selections were made by BrcS. Walter Yoder. It is hoped that every family will enter into this program of mem- ory work with sincere earnestness for hiding a portion of God’s Word in their hearts. Send your orders for every home of your congregation and for your absent members now to Mrs. John L. Horst, 404 Homestead Ave., Scottdale, Pa. The price is 15^. Many of your ministers sent in praise and prayer items for the new Prayer Guide, but in case yours didn’t, be sure to tell him about MISSIONS SECTION 258 GOSPEL HERALD March n, 1952 this plan and have him tell the congregation about it so that no one will be missed. Help your ministers and your Sunday-school su- perintendents in the distribution of the litera- ture you are sponsoring. Keep a supply on hand for visitors. The Prayer Guide is a means of definite witness. Let’s make the most of this plan. Mothers should be re- sponsible in supplying their young people who are away from home and not in reach of home supplies. — Mrs. C. L. Shank. M.C.C. Weekly Notes Class 1-0 Not Discontinued There have been letters from a number of communities saying that local boards claim that Class 1-0 has been discontinued, and that men must go into Class I-A-O. It is true that Class IV-E was discontinued some time ago, but Class 1-0 was established in its place. Class 1-0 gives exactly the same recognition of conscience as the former Class IV-L, but it denotes liability for civilian work instead of the former deferment. It is not true that all conscientious objectors must be placed into Class I-A-O. Those op- posed to all forms of military service should seek Class I-O, unless they are qualified for a deferred class. If men are placed into Class I-A-O or I-A against their will, they may make appeal within ten days for Class I-O, or for a deferred class for which they feel they are eligible. Relief Gifts for Arab Refugees More than six tons of clothing for relief have been contributed by the congregations of the Franconia Conference in Pennsylvania during the past month, to be sent to the Arab refugees in Jordan (Palestine). In ad- dition to the generous collection of clothing, they also gave offerings of funds. The special needs of these people were presented to the congregations through word from Ruth Led- erach who is now on the field, and others who had actually witnessed the need of the people and were deeply moved to help. These gifts will be distributed by the Men- nonite relief workers, and will reach people who are in genuine need; but they will not fill all the need. More such collections of materials and funds in many congregations are required in order to make possible con- tinued relief ministry in this field and other areas of the world. Meat Canned by Kansas Churches Eight congregations in the Moundridge, Kans., area recently made a fine contribu- tion toward the relief food needs for this year, by processing 9,151 tins of pork and beef for relief. The meat was contributed by members of the congregations and the work in processing and canning was done by vol- unteer help. Additionally, several congrega- tions took special offerings to be used in re- lief work. The canning was done in the portable canning machine operated by the M.C.C., and various local facilities were con- tributed to make the work possible, including the use of the 4-H building. Released February 29, 1952 Via Mennonite Central Committee Akron, Pennsylvania City Missions’ Round Table The Urban Evangelism Committee, ap- pointed by the Executive Committee of the Mission Board to assume much of the re- sponsibility for the city mission program of the Board, arranged for a significant con- ference of city mission workers in Chicago, Feb. 26 and 27. The response was very good and the discussions were practical. “The Inner Life of the Man of God” was the subject of the devotional periods at the beginning of each session, under the leader- ship of Bro. Milton Brackbill. Here one is dealing with a most fundamental issue. It is so easy to become engrossed in turning the wheels of a mission or of a church and lose out spiritually. It is only too true that church workers are constandy tempted to make up an inner deficiency by an increase of outward activity. Finally it is the quality of the inner life that determines the effectiveness of all our activity. “Keep thy heart with all dili- gence; for out of it are the issues of life” (Prov. 4:23). The chief series of discussion subjects cen- tered around the topic, “Theological Poise in Our Time.” It is true that the city worker constantly comes under the influence of other preachers, evangelists, and workers. These represent a wide variety of viewpoints and they interpret the Scriptures in many differ- ent ways. If the Mennonite city worker will be able to face all these, meet them day by day, and maintain an even keel he will need to understand clearly the basis of his own faith as well as the nature of these diverse in- terpretations of the Gospel. The various movements and systems of thought discussed were: Fundamentalism, In- terdenominationalism, Mennonite culture in the city, Pentecostalism, Healing, and Emo- tionalism. These are the systems of thought and practice that make the strongest impact on a city worker. Bro. H. S. Bender of the Goshen College Seminary ably led out in these discussions during the first day. The last topic in this series had to do with the positive anchors of our faith — Biblicism and Discipleship. It was pointed out that these two words probably describe most ac- curately the peculiar Mennonite point of view. Every system of thought is only a partial Gospel. It is only as we constantly let the Bible speak to us, and are constantly ready to follow our Lord in full discipleship, that we can steer a straight course through the maze of theological crosscurrents of our day. Various practical subjects also came in for their share of attention. The problem of bishop oversight in city congregations was discussed. A special invitation to bishops in charge of city mission congregations had been issued and several of them were present. What Voluntary Service can do for city mis- sions and how the superintendent can make these brief periods of association most helpful both to the mission and to the young V.S. worker were discussed. Recruitment of work- ers and a system of apprenticeship and in- service training for all church and mission workers took up a profitable hour. Such conferences are valuable. Workers have gone back to their individual tasks with new vision and new inspiration. The Gospel finds its most difficult field in the mate- rialism, industrialization, and amid the arti- ficiality of the modern city. But nowhere is the Gospel more sorely needed. — J. D. Graber. CHURCH CORRESPONDENCE KALONA, IOWA (East Union Congregation) “There shall be showers of blessing.” Sig- nificant it is that a growing longing is being expressed for those showers of blessing which accompany the revivals such as the Brunk Brothers’ revivals in other localities. Most significantly, it is our younger mothers and fathers who are praying for this blessing. Six girls and 11 boys were received into church