religion in public education
TRANSCRIPT
CHIGAN
RELIGION IN
PUBLIC EDUCATION
UNIVERSITYOF MICHIGAN
SEP 3 1958
PERIODICALREADING ROOM
Photo, A. Devaney, Inc.
muttftH ^m CHItlttlAM
chtofitiTh* Official Weekly
of £57,000Michigan Methodists
Adrian, MichiganPhone: COUax 5-2075
VOL. 85 SEPTEMBER 4. 1958 No. 31
JOHN E. MARVIN, EDITOR IN CHIEF •
International Church School Lessons,
HOWARD EMRICK • Cartoonist, WM.I. TORREY • Book Review Editor,
ALLAN G. GRAY • Quiet Time Thots,
L. M. WHITNEY • Temperance Writer,
STANFORD S. CLOSSON • Writer of
Youth Column, HOOVER RUPERT •
W.S.C.S. Editor. Michigan Conference.
MRS. GEORGE DAMSON • W.S.OS.Editor, Detroit Conference, MRS. WM.H. CANSFIELD * Special Contributors:
BISHOP MARSHALL R. REED, RALPHW. SOCKMAN, W. W. ROD. • Mem
ber: Associated Church Press, ReligiousNews Service, World Around Press, International Religious News Service,
Methodist Information and others.
Board of Trustees: STANLEY M. BUCK,Pres.; ERNEST COMBELLACK. VicePres.; JOHN S. JURY. Sec.: GORDONPHILLIPS, JOHN O. HAGANS, GLENNM. FRYE. HARRY L. TOWNSEND, LA-VERNE FINCH. Advisory Board: MRS.ROBERT H. WALKER. MRS. COLINHOUSTON, ALVIN NELLER, JOHNFRANCIS.
Published by the Michigan Christian Advocate Publishing Com
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gSwhar They WriteComment for this co'umn should be written
briefly and bear the signature and address of thewriter, which the editor reserves the right Xoprint. What appears here does not necessarilyrepresent the Advocate's point of view.
Not Under a Bushel
To the Editor:I was interested in the letter by Mr.
Dale Curtis regarding church lightingpossibilities. He suggested the possibility of lighting from inside the
church.
The Shelby Methodist Church located
on U.S.-31 has been lighting a large,
12-foot high, picture window for the
last ten years. The picture is- "TheChrist in Gethsemane" and the window
is located so that the public travelingon U.S.-31 gets a good night-time view.
In 1956 the church was remodeled andenlarged and the window was relocated
and an 8-foot glass cross installed
above it. The cross is a memorial to
Mrs. Mary Franke, director of the
church choir for more than twenty-fiveyears. The window and the cross are
flood lighted from within from dark
until 1:00 A.M. each night. The lighted
window has brought much favorable
comment. —George Franke, Shelby.
7467 Steger Court, Detroit 21, Michigan.For information on transportation orotherwise, call Mrs. Oliver Collins,
TO 8-2064; or Mrs. J. M. Smoot, VE6-3796.
Jesse DeWitt AppointedSecretary of Missions
REV.Jesse DeWitt, pastor of Oak
Park Methodist Church, has been
appointed Secretary of Missions and
Church Extension of the Detroit Con
ference by Bishop Marshall R. Reed.
The new office was created at the lastsession of the Detroit Conference in
June to help meet the problems imposed
by the rapidly growing population, par
ticularly in the metropolitan centers.
Mr. DeWitt, one of the younger mem
bers of the Detroit Conference, joined
the Conference in 1944 and prior to his
present appointment, which he has
served for the past six years, he was
pastor of Aldersgate church, Detroit.He has won recognition in Oak Park forhis outstanding community service as
well as being the very able pastor ofa new and thriving church.
Minister, CandidateOn Prohibition Ticket
A METHODIST minister has beennamed among the candidates
nominated on the Prohibition Partyticket. He is Rev. Alfred T. Halsted,
pastor of Sunnyside Methodist Church,Kalamazoo, who was nominated for theoffice of secretary of state at a recentmeeting of the party in Lansing attended by 57 delegates from 12 counties.
Detroit District Ministers'Wives' Retreat, Sept. 15-16
THEDetroit District Ministers'
Wives will hold a retreat September
15-16 at Haven Hill Lodge near Mil-ford, Michigan. The program will begin
with a coffee hour at 10:00 A.M. on
Monday and includes a wide variety ofinterest helpful to all ages and expe
riences. Reservations should be sent
immediately to Mrs. Wayne Smith,
Alfred T. Halsted
Also on the ticket were: Rollin Severance of Saginaw for governor, WendellJ. Goodwin of Flint for treasurer andWilliam J. Persons of Kalamazoo forauditor general. Retired MethodistBishop Wilbur E. Hammaker of Washington addressed the meeting.
New Pastor AppointedTo Central, Detroit
BISHOPMarshall R. Reed has an
nounced the appointment of Dr.James H. Laird of the Mariemont Community Church, Cincinnati, to CentralMethodist Church, Detroit, succeeding
Dr. Henry Hitt Crane who retired atthe last session of the Detroit AnnualConference in June. Dr. Laird, 39, is amember of the New England Conference
of The Methodist Church and a graduateof Boston University School of Theology.Nebraska is his native state but hisearly life was spent in Southern California where he received his college
training at the University of Redlands.
He received his doctor of philosophydegree from Boston.
Dr. Laird has served Mariemont since
1954 and prior to that was minister and
director of the Wesley Foundation at
the University of Mass. He is marriedand has two children. He will take
over his duties at Central early next
month.
MICHIGAN CHRISTIAN ADVOCATE
The Bishop's Page
Workmen That Weed lot Be Mailed
ST.PAUL exhorted his young
friend Timothy to study inorder that God would approvehim and his work so that hewould have no reason to beashamed of what he did. Thechurch has wisely taken this directive of the apostle to his sonin the faith and applied it specifically to the training ofteachers for the church schools.They have prescribed courses ofstudy to be taken and satisfactorily completed that they maybe approved both by God andthe Board of Education.
Our church has also followedthe injunction of St. Paul relative to a trained ministry. Itsays to the young men who haveheard the call to preach thatthey must study in an acceptedtheological school to prepare fortheir ministry. When theyhave completed their trainingthere they will have a chance ofbeing approved by God and theBoard of Ministerial Trainingand Qualifications of their Annual Conference, all of which isrequired that they will have noreason to be ashamed of theirministry.
Where we think of the wisdom of St. Paul in this aspect ofhis advice to Timothy, there appears to be a wider applicationof the principle of workmenbeing unashamed of their work.The return of Labor Day reminds us again of the greatblessing of work that God hasgiven us, of the indebtednesswhich we acknowledge to thosewho work, and rights of laborin our very complex society.
What we often do not emphasizeis that labor has a responsibilityto society as well as an expectation of rights from society and
that responsibility is doing thekind of work of which theyshould be proud.
Those of us who have to driveautomobiles in our businesshave been increasingly irritatedin recent years by having to payhigher prices than ever beforefor our cars and find morethings wrong than ever too.Most of these defects are little
Bishop Marshall R. Reed
things obviously caused byworkmen who have not caredhow they have done their work.The engineering departmentsappear to have made great advances, but somewhere alongthe line of production theremust be workmen who do notcare. It is a complaint fromdrivers of all makes of cars.
A friend reports he took hisnew car back to the companyfrom which he purchased thirteen times for correction andwhen he had to return for thefourteenth he told the companyto keep it. It may be a screwleft out of the instrument panelthat allows a gadget to fall tothe floor, it may be a ceilinglamp that is carelessly made in
the interest of economy that itdangles around the head of thedriver, it may be a carburetorfloat that is put in bottom side
up, it may be a gas tank thatleaks and it may be any one ofmany other defects of which weknow. The one question thatthe users of automobiles seemto be asking is: How long isMr. John Public to be expectedto champion the cause of laborwhen labor has no sense of responsibility to Mr. Public?
This is not a malady peculiarto the automobile industry butrather an attitude of irresponsibility that characterizes toomany who work in all areas oflabor. It might affect the ministry as a profession. Of all thediscussion we hear about ministers' salaries, the focal pointseems to be that they are toolow. Has anyone ever lifted the
question as to whether the minister is worth as much as he ispaid? The question every con
scientious minister should oftenask himself is: Do I earn whatis given me for ministerial support?
Jesus said that the laborer isworthy of his hire. The underlying principle of such an assertion is that the laborer had donean honest day's work andshould be paid accordingly. Itis a valid principle too for allemployer-employee relation-ships. If a man does an honestday's work he should have anhonest day's pay, and if he hasan honest day's pay he shouldgive an honest day's work ofwhich he has no reason to beashamed. There is a stewardship of labor as well as a stewardship of wealth.
