EIGHT MECFORD (OREGON) MAIL TRIBUNE
Friday, October S. 1956
Six Clergymen Appraise
Upsurge of Religious Interest
BY LOUIS CASSELS
United Press Correspondent
Washington U.B Evangel
ist Billy Graham said today
"there is no doubt that we are
experiencing the greatest relig
ious renaissance in American
history."
But he and other leading min
isters warned that awakened
public interest in religion must
be translatd into a deeper com
mitment to its teachings before
the current back-to-church move
ment can be called a true spiri
tual revival.
Oraham was one of six prom
inent clergvmen who participat
ed in a United Press symposium
of the significance cf the rapid
growth in church membership
recorded during the past few
years. Other participants were
. theologian R e i n h old Niebuhr;
Dr. Norman Vincent Peale: Dr.
RalDh W. Sockman: Methodist
Bishop G. Bromley Oxnam: and
The Right Rev. Angus Dun,
Episconal bishop of Washington.
All based their comments on
a recent report by the National
Council of Churches shewing
that church membership in the
United States has passed 100 mil
lion for the first time, and is
continuing to grow at a rate
mat outstrips population gains
by more than 50 per cent.
Most of them agreed with Gra
ham that a powerful religious
movement is sweeping America,
but they varied widely in their
interpretations of it.
Social Problems Hit
Graham, who took one of the
most optimistic views, acknow
leged that there is "little evi
dence" so far hat increased in
terest in religion has been ac
companied by higher standards
of "personal morality" or by a
more Christian approach to
"basic social problems" such as
race relations.
"If every church member were
commited to Christ, I doubt if
we would be having the racial
violence, the unbelievable crime
ii our major cities, the high
divorce rate, the terrible slum
areas of our cities, and many
other social problems." he said.
But the fact that the present
"religious renaissance" has yet
to exert a major transforming
influence on American life does
not mean that it is insincere,
Graham said.
He recalled that there was a
"time lag of nearly a quarter
,of a century" before the 18th
centurv Weslevan revival in
England showed its effects in
British social life. Thus, he said,
there are grounds for "hope that
the renewed religious interest
of today will make its impact on
the America of tomorrow."
Neibuhr, noted author of the
ological books and professor of
applied Christianity at Union
Theological seminary. New
York, was the most reserve in
his appraisal of rising church
enrollment.
"I think it is questionable that
it indicates a genuine spiritual
revival," said Neibuhr. "Certain
ly going to church is popular.
Perhaps it is too popular it
has become the fashionable thing
to do. It establishes a sense of
community in the impersonality
of the city. It is significant that
church membership is now more
popular in the cities than in the
country, whereas it used to be
the other way around.
A sharply different view was
expressed by Peale, popular au
thor, broadcaster and pastor of
Marble Collegiate church in
New York.
"I firmly believe that the in
crease in church membership
is not a superficial salute to
religion in general," said Peale.
"It has happened because people
are definitely looking for ad
equate solutions to personal
problems and because the church
has discovered how to make
religion a daily source of guid
ance and inspiration.
"This new interest in religion
is derived from the necessity of
finding meaning in life and of
discovering new ways for more
effective living."
Sockman, whose "National Ra
dio Pulpit" sermons have been
heard by millions of Americans
since 1917, said the nation is un
dergoing "a religious awaken
ing" but "it is yet to be deter
mined whether it becomes a real
reliciou revival."
"The American people are
waking up to the fact that
secular living even in a period
of great prosperity like the pres
ent is not enough," he said.
'They are looking for something
more. The test will be whether
the church can give them what
they need and not merely what
they desire.
"Some people come to church
looking for 'happiness' or peace
of mind.' But you can't make a
wordly success story out of the
cross.
The church ha.s got to get back
to its original message a call
to service and sacrifice Religion
is not a commodity to be sold
but a cause to be served."
Oxnam, Methodist bishop of
Washington, said the "remarka
ble" growth of U. S. churches
"reflects the increased effective
ness of a better-trained clergy
and a carefully-developed pro
gram of religious education and
of community service."