fellowship by baptism on Dec. 16. Among visiting brethren with a message were B. Charles Hostetter of E.M.C. on Dec. 9, Clarence Morris of West Branch on Dec. 16, I. Mark Ross on Dec. 23, and Leroy Ken- nel who spoke on “The True Meaning of Christmas.” Ernest E. Miller became ill after showing his world pictures at I.M.S. on Dec. 29, and left for home by train; so he could not fill his appointment at East Union on Dec. 30, to our regret. Norman Earnest, a former member, and Bro. Wiebe, father of Vernon Wiebe, gave Sunday-school reviews at East Union on Dec. 30 and Jan. 20 respectively. Our annual business meeting was held Jan. 16 with a large attendance. Reports were given by various committees in an interest- ing manner. Maynard Reber was appointed as the new trustee — an office that has be- j come one of hard work and much planning. The house purchased by the church for Mr. j and Mrs. Schmidt, our janitors (D.P.’s), has i been moved beside the church ground on a small plot of land purchased by the congrega- tion. On Feb. 3 Leroy Kennel was installed by Bishop D. J. Fisher as superintendent of Iowa City Mission and licensed to preach. He will secure his degree from State Univer- sity of Iowa this spring after which more permanent measures will be taken. The Iowa-Nebraska Conference Ministers’ March u, *952 GOSPEL HERALD 259 A Meeting will be held at East Union on Feb. 28, 29. On Jan. 27 we were favored by a message on Discipleship by Bro. Clayton Beyler of Hessian College. Julio Rivera Colon also gave the story of his conversion in which Wilbur and Grace Nachtigall were his mes- sengers— and even cared for him in their home. On the evening of Jan. 27, Mary M. Miller of the Hesston faculty conducted the eve- ning services, assisted by four foreign stu- dents, to an appreciative audience. The stu- dents were Julio Rivera Colon from Puerto Rico, Ada Webb from the colored mission work in Chicago, Yuko Shinohara, a little Japanese Christian, and Siegfried Neufeld from Germany. We will welcome Bro. A. Lloyd Swartzen- druber and his wife, Mary, and son, J. Paul, back into the congregation soon. They hope to sail from Germany about April 1. A Singspiration service was held Feb. 17 at 2:00 p.m. at East Union Church. Publication Board meeting will be held Feb. 20 and 21 at Wayland. Elizabeth Sho- walter and some other Scottdale members are expected at I.M.S., Thursday morning, Feb. 21, to show slides and to talk to the student body. The Goshen motet singers will bring a message in song on April 6 at our church and also appear at several of the other church- es in the community. What promises to be a helpful feature in the Junior Department, is the Junior Chorus directed by Ruby Swartzendruber. All chil- dren love to sing and this was a long-neglect- ed Held. In His glad service, Feb. 19, 1952. Mrs. Jacob L. Erb. WAYNESBORO, VIRGINIA (Springdale Congregation) Greetings to all in Christ’s name. During the past fall we have enjoyed having in our services an unusual number of speakers and visitors which included the following: John Layman, Denbigh, Va.; Lewis Burkholder, Denbigh, Va.; Arlin Snider, Kitchener, Ont.; Warren Kratz, Harrisonburg, Va.; William Jennings, Knoxville, Tenn.; Lloyd Weaver and wife, Newport News, Va.; Mahlon Hess and wife, Africa; Eugene Blosser and wife, China; Creston Hurst and wife and Martin Studer and wife, Wooster, Ohio; Edith Sho- walter, Africa; Marta Quiroga, South Amer- ica; and Arlene Sitler, La Junta, Colo. The talk on Sicily by Bro. Truman Brunk was to have been given here, but, since the Springdale Chorus had been scheduled to sing at the Hildebrand Church, the entire meeting was held here. Bro. Brunk spoke to a large audience. A few months later (Feb. 10), Bro. Lewis Martin also gave a talk on Sicily at Springdale. He especially stressed the need of the school children in Sicily. During the first week in January a group from Lancaster County, Pa., consisting of Bros. Martin Hershey, Frank Denlinger, Henry K. Hershey and wife, and Sister Nettie Leaman, visited in the community. A “need” that could be seen was presented before the congregation in a very unique way on a Sunday morning a few months ago. Since Bro. Ralph Shank, who is in charge of the Colored Mission at Harrisonburg, Va., was invited to preach at Springdale, he brought four little Negro boys along — twins and their two brothers. Bro. Shank called them to the platform and had them to sing, and then he told of the need for a Negro orphanage at Harrisonburg. Bro. and Sister Shank have taken these children and are caring for them in their own home. We are happy to welcome three families into our community: the Harold Kings, Har- risonburg, Va., and the John Swartz and Aaron Huber families from Elida, Ohio. Because of the large group in our Tuesday evening prayer meeting, the place of meeting has been moved from the Driver home to the parochial school building. Bro. John Martin is leader for this quarter and is using for dis- cussion “The Calls” of Bible characters. Rachel Heatwole. OXFORD, PENNSYLVANIA (Media Chapel) Dear Christian Friends: As we attempt to enumerate the blessings we have enjoyed during the past year, we can joyfully testify to the great faithfulness of our God. The year 1951 has brought many changes to Media Chapel. The two families who moved to North Carolina to witness there, were promptly replaced by two families from the “home base,” the Maple Grove Church, Atglen, Pa. The presence of other new faces in our Sunday school is an evidence that someone is alert in bringing others in. The average Sunday-school attendance for 1951 was 102. Leon Kauffman was principal of the fifth summer Bible school held in June. The majority of the 153 students enrolled were from non-Mennonite parentage. A special Sunday-school offering enabled Elmer Lapp, who is in charge of our library, to purchase some new books. Vernon Mast has been appointed assistant librarian. Our workers are planning a more intensive visitation program as we feel the need of spending more time with our members, seek- ing the unsaved, and visiting shut-ins who need spiritual encouragement. Because our members live so far apart, a “Lord’s acre” missionary project has not been very successful. In 1950, and again in 1951, it was decided to raise missionary money by Sunday-school class projects, each teacher be- ing responsible for his or her class’s mission- ary activity. We turned the proceeds in to Raymond Smoker, project chairman, on Fall Missionary Day. He reports a total of $353.26 for 1951. This was divided between the North Carolina Building Fund and the Media Building Fund. Elere are a few of the ways in which the money was “earned”: Buying less candy, gum, ice cream, and soft drinks; raising chickens, turkeys, veg- tables, flowers; mowing and trimming lawns; picking potatoes and tomatoes; from regular income. Many of us enjoyed the winter Bible school at Maple Grove. This letter was written as an assignment for our English class taught by Nelson Kauffman. Our spring meetings are planned for April 5-13 with Benjamin Weaver from East Earl, Pa., as evangelist. Your visits and prayers are very helpful