-~MBEH 4. 1958
"If nil mankind minus one were of one opinion. ;md only one person were of the contrary
opinion, mankind would be no more justified in silencing that one person than he, if he had
the power, would be justified in silencing mankind." —John Stuart Mill.
EXPRESSED EDITORIALLY
Progress on the Peace FrontDespite reports of increased military activity in
the Far East, there is real cause for rejoicing overthe tranquillity that has suddenly prevailed in the
Mideast after what appeared to be an explosive situation containing the threat of war.
Much of the credit for this sudden change shouldgo to President Eisenhower whose speech before the
United Nations General Assembly's emergency session started constructive wheels in motion. Evenmore credit should go to the United Nations as asounding board for the whole world that makes pos
sible the free and open discussion of just such difficult questions.
THERE CAN BE NO MISTAKE. THIS WASA TREMENDOUS VICTORY FOR THE U.N. ANDGREATLY ENHANCED ITS PRESTIGE.
Those who have been advocating that the UnitedStates get out of the U.N. should now revise theiropinions and repent of their shortsightedness If ithas done nothing more than make possible the recentforward step toward peace in the Mideast, it hasjustified every penny and effort that has been spenton it!
Who would have dreamed that the Arabs themselves would come up with a solution to their ownproblems and have it passed 80 to 0 by the Assembly.All must agree with Sir Claude Corea of Ceylon whosaid it was a "momentous and historic" occasion and
"will go down in the annals of the history" of the
U.N. as such.
Everybody seemed happy including the Russiansbecause everybody seemed to get what they wanted.The United States won security for Lebanon and
Jordan and a means of getting U.S. forces out ofLebanon. Russia was satisfied that U.S. and Britishforces would soon leave. The Arabs reached agreement and acted like the brothers they profess to be.In representing all the Arabs, Mohammed AhmedMahgoub of the Sudan hailed the resolution as "anexample for peaceful solutions" and that "it inaugurates the beginning of a new understanding not onlybetween the Arab states but between all the memberstates" in the U.N.
Nobody thinks that a mere resolution of itselfcan do much. There are plenty of long-range problems that will take years to work out. Secretaryof State John Foster Dulles indicated this when hesaid, "These problems have deep roots. . . . Theyhave explosive aspects which can surprise us at any
time. But if the principles of the Arab resolutionare put into practice, then the problems we believecan be solved."
The small Eastern nation of Nepal urged the
great powers to go beyond the requirements of the
resolution to resolve these problems so as to includeguaranteeing the neutrality of the whole Arab region,a promise not to supply atomic arms to the area and
to refuse to supply other arms as well.
Christians in the U. S. generally applauded the
President's Assembly address, particularly his proposal for an Arab development institution. Dr.Edwin T. Dahlberg, president of the National Council,gave one such commendation and noted that the
"Churches in the National Council have consistentlyfavored constructive proposals for economic development. . .
"
Another forward step on the peace front was the
announcement by Mr. Eisenhower that this countrywill stop atomic testing providing Russia will consent to certain controls. Britain made a similaroffer to take effect as soon as its tests are completedby Oct. 31. At this writing it is expected Russia willgo along and if this is done, another prayer of many
Christians will have been answered.
All in all the last few weeks have produced some
amazing developments which point toward betteiunderstanding between nations and greater international stability. Who can but hope that the forward step becomes a fonvard march!
Give Up Christmas in JulyOur Methodist Church at Vicksburg has givei
up its July celebration of Christmas because, according to reports, it has become "too popular, too commercial." Begun by a former pastor, Rev. GeorgiStanford, in 1952 it has been observed every year ai
an attempt to get away from the commercializatioiaccompanying the December Christmas. The presenpastor, Rev. Albert W. Frevert, was influence*against continuation when he heard a local merchansay "It's good publicity for Vicksburg."
Now all we need are enough people to object tChristmas in December for similar reasons. Theiwe won't have any Christmas at all which may begood thing. On the other hand we recall an old saying that one shouldn't burn down the barn to get riof the rats.
MICHIGAN CHRISTIAN ADVOCA1
A defense of the publicschool and a re-thinking of
the place of the home, thechurch and government in
education.
Religion
In Public
Education
FORapproximately a century
our system of public educationwas calmly taken for granted. Itwas something that we had — and
that would remain with us foreons to come. It was a splendidnew device with the wonder andthe admiration of the world focused upon it. It was free—free ofcost, free of regimentation, freeof institutional interests. Millionsof Europeans heard of it andwanted it but could not have it.Hundreds of thousands from almost every nation in Europe wereso anxious to enjoy the benefits offree instruction that they lefttheir native lands to give theirchildren these opportunities inthe land of freedom.
During those days of confidence we thought of education as
being something different fromindoctrination or social or economic propaganda. We said, perhaps glibly, that man has a rightto knowledge, that he has a rightto think for himself, and thatabove all else he has a right to
his conscience, to his worship, and
to his religious expressions. Atleast we professed that man as a
creature was important and thathis nurture and development werematters of great national concern.
Today the world is much less
sure that man is important. Inrecent world history throughoutthe world today are vast mass
movements dedicated to the proposition that social, economic andreligious patterns are much moreimportant than people. Nationalleaders have demonstrated a horrifying willingness to treat manas expendable. Millions weresimply destroyed under the Naziprogram because they were not"Aryans." How many have beenexpended in these recent decades
under authoritarian regimes thehistorian will never be able to de
termine. But in each instance the
philosophy has been the same,namely, that the institutions aremore important than the people.
Totalitarianism consists in havingpeople serve institutions insteadof having institutions serve people,
and so we are moving back intothe dark ages.
In this present world of ten
sions many Americans, too, have
become unsure of themselves.Many have come to think of "thepeople" as separated from "true-values," so that a deliberate orexternal program must be con
ceived for "teaching moral andspiritual values" to the people.
Others say that only "the church"has the true understanding ofthese moral and spiritual values
By C. EMANUEL CARLSONExecutive Director of the Baptist
Committee on Public Affairs,Washington, D.C,
Photo, Philip Gendreau
and so parochial education isclaimed to be our only hope.
Today America's chief indoorsport seems to be to criticize ourpublic educational program on theassumption, that we are criticizingsomebody else. Cynical collegeprofessors, who for years have
complained at the inadequacies ofthe arriving freshman and haveblamed high school teachers fortheir problems, now have a nationwide audience and pages of spacein many magazines. Our militaryscientists seem to think that weare losing the race for missiles andatoms in the public schools of theland. Many chieftains of commerce and industry who are confident of the merits of economicfreedom, have grave doubts aboutthe wisdom of intellectual freedom in our schools. And in linewith all this, clergymen in considerable numbers are saying thatthe public schools must teachreligion to save our way of life.Each seems to be quite unawarethat his suggestion is the surestway to reduce the influence of thechurches and the vitality of faith,and to remove us from our freetradition. Nation after nationhas demonstrated that compulsoryreligious instruction carried on byuncommitted teachers is the mosteffective inoculating against vitalreligious experience.
No society can endure unless itmakes some provision for its own
BHB 4. IMS
transmission. Society in the MiddleAges was "the church" because education was largely left to the church.Agrarian economies of all ages havearranged educational patterns suited totheir needs, teaching the child enough torelate him to the soil and to the immediate community. Hitler in his time tookover the schools of Germany, and sodid the Communists in Russia. It isnormal and unavoidable that a community should seek to project itself intothe future by nursing the young intothe data, the practices and the valuesof that community. Ordinarily thismeans schools for general instruction.Democracy in the modern world hadno choice, and has no choice but toconceive an educational program tomeet the needs of the people in thatsociety.
This means that the values in a program of popular instruction tend to reston the values which are currently accepted by the controlling elements inthe political unit. All schools are basedon some moral and spiritual values. TheAmerican public schools never were anexception to that principle. Every culture has in it attitudes toward the groupitself, toward the various populationelements in it, toward other groups,toward things possessed and things de
sired, toward life and death, towardwomen and children, toward church andschool, etc., ad inf. Of course the publicschools teach values, but they are thetraditional and predominant values ofAmerican life. They are part of ourcommunity life, no worse and sometimesnot much better. They do not teach thevalues of "the church," not those of18th century Europe, not those ofJudaism, nor those of a score of specialinterest groups that would like to usethese schools for their own purposes.