"It is not an emotional flare
up born of fear," he said.' "It
is clear evidence of a deeping
religious interest the expres
sion of thoughtful decision upon
the part of increasing numbers
in one of the great movements
of history."
Bishop Dun said it is "surpris
ing and perflexing that the
churches of the United States
are showing such a dynamic
quality in the midst of excep
tional prosperity."
Growth Suspicious
"By Biblical testimony and
by historical experience," he
said, "the church has risen to
its greatest heights when it was
under handicaps and even op
pression. It is right that we
should be a little suspicious of
a great growth in church mem
bership which occurs at a time
when America is enjoying this
world comforts to such a high
degree.
"No one can say dogmatically
what motivations are behind it.
We can only speculate.
"One factor, I think, is that
the increasingly urban character
and mobility of our society has
left many people rootless, with
out apy deep sense of belong
ings. Churches, with their strong
community and social aspects,
offer people one of their best
opportunities for 'belonging.
This relationship in itself may
not have much real Christian
depth but it offers an opportu
nity to draw people into a deeper
association.
"Also, while it is true that
America is prospering and out
wardly at peace, we have been
living through times in which
people generally could not fail
to have a sense of foreboding
and anxiety. It may be that a
sense of ultimate insecurity and
of the tremendous responsibili
ties inherent in our situation may
be working to make people take
life more seriously."
APPRECIATIVELY SNIFFING CARNATION, Adlai Stevenson thanks Laurie (left)
and Dana London, 3', twins, for bon voyage gift as he prepares to take off from Wash
ington National Airport for campaign tour in northeast sector. (International Soundphoto)
Suez Isthmus Marks Trail
Of History's Old Caravans
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Washington The 100-mile-
long Suez Canal splits a sun
baked land route that was old
in the time of Moses.
The two largest continents,
Africa and Asia, face each other
across the low-lying Isthmus of
Suez. Only 72 miles wide, the
neck of restless sand marks the
ancient path of caravans from
the Nile to the Euphrates Val
leys, and from many-godded
Luxor to Nazareth.
Via the land bridge, young
Joseph was carried as a slave
into Egypt, a land that he was
later to save from famine. At
the dawn of Christian history,
another Joseph fled from Gali- j
lee with Mary and the Christ I
Child over the same narrow ex
panse of desert. . j
Led Out of Bondage j
West of the isthmus lay the
Biblical land of Goshen where
the Israelites, slaving for Phar
aoh, built the treasure cities of
Pithom and Ramses. To the
east stretched the Wilderness of
Shur and Sinai. The tongue of ,
the Red Sea extended farther
north then, and a mirculous wind
parted its waters to make pos
sible one of man's most dramatic
escapes to freedom. ' i
"And the children of Israel
went into the midwest of the
sea upon the dry ground," it is
recorded in Exodus, "and the
waters were a wall unto them
on their right hand, and on their .
left."
Even today it is possible to
retrace the supposed route of
the Israelites. Led by Moses,
they trekked through the scar
red barren wastes of Sinai to
Gebel Musa (Mount Sinai) where
in Old Testament tradition, the
great prophet received the Ten j
Commandments. i
Among the major present-day
towns of the isthmus Port Said .
on the Mediterranean; the garden
city of Isma'iliya; and the Red
Sea ports, Suez and Taufiq j
only one existed bofore the Suez j
Canal was built less than a cent-!
ury ago. The old settlement was '
Suez itself, and Arab town ris
ing on salt-encrusted land. Near- j
by are the ruins of an old canal
lock.