and always greatly ap- preciated. Edna Mast. POTTSTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA Greetings to our Gospel Herald friends. Bro. Amos Kolb brought our baptismal ser- mon on Sunday morning, Oct. 21, at which time one was baptized and two received back into fellowship. Pray that the way may open up for others who are counting the cost. On Nov. 25, Bro. Paul Lederach had charge of the communion services. Other visiting speakers through the past months have been Emory Herr from Stras- burg congregation, and John Eby from Eris- man’s congregation, both of Lancaster Con- ference. Our aged Bro. Samuel Bell passed away in November, being nearly 92 years old. His life was an inspiration to many. On Dec. 15 Sister Mary Lederach brought an appropriate message for the Christmas season to the mothers of our Cradle Roll children. The building program of our church is moving along slowly. Plastering is almost finished. We are trusting soon to be able to worship there. Recent visiting brethren who brought mes- sages here were Omar Kurtz of the Oley con- gregation, Matthew Kolb of the Vincent congregation, and Markley Clemmer of the Norristown congregation. Bro. Harvey Ludy, one of our older mem- bers, fell recently fracturing his hip. Having been a regular attendant at all our services, he is missed. Shirley Kolb. HUTCHINSON, KANSAS (Hutchinson Mission) We have many reasons to praise the Lord, for He “hath done great things for us; where- of we are glad.” On Feb. 3 Bro. John Steiner, Garden City, Kans., brought us an inspiring message, stressing the importance of prayer and devo- tion with our children. The following Sun- day Bro. Ivan Headings, Adair, Okla., brought us the morning message which was much appreciated. Three of our aged members passed away in less than a week’s time; two were from the same home. Bro. George Kuhns and his sis- ter, Amanda Yoder, and Sister Ruth Mc- Kenna, a mission convert who has been bed- fast for several years, were called home. We are again reminded that “here we have no continuing city.” Bro. Jerry Yoder, who is now 93 years old, is unable to attend church services, but he appreciates having someone read the Scrip- tures to him. We have enjoyed a series of music lessons with Bro. Paul Marvin Yoder, Harper, Kans., as instructor. Pray for the work here in Hutchinson. Feb. 25, 1952. Ruth Troyer. 260 GOSPEL HERALD March u, 1952 MISSION NEWS (Continued) Copies of the Child Welfare Proceedings listed as source material in the “Program Builder” are available at the Mennonite Board of Missions and Charities, Elkhart, Ind., for 50 $ a piece. A group of members from the Rabanal, Puerto Rico, congregation attend the Satur- day evening services at the Salto outpost for the purpose of encouraging the reopening of the work in this difficult field. News comes from India that Sister Miriam Beachy, Bihar, received third degree burns on Feb. 15 when the sari which she was wearing caught fire. She was treated at the hospital 47 miles from Bethet where the Beachys are working and was able to return home after treatment. On Feb. 23 the Ohio Mission Board Execu- tive Committee and the Women’s Missionary Society Executive Committee met at Canton, Ohio, to plan the programs for the annual state meeting to be held at the Oak Grove Church, West Liberty, Ohio, April 25-27. Sixteen people consecrated their lives to serve the Lord at the closing service of the Annual Meeting of the Mennonite Church in Puerto Rico. There was also one confession. Bro. R. R. Smucker, former missionary to India, showed pictures on India to the group at the Mennonite mission in Lima, Ohio, on Friday evening, Feb. 22. A service unit, sponsored by the Y.P.C.A. of Goshen College, spent the week end of March 8 and 9 at the Lima, Ohio, Mennonite mission to help in redecorating the church. The new organizing committee of the An- nual Meeting of the Mennonite Church of Puerto Rico for 1952 was chosen as follows on Feb. 16: chairman, John Driver, Calvary Church, La Plata; vice-chairman, Jesus Es- pada, Bethany Church, Pulguillas; assistant secretary, Gladys Widmer, Bethany Church, Pulguillas; secretary, Lydia Miranda, Palo Hincado Church; treasurer, Pablo Gonzalez, Bethany Church, Pulguillas; sixth member, Elmer Springer, Bethany Church. Bro. Paul Kniss, missionary in Bihar, India, in an attempt to avoid hitting a man who suddenly stepped in front of his motorcycle, overturned and suffered head injury and right shoulder and arm abrasions on Feb. 18. He is recovering nicely. We thank the Lord for His protection and blessing. Missionary addresses of all foreign mission- aries under the General Board and the East- ern Board will appear in the next issue of MISSIONS. This list of addresses should be placed within easy reach for your family as a ready reference. Put them on the bulletin board of your home or your Sunday school. Missionaries like to hear from the folks back home. Bro. and Sister Robert Garber will sail for Africa on April 12. Bro. Glen Yoder, superintendent of the Children’s Home, Kansas City, Kans., spoke at Broken Bow, Nebr., Feb. 29. Bro. and Sister Henry Becker, missionaries in Bihar, India, have taken a two-months old baby boy into their home. The father not having anyone to care for the child after the death of his wife, brought the baby to the Becker home and asked that they care for Spring Missionary Day March 16, 1952 Plan for short talks from various per- sons in your congregation who have had some missionary experience, at home or otherwise. Invite your youth group to report on any missionary project or activity which they sponsored the past year. Furnish leadership to any group in your Sunday school or congregation who are interested in quarter invest- ments or missionary projects. Plan reports from your mission out- posts and extension Sunday schools. him. They have named him Premdan (Lov- ing Gift). Sister Becker says: “We hope to place him in a Christian home where they have no child and want one.” Communion and feet-washing services were observed at the Annual Meeting of the Men- nonite Church of Puerto Rico, Friday eve- ning, Feb. 15. Bro. J. D. Graber, secretary of the Mennonite Board of Missions and Chari- ties, brought the message, and Bro. T. K. Hershey, missionary on retirement from Ar- gentina, administered the communion assist- ed by Bro. Graber and Bro. Homer Bom- berger, bishop of Lancaster, Pa. Bro. Don McCammon will show pictures of China at North Goshen, Ind., on March 20. Bro. and Sister Eugene Blosser spoke at the Holdeman Church, Wakarusa, Ind., on March 2. Bro. and Sister Paul Kurtz, of the Rock congregation, have moved to the Reading, Pa., Mission at Twelfth and Windsor Streets. Bro. Kurtz will serve as superintendent. Bro. Arthur Good retains pastoral oversight. Mission Board representatives will confer with E.M.C. students on the following dates: J. D. Graber, representing the General Board, March 12-14; Henry F. Garber, representing the Eastern Board, March 17-18; John H. Shenk, representing the Virginia Board, March 26. Bro. and Sister Paul Lauver, on furlough from Puerto Rico, will be the Missionary Day speakers at the Holdeman