This is as it should be. If we were todeprive our nation of the opportunity tohand down the legacy of its growingculture we would terminate the life ofour nation. If parochialism wins outand 257 religious groups proceed to produce "citizens," each according to itsown notions, the coherence of the nation would be dissolved. If we partitionthe various regions into so many educational programs we will have that manynations within the nation. The strugglein behalf of our public schools, then, isof no small significance. It is basedon an appreciation of the values thatconstitute our heritage and our coherence.
To take this position does not meanthat we resist change. On the contrary,it means that we must be constantlyalert to the changing educational needsin our nation. If grandfather's education was just what he needed in thegood old time of the horse and buggy,it obviously is not suited to survival in a day of cars, planes, andelectronic missiles. There must be a"fringe of freedom" on our cultural
Summer Evangelist Gives Eight MichiganConference Churches "Shot in the Arm
■IGHT churches in the Michigan, Conference are benefiting greatly
William Harvey, summer evangelist(standing, right), is shown with someof his co-workers at Wesley ParkMethodist Church, Grand Rapids. Withhim are, 1. to r.: Leo Coykendall, MYFpresident; and Rev. Clarence Hutchens,pastor. Seated: Lee Harrison, PatWagner, and Mrs. Gordon Miller,
counselor.
from the services of one of the "SummerEvangelists" trained in Detroit earl>this summer — Bill Harvey. After twcweeks of intensive instruction, Bill isnow giving a "shot in the arm" to several Methodist Youth Fellowships undeithe sponsorship of the ConferenceBoards of Evangelism and Education.
Somewhat typical of his work washis plan of procedure in Wesley ParkMethodist Church in Grand Rapids. Billmet with the MYF and their counselorson Saturday evening to discover whattheir "concerns" were and to plan aweek of activity around these needs.
Sunday Bill preached at the morningservice on the subject, "From DarknessInto Light," drawing on his experiencesas a short-term missionary in the Belgian Congo. Two young people acceptedhis challenge to prepare themselves forChristian service on the foreign field.That evening, Bill showed slides of theBelgian Congo, demonstrating the Christian Outreach of The Methodist Church.
On successive evenings the followingsubjects were discussed: "ChristianStandards for Recreation," "Planningthe Program," "Methodist Beliefs" and"Why Go to Church," "Parental Authority" and "My Dedication to Christ."
There were social times and opportunities for the counselors to get information about their job; and he talked
heritage which permits the educator toassist the rising generation to adjust tothe changing times. We cannot turnback the clock — but sometimes wehave to turn it ahead with distressingfrequency and speed. To refuse to do sois to spite our children and ourselves,our nations and our world.
The American public schools have been
agencies of American culture, of American national and community life. Todaymany are critical of the schools andfind them lacking at the point of values.Certainly they lack much and havetremendous needs. They need facilities,support, and personnel. But to say thatthey lack values is to indict the Ameri-can public. Frequently we are told that"God is left out" or that "the schoolsare ungodly." This is an old familiarline. Many of the first generations immigrants who desired "Swedish culture"or "German culture" for their children,expecting to sing those languages inheaven, looked upon the "Americanschools" as "pagan" because they didnot teach "God." As soon as the nextgeneration came along, adjusted toAmerican life, the sense of God's absence was relieved. During 1956 therewas a rising demand for religious in
struction in the schools of Poland. InDecember of 1956 the Roman Catholicchurch and the Government of Polandworked out an agreement which enabled"God" to return to the schools of Polandin January, 1957. No doubt He did!Sometimes we talk as though religion is
like galoshes —worn or not worn as weplease. They can be left at the doorwhen not desired.
The superficiality of such thought is
obvious. No teacher can leave hisphilosophy of science outside when hegoes into the high school laboratory, norcan he leave his philosophy of historyat the door of the school building. Werewe to ask that of our teachers we wouldquickly drive all people of thought andof integrity out of the profession. Certain aspects of religion are part of history and should be neither denied norforgotten. But this recognition of culture and values in the schools does notmean that we are justified in usingthose schools to coerce the pupils to thechurch or to the tenets of the church.The public schools are not godless unlesswe are a godless generation. Theschools are part and parcel of our lives.If the American people are a godly
(Continued on back cover)
6 MICHIGAN CHRISTIAN ADVOCATE
with the youth individually as they requested it. He stayed in the home ofone of the members, but shared thehospitality of several others for theevening meal.
The chief results of the efforts of BillHarvey may be summed in: The importance of planning in advance, usingthe materials provided by our church;and the small groups in each churchthat will continue to seek for the deeperr_ earrings of the Christian life.
Other churches that benefited fromhis services were Girard with Rev.Keith Palmerton, Allegan with Rev.John Cermak, South Monterey withHev. Don Cozadd, Traverse City Centralv. ith Rev. Donn Doten, Grand RapidsTrinity with Rev. Don Tepe, associate,Buchanan with Rev. Claude Satterleeand St. Joseph with Rev. Keith Hayes.
New Cottage Apartments at Clark Home
CROP Sponsors Shipment in"Bulls for Greece" Program
THEdedication service for 20 bulls
sent to the mountain villages innorthern Greece was held on August 10,in the livestock pavilion at MichiganState University in East LansingImmediately after the dedication theywere taken to New York where theyleft Idlewild Airport on August 11. Rev.Earl Caryl, pastor of the Ceresco Baptist Church, caretaker, accompanied thebulls to Athens, Greece. The plane wasmet in Athens by Queen Frederikasince this was the first shipment of 150Jersey bulls to be sent in the currentprogram.
CROP (Christian Rural Overseas Program) is the sponsoring agency for thisplane load. Chairman of the specialcommittee for this project is StanleyPowell, Ionia. Secretary is Paul Piep-kow, Olivet and Victor Beal, Stanton.Mr. Piepkow is also President of theMichigan Jersey Cattle Club. Selectionand collection of the animals has beendirected by Clinton Meadows of theAnimal Husbandry Division of Michigan
Cottage apartments for four couples will be completed at Clark Home, GrandRapids, in October. This Apartment Cottage will be on the West Drive, about100 feet from the Chapel entrance. All Clark Home facilities are available for1Cottage residents. When and if infirmities make Cottage living difficult, theCottage apartments may be exchanged for apartments in the Manor building.
State University and the Jersey CattleClub. Shipping is arranged by HeiferProject Inc. Placing in Greece is undersupervision of Ned Mason, member ofthe U.S. Overseas Mission.
Taking part in a dedication service for20 bulls, the first shipment of 150 to besent in a "Bulls for Greece" project are,1. to r. : Russell Hartzler, MichiganCROP director; Rev. Earl Caryl, pastor,Ceresco Baptist Church; and StanleyPowell of Ionia, chairman of the specialcommittee in charge of the program.
The principal task of CROP is shipping food through the churches to peoplein need overseas, but CROP also sendsself-help wherever possible. Collectingof funds for this shipment is a specialproject of Michigan CROP. Funds arestill needed for paying for the bulls.
The suggestion that the bulls be de
livered by the breeders and shipped eventhough not enough funds were available for payment in full came from thebreeders themselves — a most generousgesture.
This- group represented the Detroit Conference at the World Missions Institute heldat Northwestern University, Evanston, last month. Three were absent when thephotograph was taken by Dr. Roy S. Smyres who is in charge of General Advance
Specials for the national Board of Missions, New York.
Attend World MissionsInstitute at Evanston
THIRTY-SEVENpersons, represent
ing all six districts of the DetroitConference, attended the World Missions Institute held at NorthwesternUniversity, Evanston, August 4 through8. Arrangements for the trip weremade by Rev. Raymond R. Lamb,Lapeer, Detroit Conference MissionarySecretary. Total cost was $60 whichincluded bus transportation, meals en
route, registration and other expensesat the Institute.
Outstanding among the lecturersheard was Dr. Paul Geren, ExecutiveVice President, Baylor University,formerly with the State Department inthe Middle East. His messages wereespecially timely and stimulating in viewof the present crisis.
Among those who taught classes andstanding well at the top of the list wasDr. Justin Vander Kolk, Professor ofSystematic Theology, New BrunswickTheological Seminary. His course on"The Biblical Theology of Missions"will long be remembered by those en
rolled in his class. All who attendedfrom the Detroit Conference were en
thusiastic in their appreciation of theInstitute and agreed that for next yeara still larger section of the conference,especially chairmen of the Comrtussionon Missions in the local churches, w&&to attend.
SEPTEMBER 4, 1958
Report on Diivme HealieaimsNote: This is the second and final installment of a report on divine healingmade at the Michigan Conference ses
sion in June at Albion and orderedprinted in the Advocate. —J.E.M.