Life from Sweet Water Canal I
Long before the advent of I
steamships, Egyptian canal
builders dug a sarid ditch into
the isthmus to connect the Nile
with the Red Sea. For 22 cent-1
uries various generations were j
either rebuilding the ancient ,
canal, trading upon it, letting it
fall into disrepair, or deliberate
ly destroying it to discourage in-.
taders. I
Today's Sweet Water Canal
fcVows another ancient bed,
originally built to irrigate
Goshen and dating from Tu-'
tankhamen's reign. The T-shaped '
Sweet Water channels fresh
water from the Nile to Suez
Canal towns, for brine from the
sea fills the isthmian lakes,
Manzala. Timsah, Great Bitter,
and Little Bitter. j
Now, as in days gone by, life
in the isthmus involves a con
stant struggle against the relent
less encroachment of the desert.
The khamsin blows heat and
sand from the Sahara. Dredges
keep the 'Suez Canal clear.
On Lake Manzala, west of
Port Said, fishermen compete
with pelicans, herons, and
flamingos for their share of the
catch.
Not even modern civilization
can improve upon the classic
roie of the isthmus as a world
crossroads not an easy place
in which to live.
Sperry, Hutchinson
Open Medford Office
The Sperry and Hutchinson
Green Stamp company will open
a new merchandise redemption
store at 221 South Central ave.
Saturday, Oct. 6.
The company this year is cele
brating its 60th year. S and H
maintains 12 storey in Oregon.
There are also stores located in
Klamath Falls and Roseburg.
The S and H store in Medford
is managed by Mrs. Lillian Hin-
man, and agisted by Ruth Sie-
man, Mildred Dorman, clerks,
and Charles Eller, warehouseman.
Rosary Crusade Opens In Catholic Churches
The Rev. Nicolas Deis, pastor
of Sacred Heart Catholic church,
Medford, has announced the
start of a month-long family
Rosary Crusade by Catholic
parishes in the valley during
October.
Climax of the special period
will be a family prayer rally in
Medford, Thursday, Oct. 25. The
Rev. Edward D. Howard, arch
bishop of Portland, and the Rev.
Patrick Peyton, director of fam
ily prayer crusades and Holly
wood's Family Theatre, are ex
pected to attend. It is tentatively
scheduled to be held in the St.
Mary's school gymnasium.
Father Deis has appointed lay
committees in Medford to plan
the details of the crusade. Named
were R. F. Hlggins, chairman,
and Harold Lumden. Charles
Hackett and G. L. Clark, co
chairmen. The Medford parish has been
divided into nine districts with
two team captains selected from
each district. Committee mem
bers and team captains will meet
Sunday evening at 8 p.m. in the
rectory of Sacred Heart church,
to plan arrangements for the
rally.
WITNESS JAILED
Chicago (U.R) Sidney Tin
relle appeared in court as a wit
ness in a narcotics case but
found himself in jail when the
day was over. A bailiff said that
Tinnelle left with somebody's
overcoat after he finished his
testimony.
6-bottle carton
Double-Cola
for only 1C
with purchase
of 6-bottle
carton at
regular price
(plus deposit on bottle.)
This Week-end at Your Favorite Grocery
Battled by 7-Up Bottling Co., Medford
Defense Nears End
Of Brink's Testimony
Boston U.R) The fate of
eight men accused of robbing
Brink's Inc. of S1,218,2H six
years ago may be decided today.
Paul T. Smith, criminal law
yer, who has carried the burden
of the defense through 43 days,
was scheduled to begin final ar
guments. The defense Thursday turned
their attack on star government
witness Joseph (Specs) O'Keefe
who has testified that he led
masked bandits into the Brink's
money vaults Jan. 17, 1950.
O'Keefe was branded a "con
fessed thief and a liar" by At
torney Robert De Giacomo who
is defending Adolph (Jazz) Mf
fie. "The government," he said,
addressing jurors, "asks you to
accept the word of a convicted
and admitted thief. We ask that
you take the word of Maffie's
wife."
THEFT ALMOST" FATAL
Miami Beach, Fla. (U.R)
Sam Sorkin told police Thursday
night a prowler stole S1.50 and
a wrist watch from his apart
ment and almost strangled him
self during the getaway. Sorkin
said the thief, running in the
dark, was staggered by a neck
high wire clothesline, but re
gained his footing and escaped.
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