Church, Waka- rusa, Ind. Change of address: Clarence Y. Fretz, from Nafziger Pension, Lauterborn, Echternach, Luxembourg, to Rue Emil Mayrisch, 72, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg. This means that finally residence has been obtained by the Fretz’s in the city of Esch where the Eastern Board of Missions and Charities con- templates opening mission work in Europe. The Fretz’s take this as from the Lord and wish to thank those who prayed with them for this door to open. MENNONITE MUTUAL AID AN EXPRESSION OF THE PRINCIPLES OF CHRISTIAN BROTHERHOOD— THEY THAT ARE STRONG BEAR THE BURDENS OF THE WEAK. Mennonite Mutual Aid/ Inc. 1413 South Eighth Street Goshen/ Indiana FIELD NOTES (Continued) Feb. 17: John Kennel, Parkesburg, Pa., Amos Horst, Akron, Pa., Simon Bucher, Annville, Pa., and Ira Johns, Goshen, Ind., at Pinecraft, Sarasota, Fla.; J. Harold Sherk, Akron, Pa., at La Junta, Colo.; Oscar Born- trager, Bloomfield, Mont., and Melvin Leidig, Saginaw, Mich., at St. Jacobs, Ont.; Paul Mininger, Goshen, Ind., at Canton, Ohio; John aensenig, Pottsville, Pa., and B. B. Shantz, Preston, Ont., at Bayshore, Sara- sota, Fla.; Paul Lauver and John Mosemann, Goshen, Ind., at Topeka, Ind.; Lester Giick, Smithville, Ohio, at South Union, West Lib- erty, Ohio; Frank Sturpe, Toledo, Ohio, at Midway, Columbiana, Ohio; Clayton Beyler, Hesston, Kans., at Protection, Kans.; Sanford G. Shetler, Salem, Oreg., at Meadow Brook, Greg.; J. B. Shenk, Goshen, Ind., at Sunny- side, Dunlap, Ind.; John C. Wenger, Goshen, Ind., at Holdeman Ind.; Kenneth Smoker, Orinogo, Mo., at Garden City, Mo. Feb. 21: Abner G. Stoltzfus, Gap, Pa., at Steelton, Pa.; Milton Brackbill, Paoii, Pa., to Ambassadors for Christ, Goshen, Ind. Feb. 24: John Landis, Hesston, Kans., at Peabody, Kans.; Roy Geigley, Mummasburg, Pa., at Landisville and Saiunga; Lloyd Weav- er, Newport News, Va., at Providence, Oyster Point, Va.; J. B. Martin, Waterloo, Ont., at Elmira, Ont.; Raymond Kramer, Meadville, Pa., at Wooster, Ohio; Samuel Honderich, Filer, Idaho, at Broken Bow, Nebr.; Milton Brackbill, Paoii, Pa., with a group of Goshen Winter Bible School students, at Yellow Creek, Goshen, Ind.; Alvin C. Becker, North- ern Bible Society, at Leetonia, Ohio; Allan White, Peabody, Kans., at Perryton, Texas; R. M. Weaver, Harper, Kans., at Crystal Springs, Kans.; Tilman Martin, Toronto, Ont., at St. Jacobs, Ont.; Glen Esh, Akron, Pa., at Orrville, Ohio; Carl Kreider, enroute to Japan (sailing date was postponed until Feb. 26) at Calvary, Los Angeles, Calif.; Oscar Burkholder, Breslau, Ont., at Kitchen- er, Ont.; J. Harold Sherk, Akron, Pa., at Albany, Oreg. Feb. 29: Emerson Miller and wife, relief workers from Poland, to Wooster, Ohio, Mennonite Christian Fellowship March 1; Andrew Lehman, Chambersburg, Pa., to Youth Gospel Evangelism, Lancaster, Pa.; Ralph Malin, Westchester, Pa., to M.Y.F., Millersville, Pa. March 1: Stanley Shenk, West Liberty, Ohio, at Franconia Youth Meeting at Tow- amencin, Kulpsville, Pa. March 2: Richard Martin, Elida, Ohio, at Quarterly Mission Meeting, Bethel, West Liberty, Ohio; Richard C. Detweiler, Souder- ton, Pa., at Beech, Louisville, Ohio; Ray Bair, Louisville, Ohio, at Wooster, Ohio; Paul M. Lederach, Lederach, Pa., at Pleasant Hill, Sterling, Ohio; Levi C. Hartzler, Elk- hart, Ind., at Pleasant Hill, Sterling, Ohio and Orrville, Ohio; Mary Miller and foreign students of Hesston College, at West Liberty, Windom, Kans.; Truman H. Brunk, Den- bigh, Va., at Zion, Broadway, Va.; Paul Histand, Langhorne, Pa., at E.M.C.; Ray- mond Charles, Lancaster, Pa., at E.M.C. ; J. B. Shenk and Richard Burkholder, Goshen, at Orrville, Ohio. March //, 1952 261 “UNTO ME” (Continued) From France: “We got out of our car with the Christmas bundles and entered through a gate into an unkept, dirty yard and walked toward a small shack. We were greeted by Pierre’s mother. She invited us into the indescribably dark kitchen with a bedroom adjoining. A two-year-old, frail girl clung to her mother when we entered. There was no room for her to play, only a path around the table. We left and met Pierre on his way home from school. His shoes were practically soleless, his coat tattered and dirty. He himself was hollow-eyed and thin. He was reported to be doing well in school, but, if he only had a chance, he would do much better. “We next visited the Bordat twins. They were not at home; so we went to school to see them. Their home condi- tions were similar to Pierre’s, only the family has eleven children to live in the two-room house.” From Jordan: “I wish one could say something cheerful about this situation in Jericho, but the more one thinks about the desperate plight of these peo- ple, the more hopeless it seems. Not only the refugees are in great need; there are many non-refugees who did not ac- tually lose their homes, but lost their means of support. They live in dark and crowded rooms that are cold and drafty in winter. Their clothes and bedding are faded and worn out with no replace- ments in sight. Food is a real problem. “For more than three years thev have been living in camps on the plain of Jericho under the blistering summer sun —without work, wondering what the fu- ture holds for them. You ask the nearest one what he would like to do, and he will tell you that he wants to go back to the home he lost.” From Formosa: "We have been taking Christmas packages lately sent out by the Mennonite Central Committee to the Beggars’ Home, the Orphanages, the Leprosy Colony, and the Blind School. There was one old woman in the Lep- rosv Colony who had no hands nor feet and was almost blind. She washed her rice with her stump of an arm and tried to cook for herself, for she had no money to hire others to do it for her. The last time I was there she told me, ‘I am cold, and I have not enough covers for the winter. I can’t live, and I can’t die.’ All the money I had was tied up in the home for the lepers’ babies; so I had nothing with which to buy her a cover, and when I went yesterday I found she had died just four days before. She died cold be- cause there was not enough warmth of Christian love to provide a cover for her. The walls had been whitewashed and pictures of Christ put up, but I would have given the world to have been able to cover her warmly before she died. I felt unnerved and ready to cry to think she had slipped away without that one last comfort, but there was no time to grieve. In the Same ream another leper GOSPEL HERALD woman was dying, and she begged us to pray for her and give her courage to meet the ordeal.” I want to give my personal experience in a clothing distribution in India. We were nearing the end of a project. I was dreading the moment when the last gar- ment would be given out, for I felt sure that, as I would turn, there would be a very needy child or older person at my elbow who desperately needed help, and I would have nothing to give him. It happened. And I was quite unprepared. There was not just one in rags at my elbow, but literally several hundred. There were far more needy people in the area than the officials had realized. The person next in line to receive clothing, after