II
WERECOGNIZE that many
thoughtful and devout persons areseeking information on the subject ofSpiritual Healing. But much of theliterature in this field is of questionablevalue. The Commission therefore listssix books which, in its opinion, wouldbe rated above the average for thereading of both ministers and laymenwho wish to become acquainted withthis field. The books are arranged inpairs because it is felt that a soundunderstanding requires balanced reading. All may be obtained from theMethodist Publishing House.
I-A. THE HEALING POWER OFFAITH, Will Oursler.
An uncritical review of the movement, from a reporter's point of view.Comprehensive and sympathetic, excellent introduction, but leaves room formore careful examination.
I-B. FAITH HEALING AND THECHRISTIAN FAITH, Wade H. Boggs, Jr.
Remarkably thorough analysis ofthe nature and merits of the movement, philosophically and especiallybiblically. A good balance for Oursler and perhaps the most valuablesingle book in the field.
II-A. PRAYER CAN CHANGE YOURLIFE, William R. Parker and Elaine St.Johns.
Stimulating report of an experiment in prayer therapy by a group ofuniversity people: points to thrillingpossibilities but is distinguished bywhat is sometimes rather uncriticalexuberance over the subject.
II-B. PRESCRIPTION FOR ANXIETY,Leslie D. Weatherhead.
Much simpler, more scholarly treatment of same field; not so enthusiastic, but a very sound examinationof the spiritual attitude for all ofliving.
III-A. THE HEALING LIGHT, AgnesSanford.
The best expression we have read ofthe more radical position: there is a
questionable naivete about much of it,but a genuine sincerity and soundChristian spirit, in sharp contrast tomuch of the radical writing.
III-B. HEALING, HUMAN ANDDIVINE, Simon Donger, symposium.
Professional treatment by a varietyof writers: not too stimulating, but ex
cellent broad approach, as balance formore radical thought.
C. CONCLUSIONS OF THECOMMISSION
1. All healing is Divine Healing, regardless of the means (such as medicine,treatment, surgery, psychiatry, faithor prayer) which man may use toassist and cooperate with the healingprocesses of God.
2. While prayer for healing is commonlyused by pastors in ministering to thesick, there are very few ministers inthe Michigan Conference who hold
Mrs. Fisher and PuppetsHelp Asians Read and Write
rns photo
COLUMBIA, Mo. — Mrs. Welthy Hon-singer Fisher, founder of Literacy Village near Lucknow, India, now on atour of the United States, Hawaii andCanada, is shown on her visit here,holding two of the puppets she usesto help Asians learn to read and write.She is the widow of the late FrederickB. Fisher, Bishop of Calcutta, andpastor of Central Methodist Church, De
troit at the time of his death. Sincethe village was founded in 1953, ithas trained 3500 teachers from all overIndia and other Asian countries. Anindependent project, the Village is supported neither by a religious group northe government, Mrs. Fisher said. Besides classrooms and dormitories, the 10-
acre village has a house of prayer and anopen air theater, in which Mrs. Fishergives puppet shows. The people are convinced that they must become literate,she says, by the goddess of wisdom andpresentations of Bible stories like TheGood Samaritan. Mrs. Fisher whose
hometown is Rome, N.Y., will returnto the Indian village this falL
public services for the healing ofphysical illnesses by spiritual means.
.'{. Prayer and faith should have a placein assisting the healing process ofbody, mind and spirit, but shouldnever be used as substitutes for otherrecognized means of healing, including the knowledge and skill of medical science. The pastor should always cooperate with the patient'sphysician.
4. Cure of physical illness should neverbe promised or claimed by the minister, either through prayer or othermeans.
5. Prayers for healing should includethe cleansing of the spirit from sinand from a sense of guilt, since sinfulattitudes and guilt feelings may produce the emotional tension which results in unhealthy human relationships as well as in physical andmental illness.
6. Prayer, as a part of the healing process, has its greatest permanent effectwhen the ill person is led sincerely todevelop a vital prayer life of his own.
7. Prayer should not only be for healing, but also for willingness to bearthe illness and for strength to use itas a means of Christian growth andservice to others.
D. RECOMMENDATIONS TO THECONFERENCE
1. That prayer for the healing of thosewho are ill should be recognized asa proper function of Methodist pastorsin both the public services of worship and at the bedside of the sick.
2. That pastors should not hold publicservices for healing at the regulartimes appointed for public worship.If they desire to hold such servicesat other times, they should first prepare themselves by diligent study ofthe writings of recognized leaders inthis field and by consultation withtheir district superintendents.
3. That pastors should strictly avoidthe encouragement of hysteria andfanaticism and should refuse all publicity as to curative results in specificcases.
4. That pastors be encouraged to seekgroup conferences with the doctors intheir own congregations and to participate in such other conferences asmay be held by ministerial groupsand councils of Churches with medical groups on the community andstate levels, utilizing as resourcepersonnel, those who are well experienced in this field.
5. That the Annual Conference elect astanding committee to continue thestudy of spiritual healing, to provide a source of guidance and fellow.ship for those interested and to report developments to the Annual Conference.
8 MICHIGAN CHRISTIAN ADVOCATE
Benton Harbor BreaksGround for New Addition
THEsigning of the construction con
tract for the new addition to theMethodist Peace Temple, 275 PipestoneStreet, climaxes a development programthat started in August, 1952.
Steps leading up to the signing ofthe contract for the new addition started with the purchase of the house andland at 258 Jefferson Street (next tothe former church parsonage) in August, 1952. Following this, the formerW. P. Harvey home at 408 Britain Avenue was purchased for a church parsonage, thus releasing the 266 Jeffersonhome for church school use. In August,1956, a second parsonage at 866 PearlStreet was purchased for an associateminister. In August, 1957, a block-longstrip of property 45-feet wide on Pipestone Street and 92-feet wide on HighStreet was purchased from the BentonHarbor school district and the city ofBenton Harbor.
In studying the present and futureneeds of the congregation, the localleaders were assisted by staff membersfrom the general boards of The Meth
odist Church.
The new addition, costing $220,000 forconstruction, will include a two-storyeducational building consisting of 15
rooms, a chapel seating 134 people, anda 1400 square-foot church parlor.
The six-year development programwhen completed will total $360,000.00.
The addition will be built on the northside of the present building, connecting
at the north door and extending to thenortheast corner of the present churchstructure. The dimension of the new-
structure will be approximately 218 by55 feet, with outside brick in keeping
with the present church building.
The chapel will face Pipestone Street.
Back of the chapel will be the one-story
Participating in a ground-breaking ceremony for an addition to Methodist PeaceTemple, Benton Harbor, are, 1. to r.: Dr. Stanley M. Buck, pastor; Robert P. Small,chairman, Board of Trustees; Elmer H. Rohring, chairman, Building Committee;Mrs. Maurine B. Hagle, director, Religious Education; Charles W. Forburger, representing the Choir; George H. Rahn, lay leader; and Rev. Charles E. Fry, associate
pastor.
parlor which will be joined by the two-story educational building.
Earl L. Confer, a church architectfrom Detroit, designed the building.Contracts were signed with the threelowest bidders as follows: General contractor, Tonn and Blank, Inc.; Mechanical contractor, Noble and Price Plumbing Company; Electrical contractor,
Stouffer-Frick Electric Company. Con
struction started during the week ofAugust 11.
The ground breaking ceremony forthe new construction was held on Sunday morning, August 10, at 11 o'clock,
immediately following the 10 o'clockworship service.
Ithaca Completes Remodeling Project
First MethodistChurch, Ithaca, completed an extensiveremodeling programthis summer. Included in the projectwas a complete renovation of the church'sground floor — newinterior walls, newacoustical ceilings, anda system of modern,sound-retardent, folding partitions. TheBew basement areagives the church eightclassrooms for Christian education purposes, a social hallseating more than
| 250 persons, and adouble kitchen. A new lighting system, public address facilities, and other improvements were included in the project.
Shown are views of the classroom area (left) and the food preparation kitchen. -- Photos by John L. Francis.
4, ItM 9
About PersonsMISS MARY E. NEVINS, daughter of
Rev. L. J. Nevina of Clare, left by planefrom Willow Run August 19 for Tokyo,Japan. She is stationed about 30 milesfrom Tokyo as a teacher of AmericanAirmen's children in the second grade.
MRS. LIBBY FOX celebrated her102nd birthday Aug. 19 as an honoredguest of a birthday party at ClarkHome, Grand Rapids. She has been a
member of the local Burton HeightsMethodist Church for 73 years and a
resident of Clark home for 10 years.She gets about freely and enjoys life.
MRS. RAY V. BIRDSALL, widow ofthe late Rev. Ray Birdsall of the Michigan Conference, and her daughter,MRS. FAITH B. LAWRASON, widowof Rev. Robert A. Lawrason of DetroitConference, who are making their hometogether have recently changed theirresidence to 713 East Greenlawn St.,Lansing 10, Michigan.
MRS. C. OSCAR HAMMOND, member of First Methodist Church, North-ville, was elected Chaplain of the American Legion Auxiliary, Department ofMichigan, at their annual convention
held in Detroit. She is also the newly
elected treasurer of the local Lloyd H.
Green Unit #147 and past president of17th District Auxiliary. Mrs. Hammond, a member of the W.S.C.S., is
presently treasurer an office she has
held for four years — also past president of the Society for three years
(1950-51-52).
MARY LOU BURGESS, daughter ofMr. and Mrs. Leslie D. Burgess of Dearborn, and L. RONALD KALLINGER,son of Mr. and Mrs. Leo R. Kallingerof Grand Rapids, were united in marriage Saturday, August 9, at 4:00 P.M.in First Methodist Church, Dearborn.
The ceremony was performed by Rev.
Kenneth W. Burgess, the bride's uncle,
of Emmanuel Church, Highland Park,assisted by Rev. Leon W. Manning,superintendent of the Big Rapids District, and Dr. Wm. E. Harrison, the
bride's minister, of Dearborn. MissMarcia Roush was the maid of honor
and the bridesmaids were Ila Sloan and
Ann Workman. Richard Kallinger, the
groom's brother, of St. Joseph was the
groomsman. Robert Muske of Minneapolis, brother-in-law of the groom, and
Ray Burgess, the bride's brother, served
as head ushers. Other ushers were
Lawrence Manning and Truman Jordan,
college friends of the groom. RichardDeVinney, the groom's fraternitybrother, was the organist and Mrs.Kenneth Warner sang, "Draw Near to
Me ' and "I Will Sing You Songs of
Gladness." The bride is a graduate ofAlbion College, a member of Delta Zeta
sorority, and the groom is a pre-
ministerial student at Albion College
and a member of Tau Kappa Epsilonfraternity. Following a reception in
the church fellowship hall, the couple
left for a honeymoon in northern
Michigan. Upon their return, they willbe at home at 1226 E. Porter, Apt. 3, in
Albion where Mr. Kallinger will con
clude his senior year at the college and
Mrs. Kallinger will resume her workas an office secretary at the AlbionMalleable Works.
ObituariesMRS. RALPH RALSTON of Kalama
zoo, well-known civic and church leader,
died July 15, after a three-week illnessin Bronson Methodist Hospital. A member of First Methodist Church of Kalamazoo, she had been active in churchwork all of her life. A past presidentof her local Woman's Society of Christian Service, she was at present Michigan Conference secretary of Student
Work. She was also a member of the
Interconference Commission of StudentWork, the Conference Board of Educa
tion, and locally was a sponsor and
helped found the chapter of Kappa Phion Western State University campus.
She was attending the JurisdictionSchool of Missions at Albion when illnessstruck her, and had planned to conducta workshop at the Michigan ConferenceSchool of Missions at Big Rapids.Born in Alto, January 29, 1897, she
had resided in Kalamazoo since 1914.
She is survived by her husband, RalphM. Ralston, proprietor of the Ralph M.
Ralston Company, and an active layman in the First Methodist church;
three daughters, Mrs. Warren E. (Susan)Louis, Kalamazoo, Mrs. James R. (Jean)Mitchell, Midwest City, Okla., and Mrs.Bruce E. (Phyllis) Corley, Ann Arbor;one son, James White Ralston, Kalamazoo; and five grandchildren.
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decided to devote his life to the ministry.
His first charge was at Rossville,Ohio, in 1895, and he served at WestCairo, Perrysburg, Oak Harbor andAntwerp, Ohio, over a period of 18
years before transferring to the Detroit Conference in 1913. Subsequentlyhe served pastorates at Utica, Algonac,Fenton and Laingsburg, retiring in 1931.
In 1937 the Sowers moved to NorthMuskegon where he served for eightyears until ill health forced him toretire in 1945. He and Mrs. Sowersmoved to Elkhart for two years and returned to North Muskegon in 1947.
Mrs. Sower died in 1954.
Mr. Sower was widely known as a
lecturer and writer of special articlesand poetry. In 1925 while at Fentonhe was appointed a special speakerfor the League of Nations in recognition of his platform work and pressarticles on international affairs whichwere widely circulated.
Rev. and Mrs. Sower had three daughters who preceded them in death. He is
survived by one nephew, Fred Sower,
of Bellefontaine.
Funeral services were held August 20
at the North Muskegon MethodistChurch, the pastor, Rev. Russell Hoover,officiating. Burial was in Bellefontaine.
Grant W. Sower
REV.Grant W. Sower, 91, of North
Muskegon, retired member of the
Detroit Conference, died August 17 atthe Gleeson Convalescent Home. He
was born June 23, 1867, in Grant County,
near Marion, Indiana, and spent his
early years there and in Champaign
and Logan County, Ohio, where he at
tended high school, normal and old
Urbana University. He was married
to Miss Louena Windsor, daughter and
granddaughter of Methodist ministers,
Sept. 8, 1891, at Bellefontaine, Ohio.During the next four years he taughtschool and was superintendent ofschools at Rushsylvania, Ohio, and then
Bishop Reed's Itinerary
For September
Sept. 1-5— Pastors' School at Albion.
Sept. 6—Training Conference for Associate Lay Leaders at Lake Huron Camp.
Sept. 7— Consecration Educational Unitof the church at Blissfield.
Sept. 11— Board of Evangelism, LakeHuron Camp.
Sept. 14— Grosse Pointe, in the morning,
consecration of new parsonage.
Sept. 15— College of Bishops' Meeting,Chicago.
Sept. 16— Promotional Conference at
Evanston.
Sept. 18—Michigan Conference Board of
Missions, Wesley Woods.
Sept. 19— Detroit Conference Board ol
Missions.
Sept. 21— Dedication of Goodrich Chapel
at Albion.
Sept. 24— Dedication of Michigan Meth
odist Ministers to Christian Education, at Albion; Evening, Centennia
banquet at First Church, Kalamazoo
Sept. 26— Anniversary banquet at Jefferson Avenue Church, Detroit.
Sept. 28 —Anniversary service at Newberry in the morning; Religious Education service at Ishpeming in thi
evening.
Sept. 29—District Religious Educatiol
Meeting, Midland,
gept. 30— District Religious Educatio
Meeting, Flint.
10 MICHIGAN CHRISTIAN ADVOCAT
This Week's Headline
METHODIST YOUTHS HIT RACIAL DISCRIMINATIONEisenhower Criticized,Praised for PositionOn Civil Rights
GREENCASTLE, IND. — Racial discrimination took a tongue-lashing intwo resolutions and a report adopted atthe National Conference of MethodistYouth, which met August 14-21 at
DePauw University here.
Alcohol, military training courses atMethodist-related schools, and the plightof Indian Americans also received atten
tion in adopted reports or resolutions.
The National Methodist Youth Fellowship Commission, one of the confer
ence's two commissions, declared in a
resolution that it is looking toward the
elimination of racial discriminationwithin The Methodist Church in this
generation.
The resolution commended the
church's constitutional amendmentwhich could, through democratic pro
cesses on regional and local levels, re
sult in the eventual abolition (or ab
sorption) of the denomination's Central(Negro) Jurisdiction.
However, the resolution said, "It is
our plea that our church might speedily,and sensitively, work toward this aboli
tion." And it called for the formationof a youth study commission which
would make annual reports on the
progress that is being made toward the
abolition."We believe that segregation is in di
rect conflict with the Christian doctrineof the brotherhood of man," the resolution stated. It called segregationwithin the church "this sin of separa
tion."Another race relations resolution —
this one adopted by the whole conference (the two commissions meetingjointly) — said, "We sense a lack ofwillingness on the part of the President of the United States to lend themoral force of his office in the fightfor civil rights."
However, it also commended the President for those "constructive steps" he
has taken toward equal rights for all.
The conference's council was instructed to send a telegram to the Presidentexpressing the thinking of the resolution, which also said:
"We commend those leaders who haveshown great patience and wisdom infollowing the course of Christian nonviolent resistance to racial inequalitiesand injustices in the face of repeatedacts of violence and intimidation. . . .