the last garment was given, was a little lad who seemed not to be able to understand that there was nothing for him. It seemed he could not go on until he had something. We finally gave him the one remaining burlap in which the clothing had been packed. But there were scores more who went home— ten or twelve miles over the mountains— with- out even a burlap. The above incidents are only a few of the many that could be given. My voice presenting these needs is only a small squeak and may not even be heard amidst the many activities that call loud- ly for attention these days. But at least I have tried to share these needs with you, and some of the responsibility is now yours. Ways in which you may help to share are: (1) Funds. Perhaps the simplest and most direct way to help is through funds. These are greatly needed to support workers on the field and to process and ship materials. (2) Materials. Another way is through gifts of material aid- food and clothing (or funds to purchase them). As clothing supervisor, I want to give the clothing needs as guides for those who would like to help in this manner. 1. Men’s and boys’ clothing— shirts, trousers, coats, undergarments (two- piece preferred), socks, shoes. Any items of clothing a man or bov wears. (General contributions of clothing received are low in men’s and boys’ garments.) 2. Women’s clothing— -warm, large, and dark dresses for older women, flannel nightgowns, pajamas, and undergar- ments much appreciated in Germany. All types of clothing that women wear. 3. Babies’ and children’s clothing of all types. Warm greatlv appreciated. 4. General needs— blankets, comfort- ers, sheets (single bed size preferred), towels, washcloths, yarn for knitting, yard goods for community centers and sewing rooms, shoes (must be wide and have low heels or Europeans cannot wear them). 5. Good used clothing is always appre- ciated. It should have not less than six month’s good wear in it, be clean, mend- ed, and serviceable. Finally} the needs of the world ate many; opportunities are great. M.C.C. offers you an avenue through which you may serve “In the Name of Christ.” “Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.” Akron, Pa. FAMILY CIRCLE (Continued) ceiling, tickles and teases, and sets them into a perfect uproar, then departs to deplore their poor upbringing, is a trial, indeed. We’ll grant that the good old- fashioned spanking he recommends is the only right solution for certain be- havior. But parents have been known to observe that the children’s reaction to certain guests was almost a reflection of the behavior of the guests themselves! Adolescence brings new social situa- tions, boy and girl problems, wider ac- quaintances through church and school activities. Happy the child who has learned long before this to share his social experiences with his parents, cer* tain of their understanding and help. Lancaster, Pa. OUR READERS SAY (Continued) Now please don’t mention this to your niece who just graduated from nursing school. I’m not throwing stones at the nursing profession! I have a very high regard for nurses of the right type. Unfortunately I have met some who did not belong in that category. I’m glad our church is interested in educating Christian nurs- es, but I see no reason why their education should be considered more specialized or more professional than the training and education of a home economics specialist. Looking over the audience at Board meet- ing, I saw a number of women whose judg- ment on educational matters should be of some worth. Certainly college deans of women would be serving in a position where their ex- perience should make a valuable contribution to the work of an educational council. I guess Cory would agree with me on this subject, for I have often heard Cory say she wasn’t the head of the home, but she was the neck that turned the head. Maybe a few such “necks” in some of the business sessions of our church would help to turn out more valuable and workable solu- tions to some knotty problems. Now, Cousin Sam, when you write your next letter to the editor, you may pass on some of these suggestions to him if you think they are worth it. Among all my cousins. I’ve always had the highest regard for your opinions. Don’t ever think your ideas are not good because you had little education. I know the editor enjoys hearing from you. This winter weather must make your janitor work very difficult. The house is extremely quiet. The children are off to school. Those breakfast dishes are next on my schedule. — Cousin Kate. . . . That article on “Jacob” by Herschkowitz came in for a lot of discussion in our Genesis class at Bible School. Nelson Kauffman’s article on forgiveness was greatly appreciated by a group of deer hunters last December, as some- one took his Herald along to camp and read it during their evening Bible study and devo- tions. . . . When I think of all the districts, con- ferences. and “branches” and institutions and committees and organizations that the Herald is sunposed to represent, I realize vou must have a time pleasing everyone. . . . You’re putting out a fine paper. I think! Keep cm.— Mrs. Edna Mdst, Cdchranvilte , Pa. 262 GOSPEL HERALD March n, 1952 BIRTHS Bowman. — To Charles N. and Edith (Ail- ment) Bowman. East Earl, Pa., a daughter, Helen Marie, Feb. 25. 1952. Brenneman. — To Lynn and Marv (Conrad) Brenneman. Wellman, Iowa, a son, James Leon, Jan. 28. 1952. Byler. — To Raymond J. and Fannie (Miller) Byler, Pigeon, Mich., a fourth son, Marcus Lynn. Feb. 20, 1952. Chnpp. — To John and Carrie (Sommers) Chupp, Bloomfield, Mont., a seventh child, a son. Arthur Byron, Feb. 9, 1952. Detwiler. — To Enos F. and Mabel (Horning) Detwiler, Columbia Falls, Mont., a son, David Charles, Jan. 30. 1952. Dolly. — To Henry and Lois (Dove) Dolly, Burlington. W. Va., a daughter, Patricia Eve- lyn. Feb. 27, 1952. Gerig. — To Percy and Lillian t.Tantzi) Gerig, Albany, Oreg., a son, Rodney Dean, Nov. 26, 1951. Gingerich. — To Joseph and Ada (Martin) Gingerich. Kouts, Ind., a son, James Arthur, Jan. 28, 1952. Hartman.— To J. Lowell and Doris (Miller) Hartman, Wnknrusa, Ind., a daughter, Sandra Jean. Feb. 5, 1952. Headings. — To Eugene and Martha (Steiner) Headings. North Lima, Ohio, a daughter, Ruth Esther, Feb. 5, 1952. Holsopple. — To Emery and Mary (Miller) Holsopple. Hollsopple, Pa., a son, James Emery, Jan. 6, 1952. Hooley. — To Paul Ervin and Almeda (Troy- er) Hooley, Indianapolis. Ind.. a first child, a son. Steven Paul, Feb. 16, 1952. Keefer. — To Garnet B. and Lois (Landis) Keefer, a son, Gerald Lee, Jan. 16, 1952. Landis. — To Curtis and Doris (Derstine) Landis, Souderton. Pa., a daughter, Linda Marie, Feb. 9. 1952. Lehman. — To Joseph B. and Thelma (Good) Lehman. Columbiana, Ohio, a fourth child, a son. Herman Jay. Jan. 26, 1952. Martin. — To Maurice S. and Naomi Marie (Hege) Martin, Hagerstown, Md., a daughter, Velda Marie, Jan. 21, 1952. Miller. — To Erwin and Dorothy (Byler) Mil- ler, Riverside, Iowa, a fifth child, a son, Jason Dean, Feb. 9. 