We appeal to the President of theUnited States to lend the prestige ofhis office in this time of racial tensions by providing n.oral initiative andexecutive leadership in the belief that
a strong position taken by the President would go far in encouraging thosecitizens who sincerely desire to see thelaw obeyed and enforced."
The third paper dealing with racerelations was a report adopted by theconference's other commission, the National Methodist Student Commission.It commended college fraternities andsororities which have eliminated racialrestrictions.
The student commission was the onethat adopted the report on alcohol andthe report on military training coursesat Methodint-related schools.
The report on "Alcch 1 and theCampus Community" :.^id i,i part:
"We of the Methodist Student Movement affirm the basic non-drinking position l.eld by The Methodist Churchtoday. However, we believe that no
in 1'vidual should be bound by a legalistic moralism but should be free tomake a responsible decision for himself concerning the question of drinking.
"We . . . affirm that the campus community should maintain an atmospherewhere drinkers and non-drinkers do notjudge but rather mutually demonstrateacceptance of each other. In this connection we believe that each student
Christian group should provide an inclusive atmosphere in which one whodrinks will not be alienated because hisposition may be contrary to the majority opinion of the group. ..."
As for military training, the commission called upon all Methodist-relatedcolleges and universities to eliminate itfrom their curricula.
"The teaching of military tactics inthe Reserve Officer Training programcsnnot be reconciled with the goals ofChristian education," said the report.
A staff member of the MethodistBoard of Education said that about 16
of the 118 colleges, universities, andother schools related to the Methodistboard have reserve officer or othermilitary training programs in theircurricula.
The conference as a whole passed theresolution on Indian Americans. Theresolution instructed the conference's
council to send a letter to the U. S.Buieau of Indian Affairs "expressingour concern for the apparent inad
equacies in the bureau's program forIndian Americans in such areas as reser
vations, poor living conditions, and voting privileges."
BULLETIN
ASWE GO to press, word is received of the drowning of Dr. Byron
Hahn, pastor of the Sturgis Methodist Church, last week Mondayat Oba Lake, Canada, about 250 miles north of Sault Ste. Marie. Thebody was recovered Tuesday and funeral services were scheduled to be
held at the church the following Friday at 2:00 P.M. with burial inSturgis.
While all details are not available at this writing the Advocate isinformed that Dr. Hahn was with two of his laymen, Raymond Hodgsonand John Sigrist, when he fell out of the boat from which they were;fishing. Every effort on the part of the men failed to save theirpastor. An early unverified report theorized that Dr. Hahn may havesuffered a heart attack. The accident occurred about 6 P.M. and themen returned to the cabin where the party of 16 were staying, arrivingabout 9 P.M. Mrs. Hahn returned to Sault Ste. Marie Tuesday andwas flown from there to Sturgis by her son-in-law, James Redman ofAlma. Dr. Hahn joined the Michigan Conference in 1918, servedvarious churches in the conference and was one time superintendent ofthe Big Rapids District.
Rev. Lester E. Griffith, Jr., of Cleveland, Ohio, missionary of TheMethodist Church in Algeria, North Africa — where civil war is waging— was reported as "missing" on August 18 while traveling betweenthe cities of Algeria and Fort National. It is believed he had beenkidnapped by Algerian rebels, and was still alive as their prisoner.One suggestion is that he is being held by the rebels to give medicalaid to their wounded. First news of Mr. Griffith's seizure came when,his car was found burned along the lonely bandit-infested highway.Meanwhile, Mr. Griffith's wife Mrs. Janice Griffith theirsons and their daughter, are reported safe in the mission headqua.Y-y»x*in Algeria.
SEPTEMBER 4, 1958
The BIBLE for TODAYLesson commentary based on "International Sunday School Lessons; the International Bible Lessons for Christian Teaching." Biblical quotations are fromthe Revised Standard Version. Both Lessons and RSV are copyrighted by
the National Council of Churches in the U.S.A.
By Wm. C. S. PelloweSunday, September 14
Justice In Economic Life
Exodus 20:15; Amos 8:4-7;
James 5:1-5; I Peter 4:10-11
ANCIENTSins in Modern Dress.
Our lesson material begins withthe ancient injunction, "Thou shalt
not steal." In Moses' day stealing
would mean taking another man's
animal, plow, garment, water pitcher— the article stolen was something
tangible and easily discerned. We
still have that kind of thievery; butin addition, because of the com
plexity of modern society, we have
new forms of stealing. Some of
these new forms take great intelligence to manipulate, and often are
hard to detect.
Thus in the U.S.A., railroads have
been stolen by the manipulation ofthe stock market. Fake advertise
ments have fleeced the public of un
told millions of dollars. The Department of Commerce has recently an
nounced that one hundred million dol
lars per year has been taken from the
public by false claims for reducing
medicines and machines. Pressurelobbies in Federal and State legislatures have robbed the nationaldomain of vast wealth in oil, minerals,
and timber. Promoters of stock com
panies have stolen from innocent
investors.
Our selection from the Book ofAmos is an indictment against mer
chants of that day, who impatientlywaited for sacred days to end so
they could resume gouging the public.
The passage describes their three
ways of cheating. (1) Short measure— they made the ephah, a dry meas
ure, small; (2) they made the shekel
weight bigger so they would get more
gold for the corn they sold; (3) they
used false balances (scales). Stand
ard regulations plus inspectors ofweights and measures hold such evils
to a minimum today. But unfortunately, other forms of dishonesty
appear; as for example, in shoddy
goods or the use of materials in a
building of an inferior grade to those
agreed upon in the contract.
Let us not indict all merchants
and contractors because of the bad
conduct of a few. Moreover, let us
applaud Chambers of Commerce and
Better Business Bureaus who seek to
hold up high ethical practices inbusiness.
The Profit Motive in Business.
When the writer was a young min
ister he often heard the plea made —
in fact, he made it himself more than
once from the pulpit — that businessmen ought to surrender the ProfitMotive and adopt the Service Motivein its place. The argument ran thatthe drive for profits made men greedy
and calloused, and was the basic evil
in the capitalistic system. Business,
it was said, ought to be regarded as
a public trust, and men should enter
it with the Service Motive uppermostin mind much like a minister entershis calling. We have not heard much
of this line of thought of late.
It would appear now that the
Profit Motive has come to be accepted
as a structural part of "the Americanway of life." The question today is,
"What is a fair and just profit?When is a profit unjust? What is a
just relation between wages and
profit? What of profit sharingplans? What are their merits?Their demerits? Have you had expe
rience with such a plan?
If higher wages are justified be
cause of today's increased cost ofliving, then higher dividends are also
deserved by the shareholders of a
company to meet their increased
costs of living. Aged people who
practiced thrift and put their savings
into stocks and bonds to provide forold age would welcome such increasesin profits. Church colleges, Old
People's Homes, Hospitals, Pension
Funds hold millions of dollars ofinvestments in automobile companies,railroads, food store chains. Withincreased costs of operations these
church institutions would welcomelarger profits. But in today's eco
nomic mood, to talk of increases inprofits is considered a social mis
demeanor. What would be economicjustice in such a situation?
All Skills Needed. In the passagefrom the First Letter of Peter the
plea is made that everyone use his/her native skills for the commongood. "As each has received a gift,employ it for one another" (ch. 4:10).The Apostle is saying in effect, thecarpenter has need of the merchant,
the merchant has need of the farmer,the farmer needs the factory worker,the factory worker needs the publicschool teacher, and on and onthrough the whole circle of organizedlife. All kinds of talent and occupations are required for prosperous andharmonious community life.
South Wales ReporterInterviews R. C. G.Williams of Bay City
A FEATURE article in the NeathGuardian, South Wales, tells of an
intei'view by a Guardian reporter withRev. R. C. G. Williams of Bay City,
retired member of the Detroit Conference, who with Mrs. Williams wasvisiting at the home of Mr. and Mrs.Harold Powell of Neath, the latter a
niece of Mrs. Williams.
Mr. Williams, an active minister for56 years, attended a Neath Methodistchurch the previous Sunday morning
and had been amazed at the poor at
tendance. In comparing this withchurch attendance in the United States.Mr. Williams stressed the fact thatthe American parson gets closer con
tact with his flock — his visits to the
homes are frequent and regular — he
"knows" his sheep. And to keep him
self primed he card-indexes them — the
father's job, number of children, theirschools, work and hobbies — they're
all on file and thus "in the bag" where
the church is concerned. And he doesn't
think that differences of religious ap
proach are the reasons for Britain'sreligious anemia. "You must remem
ber," he said, "that religious differ
ences are not nearly so disastrous as
religious indifference." He considers
the ministry the greatest fun in the
world and regrets not a day of his
labor.