1952. Nafziger. — To Ira and Sara (Clymer) Naf- ziger, Strasburg, Pa., a daughter, Violet Bonita, Feb. 22, 1952. Showalter. — To Truman and Mildred (Bril- hart) Showalter, Waynesboro, Va., a daughter, Sharon Rose. Jan. 30, 1952. Stauffer. — To Edward H. and Reba (Eisen- berger) Stauffer, Peach Bottom, Pa., a daugh- ter, Dorothy Jane, Feb. 17, 1952. Strite. — To Lewis and Ethel (Showalter) Strite. Park View. Harrisonburg, Va., a daugh- ter, Elaine Joy, Feb. 21, 1952. IJlrich. — To John A. and Erma (Hostetler) Ulrich, Roanoke, 111., a daughter, Arlene Sue, Feb. 8, 1952. Weaver. — To Mervin and Mary Ella (Weav- er) Weaver, Ephrata, Pa., a fourth child, a son. Mervin, Jr., Feb. 3, 1952. Wenger. — To David and Letha (Brunk) Wenger, Columbiana, Ohio, a fifth child, a son, Alan David, Feb. 19, 1952. Zimmerman. — To John M. and Ruth (Sna- der) Zimmerman. Narvon, Pa., a son, Ronald Lee, Feb. 13, 1952. MARRIAGES Brownsberger — Brubacher. — Joseph Browns- berger and Elma Brubacher. both of the Wide- man Mennonite Church, Markham, Ont., by Floyd Schmucker at the groom’s home, Nov. 17, 1951. Buckwalter — Diller. — J. Harold Buckwalter, Fentress, Va., and Twila K. Diller, Norfolk, Va., both of the Mt. Pleasant Mennonite con- gregation, by Amos D. Wenger. Jr., at the Mt. Pleasant Mennonite Church Feb. 24, 1952. Coblentz — Byler. — Orin Coblentz and Vera I. Byler, both of the Walnut Grove Church, Hart- ville, Ohio, by Seth H. B^lfcr, lather of the bride. assisted by Henry Sommers and Clarence Leng- acher, Nov. 22. 1951. Doerr — Charles. — Raymond Doerr, Slack- water congregation, and Anna Charles, by Christian K. Lehman at the Slackwater Church Feb. 24, 1952. Gehman — Ebersole. — Lester E. Gehman, Lau- ver congregation, and Mildred Ebersole, Mt. Joy congregation, by H. E. Lutz at the Mt. Joy Mennonite Church Feb. 9. 1952. Hange— Bergey. — Charles R. Hange, Line Lexington congregation, and Elva M. Bergey, Franconia congregation, by Arthur Ruth at the home of the officiating minister Jan. 26, 1952. Morris — Harris. — Edward O. Morris, Tuleta congregation, and Earline Rachel Harris, Jby H. F. Reist at the home of the officiating min- ister Feb. 21. 1952. Root — Shenk. — J. Clyde Root, East Peters- burg congregation, and Laverne Shenk. Gantz and Hernley congregations, by H. E. Lutz at the Hernley Mennonite Church Feb. 14, 1952. Short — Schmucker. — LaMar Short, Stryker, Ohio, and Doris Schmucker. Archbold, Ohio, both of the Lockport congregation, by Walter Stuckey at the Lockport Church Feb. 16, 1952. Weaver — Osborne. — Edward Ray Weaver and Clara Irene Osborne, both of the First Mennonite Church. Fort Wavne, Ind., by Nor- man Weaver at the church Feb. 16, 1952. OBITUARIES Bachert. — Elvina, daughter of the late Henry and Leah (Bowman) Baer, was born in Water- loo Twp., Ont.. on March 12, 1871; passed away at the Kitchener and Waterloo Hospital on Jan. 6. 1952; aged 80 y. 9 m. 24 d. In Feb- ruary, 1897. she was united in marriage to William Bachert. Mrs. Bachert was a faithful member of the First Mennonite Church. Kitch- ener, Ont. She is survived by her husband. 2 sons (Clayton, Grand Rapids, Mich., and Wil- fred, Chicago, 111.). 2 daughters (Eva — Mrs. Elmer Shantz, Kitchener, Ont., and Alice. Co- lombia. South America), 5 brothers (Moses, New Dundee. Ont. ; Ephraim, Haysville, Ont. ; Simon and Josiah, Kitchener, Ont. ; and Nor- man, Baden, Ont.), 2 sisters (Mrs. Irvin Shantz, Freeport, Ont., and Mrs. Jack Frances, Kitchener, Ont.). 14 grandchildren, and 5 great- grandchildren. One son (Ivan) died in 1946. Funeral services were held at the Stirling Ave- nue Mennonite Church in charge of J. H. Hess with Wilfred Ulrich and U. K. Weber assisting. Burial was made at First Mennonite Church Cemetery. Beachy. — Mary Ann, daughter of Jonas and Hester (McVicker) Keim, was born Dec. 25, 1872; died .Tan. 6, 1952; aged 79 y. 12 d. On Oct. 27, 1896, she was married to Christian Beachy of Grantsville. Md. To this union were 'born 5 children (Hester, Grace, Ethel, Ralph, and Clyde). She is survived by 2 daughters (Hester and Ethel), one son (Clyde), Helen Duckworth (a foster daughter), 2 grandchil- dren, 2 sisters (Mrs. Margaret Rodamer and Mrs. Lucinda Kolbfleisch), and one brother (Robert Keim). Her husband and 2 children preceded her in death. Early in her life she became a member of the Mennonite Church to which she was faithful to her death. The fu- neral was held at the Springs Mennonite Church in charge of Roy Otto assisted by Walter Otto. She was laid to rest in the Springs Mennonite Cemetery. Detweiler. — Cecil Dean, son of Clarence and Sarah (Slaubaugh) Detweiler. was born in Johnson Co., Iowa. Aug. 14, 1927 ; passed away at his home near Parnell, Iowa, Jan. 17, 1952; aged 24 y. 5 m. 3 d. His death was the result of a blood clot caused by the early stages of hardening of the arteries. He grew to man- hood in the Parnell vicinity. On Sept. 4, 1949, he was united in marriage to Helen Von Lienen of Parnell. Their home was blessed with one son, Danny Cecil. Besides his wife and child, he is survived by his parents, 2 brothers (Marion, Eden, Wise., and Wallace), and 2 sisters (Trula and Marjorie). He accepted Christ as his Saviour in his youth, joining the West Union Mennonite Church where he was a faithful member until his sudden death. Funeral services, conducted by Paul T. Guengerich and Max Voder, were held Jan. 21 at the West Union; .Church., Burial was .made at the .^Vest Union Gemetery. Eicher. — Noah S., son of Christian and Cath- erine Eicher, was born near Arehbold, Ohio, on Sept. 29, 1871 ; departed from this life at his home near Stryker, Ohio, on Jan. 18, 1952 ; aged 80 y. 3 m. 19 d. On Dee. 18, 1895, he was married to Tena Wyse ; 14 months later she j j was taken from his side bv death. On Jan. 27, 1 1903, he was married to Eliza Short. To this union were born one son and one daughter. J On July 11, 1927, his second companion was I it taken. As a young man he accepted Christ as li his personal Saviour, united with the Men- ! it nonite Church, and was a faithful member of j w the Lockport Church until his death. He lived S all his life in German Two., Fulton Co., Ohio. C As a father in the home and brother in the 1 church, he always had a special interest in the [ t spiritual welfare of his family and many friends, j 1 Surviving are his son (Joseph!, a daughter I 1 (Mabel — Mrs. Clark DeGroff), 2 brothers (Dan- iel, Stryker, Ohio, and Henry, Archbold. Ohio), s one sister (Mrs. Henry H. Short, Archbold, 1 ; Ohio), many nieces, nephews, and other rela- j | tives and friends. Besides his companions, he ( was preceded in death by his parents, 3 broth- j ers, and 2 sisters. Funeral services were held 1 ( at the home and at the Lockport Church Jan. j , 21 in charge of F. F. DeGroff and Walter 1 | Stuckey. Burial was made in the Lockport j Cemetery. Hershberger. — Emanuel A., son of Abraham and Catherine (Mast) Hershberger, was born near Walnut Creek, Ohio, Feb. 16, 1863; de- parted this life following an illness of over two years at the home of his daughter Alma Jan. 3, 1952 ; aged 88 y. 11 m. 17 d. In his youth he accepted Christ as his Saviour and united with the Walnut Creek Mennonite Church, remain- ing a faithful member until death. He loved the Word of God and read the Bible through many times in his life. On Feb. 24, 1884. he was united in holy wedlock to Cinderella Stutzman. This union was blessed with 5 children. One infant and his companion preceded him in death. Surviving are 2 sons (Venus, Walnut Creek. Ohio, and Homer, Sugarcreek, Ohio), one adopted son (Lawrence, Millersburg, Ohio), 2 daughters (Mrs. Clarence Zuercher and Alma of Walnut Creek, Ohio). 19 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren, one brother (John H.. Wal- nut Creek. Ohio), one sister (Mrs. William Christner, Kent, Ohio), besides a host of rela- tives and friends. Funeral services were held at the Walnut Creek Mennonite Church Jan. 6 with Brethren Jacob Weirich and Paul R. Miller in charge. Interment was made in the church cemetery. Hostetler. — Henry E., son of Emanuel and Magdalina (Hochstetler) Hostetler, was born in Elkhart Co., Ind., Oct. 21, 1867 ; passed away at his home at Harper, Kans., Jan. 2, 1952 ; aged 84 y. 2 m. 11 d. At the age of 3^ years, he lost his mother. When 13 years old, he moved with his father from Indiana to Cass Co., Mo. At the age of 17 he had his first opportunity to attend revival meetings in Cass Co., Mo., under the preaching of John S. Coff- man. Following his conversion during these meetings, he united with the Sycamore Grove Amish Mennonite Church. In 1888 he left Mis- souri and came to McPherson Co., Kans., where he started his lifetime vocation of farming. On Oct. 25, 1888. he was united in marriage to Salome Slabach. To this happy union extend- ing for more than 63 years, there were born 14 children — 7 boys and 7 girls. Surviving him are his wife, 7 sons (Oliver. Ura, Titus, Amra, Chancy, Leo, and Pius, all living with their families in the Harper area), 4 daughters (Ida — -Mrs. Harold Sommerfeld, Hesston, Kans. ; Florence — Mrs. Ernest Detweiler, Harper, Kans. ; Stella — Mrs. Gideon G. Yoder, Goshen, Ind. ; and Juanita — Mrs. Titus Ramer, Billings, Mont.), 48 grandchildren, 29 great-grandchil- dren, 4 sisters (Cora and Fannie Hostetler, Mrs. Laura Zook, and Mrs. Baldwin Miller), and a great number of other relatives. Three daughters (Eva. Gladys, and Elsie — Mrs. Crist Be.vler) preceded him in death. On June 1, 1913, he was ordained by lot to the office of deacon for the Pleasant Valley Mennonite Church, Harper, Kans. During the many years his health permitted he was active in church and community activities. Funeral services were held at the Pleasant Valley Church on Jan. 5 in charge of Gideon G. Yoder, H. A. Diener, and R. M. Weaver. Interment was made m the near-by cemetery. Kreider. — Susan, five-year-old daughter of Charles and Lois Kreider, Wadsworth, Ohio, left her parents and two brothers, Jan and Jerry, to live with Jesus on Jan. 7, 1952. Dur- ing the latter part of her long illness she said that she wanted to go to heaven where she would e^periencQ pgin no m,ore,.hu.t could . sing and always be happy. Although her leaving sad- March //, 1952 GOSPEL HERALD 263 dens us, yet we are assured that she is safe with Jesus forevermore. Words of hope and com- fort were spoken at her funeral service by Bro. S. C. Yoder, Goshen, JLud., and Bro. J. Robert Kreider, Wadsworth, Ohio. Fletcher. — Magdalena, daughter of Henry and Elizabeth (Kisser) Fletcher, was born Feb. 2, 1873, in Wood Co., Ohio ; died at the Weaver Convalescent Home in Waterford, lud., Jan. 30, 1053 ; aged 78 y. 11 m. 28 d. She with her parents came to Elkhart Twp., Elkhart Co., lnd., when she was 0 years old and has been a resident of this community ail her life. She was a member of the Salem Mennonite Church. She is survived by one sister (Mrs. Elizabeth Culp, Foraker, lnd.), one brother (Daniel Fletcher, Goshen, lnd.), besides other relatives and friends. Services in charge of the Home ministers, F. E. Freed and K. F. Yoder. Burial was made in Yellow Creek Cemetery. Rhinesniith. — Elizabeth, daughter of Jacob and Sarah (Eash) Weirich, was born on April 2, 1803, in Lagrange Co., I-d. ; departed from this life at the home of her daughter in White Cloud, Mich., on Jan. 2, 1052; aged 88 y. 0 m. She was united in marriage to Jonu Khinesmith on Jb’eh. 10, 1882. To tnis union were born three children. In the year 1003 they moved from Indiana to Newaygo Co., Mich., where they have resided since. Elizabeth united with the Mennonite Church at tne age of 21 and maintained her membership to her death. Her husband preceded her in death by 13 years. She is survived by her children (Mrs. Mary Clemens, Mrs. Maude Erb, and Milo, all of White Cloud, Mich.), one sister (Mrs. Sarah Miller, Eiknart, lud.), 0 grandchildren, 17 great-granucnildren, and many nieces and nephews. Funeral services were conducted in the White Cloud Mennonite Church on Jan. 5, by Daniel ZuoK of Clarksville, Mich., and Ed- ward D. Jones, White Cloud, Mich. Burial was in the Big Frairie Cemetery. SchrocK. — Harley A., son of Andrew and Lillie ScnrocK, was horn near Topeka, lnd., Dec. 2, 1010; departed this life Jan. 17, 1052, at the Lagrange Go. Hospital; aged 32 y. 1 m. 15 d. On Nov. (5, 1940, he was united in mar- riage to Velma Stutzinan. To this union was born one son (Andrew xUilton). Surviving are his wife and small sou, his parents, 4 brothers (Freeman, Sturgis, Mich. ; Kolliu, Fred, and Frank, Lagrange, lud.), one sister (Mrs. Philip Francis, Sacramento, Calif.), and many other relatives and friends. Two brothers (Orla and Marion) preceded him in death. He gave his heart to tne Lord in his early youth and be- came a member of the Emma Mennonite Church June 10, 1032, by water baptism. He has proved himself a faithiul and active member serving the church in a number of capacities. He gave nearly tour years to service in C.F.S. Funeral services were conducted at the Emma Men- nonite Church by Amos O. Hostetler Jan. 20. Shantz. — Angenne, daughter of Henry and Maryann Snider, was born near Elmira, Out., April 23, 18(0; died in the hospital near Guern- sey, Sask., Jan. 22, 1052; aged 75 y. 8 m. 30 d. In lbOU she was united in marriage to Henry Cyrenas Shantz, who survives her. Also sur- viving are 4 sons (Wesley, Arthur, and Lin- coln, all of Guernsey, and Leonard, Elmira, Out.), 2 daughters (Eileen — Mrs. Harold Biehn, and Uiive — Mrs. Clair Biehn, both of Guernsey, Sask.), and 27 grandchildren. One son (Dan- iel) predeceased her in his infancy. In 1007 she and her husband moved to Aldersyde, Alta., where all the children were born. In 1029 the family moved to Guerusev, Sask., where they have resided ever since. She was a member of the Mennonite Church since her youth, and her consistent life was a gracious testimony to her Christian faith. Funeral services were held at the Sharon Mennonite Church Jan. 25 in charge of Howard M. Snider and Stanley D. Shantz. Interment was made in the adjoining cemetery. Zehr. — Joseph Earl, son of Mose and Nellie (Morgan) Zehr, was born in Wood River, Nebr., July 22, 1900; departed this life Jan. 20, 1952, at the Lebanon Hospital, Lebanon, Oreg. ; aged 45 y. 5 m. 23 d. He came to Albany, Dreg., in 1918 with his parents at which place he lived for a number of years before moving to Leb- anon, Oreg. He accepted Christ as his personal Saviour at an early age. On Aug. 14, 1927, he