Mr. Williams was brought up in the
Church of England, but became con
vinced that non-conformity gave him
"clearer access."
Rev. and Mrs. Williams met at the
start of this century at a chapel anniversary at Aberavon. They have a
family of two sons and a daughter, all
of whom were born in Cwmavon: Rev.
W. Leslie Williams of Flint; Cal., who
arranged the vocal music for the film,
"How Green Was My Valley"; and
Daisy, a high school teacher before
her marriage.
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12 MICHIGAN CHRISTIAN ADVOCATE
(fa*? PLACES,T>oiHf THINGS 7Vit6, OUR YOUTH
STURGIS INTERMEDIATESVISIT MAMMOTH CAVE
TRAVELINGin two large chartered
buses, 49 boys and girls, members ofthe Intermediate Methodist Youth Fellowship of First Methodist Church, Sturgis, plus nine adult counselors, left earlyon a Saturday morning with MammothCave National Park in Kentucky astheir destination.
The tent crew composed of RoyalPotts and his son Mike, Max Hecht andtwo sons, Doug and David, and DennisEbel, left the preceding night travelingwith two large trucks to transport sixtents, bed rolls, sleeping bags, cookingutensils and chow to the site of the campwhich was in readiness when the busesarrived Saturday afternoon.
Sunday and Monday were spent touring and exploring the cave and park.Meals were cooked out of doors. Campwas broken Tuesday morning afterbreakfast and the caravan headed backtoward Sturgis.
Money for the trip was earned by theboys and girls during the last year witha chow mein supper, baked goods sales,and by selling Christmas cards, tablenapkins and blankets.
Adult counselors included Mr. andMrs. Wayne Myers, Mrs. Max Hecht,Mr. and Mrs. Lyle Wyer and Rev. andMrs. Donald Strobe of Sturgis; andPhvllis DuKaves of Marshall.
FORMER ORGANIST ISGUEST MINISTER
A FORMER organist at Monroe
Street Methodist Church, Lapeer,Alfred Hurshburger, was guest minister while the pastor, Rev. Raymond
■■■I
Alfred Hurshburger
R. Lamb was participating in a buscaravan.
Alfred will enter his senior year atthe University of Michigan in September where he is majoring in music education. For the last three years, hehas been minister of music at theCongregational church at Ypsilanti.
Intermediate MYF'ers of First Methodist Church, Sturgis, ready to take off forMammoth Cave National Park, Kentucky.— Sturgis Journal photo.
DETROIT YOUTH ATTEND UCYMCONFERENCE AT LAKE GENEVA
MISSSusan Delany of Strathmoor
Methodist Church, Detroit, vicepresident of the Detroit District M.Y.F.,was a representative, with Miss JanetSmedley and Jeffrey Erickson, at theUnited Christian Youth Movement Conference at Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, August 17-24. The conference representedsome 34 denominations, involving approximately 800 local churches. Susanpreviously attended the Conference
Assembly for district and conferenceofficers at Lake Huron and the Methodist Youth Camp at Lake Louise.
DETROIT CONFERENCE YOUTHMAKE BUS CARAVAN TOUR
THIRTY-FOURhigh school Juniors
and Seniors from the Eastern halfof Michigan participated in a 12-day buscaravan tour of Methodist colleges andhome missions in the central part of theUnited States.
The group met at The MethodistChurch in Lapeer Sunday evening, July6, for a get acquainted-orientation periodand a picnic lunch with the Lapeer MYFat Cramton Park.
Early the next morning the caravanleft Lapeer with its first stop, AdrianCollege at 10:00 o'clock. Their itineraryincluded Chicago, Evanston, Springfieldand E. St. Louis, Illinois; Nashville, andMadisonville, Tenn.; Lake JunaluskaAssembly, N.C.; Henderson Settlement,Frakes, Ky.; Cincinnati and West Liberty, Ohio. Many points of Methodistand historic interest were visited.
Counselors for the trip were Rev. andMrs. Raymond Lamb of Lapeer; Rev.and Mrs. Frank Dennis, Imlay City;and Mrs. Jean Kett of Detroit.
REGIONAL MEETING OF KAPPAPHI HELD IN KALAMAZOO
KAPPAPhi Club of First Methodist
Church, Ann Arbor, held its regional meeting, Gamma Kora, at Kalamazoo. The regional meeting is heldevery other year with the NationalCouncil meeting in the alternate years.Next year, National Council will be heldat Albion.
At Gamma Kora, workshops wereheld and many problems ironed out. Oldfriends got together and new friendships were made. Nu Chapter of University of Michigan was awarded anefficiency candlestick for maintainingthe high standards of Kappa Phi andhaving a most efficient chapter lastyear.
Mrs. Donald Katz, sponsor of thechapter, accompanied Martha Powers,Barbara Krueger, Linda Katz and Barbara Anette, president of Nu Chapter.Ann Griffith, Kathy Nylander and Mrs.Herbert Gamage, alumnae of Nu Chapter, also attended.
"People who wonder wherethe younger generation isheaded would do well to cr^-sider where it came from.**
SEPTEMBER 4, 1958
Big Rapids District Seniors
ONEhundred and fifty-five campers
and their leaders from the BigRapids District explored the theme,"Does A Belief In God Matter?", at theDistrict's Senior Institute, July 27 toAugust 2, at Lake Louise.
Rev. Lyle Chapman of White Cloudwas campfire speaker; Rev. JohnFrancis, Ithaca, served as Dean; Rev.Dale Ward of Breckenridge, as BusinessManager; and the district superintendent, Rev. Leon Manning, was resourceleader.
Traditional games (the campers lostto the staff again), "core groups," Communion and Commitment services werea part of the busy week.
Flint District Senior Camp
FLINTDistrict Senior Youth met at
Lake Louise, August 3-9. Over 170
young people and counselors spent theperiod in a demonstration of ChristianLiving. Out of the experience manyyouth expressed a desire to be more concerned with their relationship to JesusChrist. One of the outstanding valueswas the presence of Rev. and Mrs.George B. Ferguson and their familyfrom Dublin, Ireland. Mr. Fergusonserved not only as the National, but also
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Big Rapids District Seniors at Lake Louise
as Quest Leader and gave the youtha better insight as to what The Methodist Church is like outside their owncountry.
The young people selected as theirproject for their sacrificial gift forothers during the week, the MethodistStudent Loan Fund, which aids youngmen or women who wish to enter the
ministry.
worship program in the fire bowl orchapel, followed by the quest groupswhere the campers sought to learn moreabout their responsibilities and privilegesas faithful stewards in God's world.Other activities in the morning includedcamp improvement, camp paper, recreation, worship and choir committees. TheCamp Improvement committee made
permanent improvement in the camp
Flint District Seniors, Lake Louise, Aug. 3-9
Kalamazoo DistrictIntermediates II
INTERMEDIATEScamp No. II was
completed on August 2 for the Kala
mazoo District at Crystal Springs under
the leadership of Rev. Ralph Pratt of
Constantine.
Each day's activities started with a
Order Your Materials Nowfor
WORLD WIDE COMMUNION SUNDAY
OCTOBER 5, 1958
Printed Communion Service • Covenant CardsLetterheads • Inspirational Leaflets • Other Assorted Materials
TIDINGS, Dept. A.Materials for Christian Evangelism
1908 Grand Avenue, Nashville 5, Tennessee
by building new horse shoe pits andplacing a light in front of the chapel.
Reporters for the paper kept the en
tire camp informed as to the happen
ings at camp — both sense and non
sense. The recreation committee planned special recreation; the choir added
music to the worship programs; whilethe members of the worship committee
assisted in the programs themselves.
For the last twenty years campers
at Crystal Springs have enjoyed theexcellent cooking of Mrs. RusselCornish. This camp was no exception.
Good food and singing in the dining-
room added much to the Christian Fellowship.
One of the highlights was the presence of Jun Suzuki from Tokyo, Japan."John," as he was called by the younppeople, showed slides of his homeland
and helped take those present a stepcloser to understanding the way oflife of the Japanese people. His owndeep Christian commitment made his
14 MICHIGAN CHRISTIAN ADVOCATE
i-ersonal contact with the youth invaluable.
In the afternoon the young peopletook part in swimming, hiking, crafts,and planned recreation. Each day endedas it began with a worship service. Friday evening was climaxed by a commitment service where the young peopleleft their commitment cards at the altar.