was married to Lucy Kief, who survives. To this union were born 5 children (Mrs. Alice Portal, Harold Kief, Joseph Earl, Jr., Robert Bruce, and John Arthur, all of Lebanon, Oreg.). Also surviving is one brother (William Morgan Zehr, Portland, Oreg.). Funeral services were held at the Albany Mennonite Church Jan. 23 with Paul E. Yoder officiating. Interment was made in the Willamette Memorial Park, Albany, Oreg. THE BOOK SHELF Child’s Treasure Book of Fireside Tales, by Ken Anderson; Zondervan, 1950; 109 pp.; $1.50. The “Child’s Treasure Book of Fireside Tales” is a collection of short stories uphold- ing Christian standards for young people of junior age. However, children ot D01H young- er or older ages can enjoy them as well. Several of the stories are somewhat un- realistic. This reviewer felt that the author was writing about something unfamiliar to himself and the stories consequently lack a masterful touch. However, this does not de- tract appreciably from the moral lessons which he wishes to convey, nor does it de- stroy the suspense which the children like in all the stories. 1 he two stories which seemed most realis- tic and typical of the average child s hie were “Money to Spend,” and "Who Stole the Watermelon?’' T here are eight stories in the series. — Clara L. Hershberger. The Inspiration of Ideals, by George W. Truett; Lerdmans, 1951); $2.5U. This book is one in a series of books as a memorial to George W. Truett, an outstand- ing Baptist minister of the recent past. A booh of addresses delivered on special oc- casions, it is well bound and the print is pleasing to read. T his reviewer cannot recommend the book for general reading, but believes that min- isters will find it an inspiration when plan- ning messages for special occasions. George Truett was a very capable speaker and has a very suitable approach for special messages. The book is objectionable because it sup ports militarism and declares immersion to be the only Scriptural mode of baptism. It also states there are only two ordinances, contrary to our belief. However, he is a very good example of a staunch supporter of his faith. There are some good pointers, as in the reasons for close communion in the message, “The Supper of Our Lord.” The minister who is well grounded in his faith will find profitable reading for his work. — Kenneth I. Smoker. My Sermon Notes on the Lord’s Prayer, by W. P. Van Wyk; Baker Book House, 1949; 115 pp.; $1.50. This book is the ninth volume in the Van Wyk Sermon Library. Part I consists of eight sermons on the Lord’s Prayer. These messages are designed to enrich the Chris- tian’s prayer life, and thereby to bring honor to God’s name. Part II includes outlines and notes on a variety of devotional themes. These messages are written in a simple but systematic method, so that the average adult reader can absorb the message. However, they are meaty enough to make it worth while for the more advanced Bible student to well repay him for his time and efforts in reading it. On page eleven under the subtide, “Prayer Is a Means of Grace,” he says, “Surely, God can bless us before we ask. He is not at all dependent on our prayers. But it is here emphasized (PhiL 4:1-9) that God ordained prayer as a means to receive salvation, as a means to grow in the knowl- edge and grace of God. Hence it is needed to pray often. Our life must be a life of prayer; we must be a praying people. Just think of a man like Daniel and some of the other Bible characters. Have we experienced the blessings of prayer? Have we experi- enced the sad influence of the lack of pray- er?” The book is full of rich nuggets similar to this one. Most of us are willing to admit that we fall down in our prayer, but at the same time recognize its importance in our Christian life and work. Reading books of this type reminds one of his privileges and responsibility. — Christian E. Charles. The Work of the Holy Spirit, by W. T. Conner; Broadman, 1949; 196 pp.; $2.25. The author of this helpful volume is Dr. W. T. Conner, who has been serving as pas- tor of various small rural churches for some fifty years and has also spent considerable time in teaching. He is a thorough student of the Word of God. He has had associa- tion with various teachings on the subject of this book and has arrived at the conclusion that it is of vital importance that a book be written to clarify the subject among his friends and parish people. Apparently he has seen the need of making a careful Biblical study of a subject so much debated and abused. I feel that he is fair-minded with other views, but he is also very definite in his position on the subject. He approaches the subject of the Holy Spirit in a scholarly fashion, and so it would be a book more for the student and teacher who wishes to make a rather careful study of the subject. He makes a rather hurried study of the subject of the Holy Spirit by begin- ning at Genesis and going through to Revela- tion. He gives more time and discussion to the more important portions dealing with the subject. He ends the book with some gen- eral discussion on such chapters as “The Relations of the Spirit to the Powers of Man,” and “Is the Spirit Personal?” Although the book is exposition and rather scholarly in its presentation, it can be enjoyed by one who is interested in making a study of the subject. This has been a very helpful book to the reviewer and I believe it will be read and appreciated by a goodly number who are making a study of this subject. The characteristic which is strongest in this book is the author’s personal conviction on the power and presence of the Holy Spirit. He is thoroughly evangelical and Biblical in his discussion. His entire book is saturated with a recognition of the Holy Spirit being the only true guide to Scriptural interpreta- tion. I feel it is a book which Mennonite people would generally find very instructive and in harmony with our doctrines and teach- ings. He states, “The efficiency of the church lies in the possessing power of the Holy Spir- it.”— Samuel Janzen. 264 GOSPEL HERALD March n, 1952 Answer to War John, Charles, Mary, and all the other young people passing through their teens need Answer to War. Here they can find WHY the Christian an- swer is “different.” Many questions their neighbors and high - school friends might ask them are answered clearly. The book is adapted for class use. $1.75. Clear Thinking On Courtship You have passed the “first date” stage. A certain somebody is gaining in your favor. Pause for some serious, objective thinking on all that court- ship implies. John C. Wenger is an excellent thought stimulator. In a straightfor- ward manner he presents some im- portant things for your consideration. 21 pages. 30^ each; $3.25 a dozen. What about Television? Russell Kraybill and Cleo Mann TV has come to stay. What are you as a Christian doing about it? As an invention television will af- fect you even though it never enters your home. Can that effect be good? What will be your personal attitude toward it? In brief, pointed manner the book- let answers the question its title raises. 20 pages. Note the special quantity rates. 35