Saturday is always both a happy anda sad day at camp. Sad as camperssay goodby to friends made during theweek. Happy as they greet their families and are homeward bound. A weekat camp is an enriching experience foryouth and counselors alike.
Kalamazoo District Intermediates II at Crystal Springs
Saginaw Bay District Seniors
GURSARANSHOKER of Chandig-
han, Punjab, India, will return tohis native home with many friends onthe Saginaw Bay District among theSenior High MYF. Mr. Shoker, 22
years of age, is a recent convert toChristianity from the Sihk religion, a
friend of Dr. E. Stanley Jones, and a
member of The Methodist Church. Theyouth enjoyed the leadership of theDistrict Cabinet; Rev. Wesley Dafoe,institute speaker; Rev. Floyd Braun, di
rector of the Morning Watch; and Dr.Howard Eurden, district superintendent,who preached and conducted the HolyCommunion.
The Cabinet was installed by Rev.Charles Jacobs on Sunday night andbegan immediately to conduct the program of the institute under their leaderand president of the district youth,Joe W. Dibley. The five program areaswere given equal opportunity and timeto present their programs for thecoming year.
Keith Parrott of the Fremont Meth-
Saginaw Bay Senior High Camp, Lake Louise
UHtR ADSRELIGIOUS libraries purchased. Baker Book
House, Dept. MA. (irami Rapids 6, Michigan.
LAKE FRONT COTTAfiES for rent or sale onllig Star Lake, near chapel, Campbell Lake, or
McLaren Lake. Call (or Don Turplc, Hesperia,days 3813.
FOR SALE—A BARGAIN— Bay View Cottage.furnished, clean and goon*. Extra choice loca
tion. Large living room with fireplace and oilburner; dining room, electric kitchen, 3-piece bathroom, three bedrooms, plenty of closets; grandfront porch. Two-car garage. Plenty of windows.Must sell, price reduced. Key next door with Mrs.Leo Brown. Or write the owner, Dr. Thomas (J.R. Brownlow, 909 S. Boulevard, Lakeland, Florida.Write today. Terms if desired.
r'OR SALE— Beautiful (Jrandview HighlandsEstate. Scenic forty acres rich loam, on Top
: World, lovely Newberg Hills. Cass County,Michigan ; modern eight room residence, numerouswrings, for gracious healthful living and security,'jr private estate. Medical Organizations, Sana-vium. Health Club. Silas Hansen, 4'tif) Kinzie■•. Chicago 4-1, Illinois.
odist Church, Bay City, was recognizedby the camp dean, J. Charles Dibley,for the completion of ten years ofcamping. Keith has attended the Saginaw Bay District Institute for eightstraight years, but because of graduation from high school will no longer be
permitted to attend. He will enroll thisfall at Bay City Junior College andcontinue in his local church activities.
Grand Rapids District Juniors
LEARNINGto Live With Others"
was the theme for sixty-sevenJunior campers and their counselors atWesley Woods, July 27 to August 2.
Activities included making "Homes inthe Woods," cook-outs, a sleep-out, hikes,etc., for each of the six "FamilyGroups." Many of the campers recognized that even though these activitieswere fun in themselves, they were theframework of the bigger project of
learning to live together in a Christianway. This ideal was presented verywell at an All Camp Talent and Sharing Program the last evening when one
of the groups gave a short play contrasting "The Home Without Christ"and "The Home With Christ."
Counselors were: Mrs. Wilson Ranck,Rev. Don Merrill, Miss Sheila Ashcraft,Rev. William Reynders, Miss MarilynHanson, Bernard Waterhouse, Miss JoanFrancisco, Rev. Lawrence Waterhouse,Mrs. Myron Bestervelt, Rev. HowardFuller, and Mr. and Mrs. Charles Wernicke. Rev. Paul Mowrer of Parma wasnurse for the week, and Howard F. McDonald, director.
Mimeographing for ChurchesWeekly Bulletin*— Pastor's Letters
Radio Sermons—AnnouncementsFinancial Appeals
METCALFE AND METCALFEPbone Tyler 1-5JJ3
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SEPTEMBER 4, 1958
Religion in Public Education
(Continued from page 6)
people, then God is in their schools also.Many countries have been taught tomerge their concept of God with theirown culture. Invariably both God andculture suffer. God becomes a diminutive of His real self, and culture be
comes cast in a mold of unchangingverities. We should be spared such con
fusion.
In the matter of values the schoolsare weighed and found wanting also in
the production of skilled scientists andbudding business executives. A newage — an age of "organization man"and circling satellites — has suddenly
come upon us, and the public schoolsare found deficient of the values of thisnew age. Now we must screen outgenius early and capitalize on itsdevelopment so as to give us leadershipwhere we need it. In this also it willbe wise to analyze how far we reallywish to shift. Does the scientist havevalue because his skills are needed by
the nation, or is the man of worth as aperson? Must we have the businessorganizer, or the propaganda expert, or
do we want mature, sane, broad-mindedand big-hearted men? There is indeedroom for more mathematics and science,
but let us not panic and run from our
fundamental insights.
The Russian revolution launched a
new education program in the 1920's
and 1930's. It discarded the values of
the Tsarist regime and adopted thevalues of the revolution, glorifying industry and science over the aristocracyof blood and land. It set up a "crash"educational program to industrialize thenation at the maximum possible speed.That the achievements of this government directed program of guidance andtraining are significant within the province of its objectives no one would dispute. But does that mean that we
should adopt that system? Does notdemocracy have something to offer thismodern world in its originating insightregarding the worth of man?
Youth today is caught in the midstof a phenomenal shifting of community
or national values. We grandparentsare trying heroically to defend valuesthat arose in a past economy but haveno more divine sanction in them thansome of the new values of our changingworld. But youth must go on. Theboy who is in school now must be so
instructed that he can live and be
effective fifty or sixty years from nowin a world that even Buck Rogers hasnot dreamed of yet. It is not backward to the agrarian concepts and patterns of the Middle Ages that we must
in iversity of .'.!;
General Library'urn Arbor, Mich.
turn our clocks, but forward to the mostadvanced visions which we can findwithin the wisdom and purposes of God.
What then are the institutional patterns needed for the training of freeminds for tomorrow's world? God nodoubt has the answer, but certainly noone institution has it. Ultimate realityis not defined by institutional structures.If the family, the church, or the statewere to be given a monopoly over theeducation of the next generation, anyone of them would perform within a setof serious limitations.
When our founding fathers tried tofigure out how to set up a governmentthat was "for the people," i.e., a government that could not become absoluteand oppressive on the people, they de
cided upon a "check and balance system." A legislature to make the laws,an administration to carry out the laws,and the courts to adjudicate differences,each branch checking on the other andkeeping a balance among the "separatedpowers." And all the people live underall the powers of the government.
That is a good analogy for education.A child needs not just one educationfrom one institution. He needs threeeducations from as many institutions.The family must begin the process, butit cannot impose itself and its limitations on the future children. Nor canthe state be permitted to absorb exclusively the person who was createdin the image of God. He has a destinyon earth and in eternity which liesbeyond the scope and competence ofgovernment, and must be taught by thechurch. All three must rise to the newdemands for a generation of greaterspiritual, intellectual, and social competence than the world has yet known.We must help parents in their desire todo a good job for their children in thehome, we must help our communities do
a good job for the citizens of tomorrow,and we must help the churches do a goodjob in order that the next generationshall be " children of God," and worthyof their spiritual heritage.
To rethink education in America is unavoidable in the new world in which welive. It is a world made small by science, with its new forms of travel andcommunications. But it is made largeby the emergence of a score of nationswith billions of people who are determined to catch up on food and health, onindustry and commerce, and on prestige and recognition of their worth.Our generation has the fearful responsibility of planning for the education ofour next generation who will live inthis new world. In that responsibilitylies our grandest opportunity. In meeting that opportunity we need to havefaith in God and in the people.
AU
7te^|
PARKER
Ivut
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On U.S. 12 in Downtown Albion2 Blocks from Goodrich Chapel
FRESH PEON HALVESYear after year for over It years
Organizations make money selling our Pound
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for use by churchessocieties and others
Price List on Reques
H. LEONARD & SONS
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MAIN OFFICEGRISWOLD AND JEFFERSON
17540 GRAND RIVER near Southiield10641 JOY ROAD and Manor16841 SCHAEFER ROAD near 6 Mile16530 EAST WARREN at Outer Drive11600 KELLY ROAD and Whittier1406 NORTH WOODWARD in Royal Oak
Walter J. L. Ray. President
16 MICHIGAN CHRISTIAN ADVOCA