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About Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989 | View Entire Issue (July 26, 1957)
MX MEDFORD (OREGON) MAIL TRIBUNE 'Century' Editor Questions Value Of Billy Graham Type Conversions Editor-! note: Author of thii week's column it editor of the Christian Century magaiine. an old and respected organ which circulates widely among clergyman of all major Protec tant denominations. He raises questions about the lasting benefits of crusading tech niques like Billy Graham's and finds that in the past mass conversions hare failed to take hold. By DR. HAROLD E. FEY Written For The United Press Each Saturday evening during his New York Crusade the na Medford Writes on (Editor's Note: David Frohn mayer. 16-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Otto Frohnmayer, 1656 Spring St., is in Germany this summer as an exchange student under the American Field Serv ice program. The Mail Tribune asked him before he left to write a series of articles on his experiences, several of them concerning churches and religion. Following Is his first communication con cerning this field of life abroad.) Molln in Lauenburg, Germany, July 11, In these past few weeks I have seen and heard much about churches and re ligion that was new to me. Since there were 769 young people together on the ship, my first contact with churches away from home was during the 11 days at sea. We had many good oppor tunities to learn about other faiths and beliefs, as there was a panel discussion or an open forum on a different religion each day. In addition, on both Sundays, church services were held for Protestant, Catholic, Jewish arii Morman faith. Every even ing there was a vesper service for Protestants and a Rosary for Catholics. It is perhaps interesting to point out that all of these re ligious discussions and services were organized completely by the young people on board. I had always expected the Europeans to be very devout and faithful church goers; but when we arrived In Dusseldorf, Germany, for an overnight stay before continuing on our jour ney, a surprise awaited me. I stayed with another boy in the home of an artist-teacher. His son, Hajo, will be an ex change student to the U.S. next fall, and as he speaks good English we had a chance to ask him about the church in Ger many. Unlike America, there are only two churches. Catholic and Protestant (Lutheran). Hajo told me that in Germany church life is not as important as in the United States. Apparently, the church Is old-fashioned and, in his words, "not alive." He told me that what the people hear in the church, they have heard before; this may be due to the fact that many pastors in Ger many are not very good he used the word "primitive." He went on to say that a per son many times has more faith if he doesn't hear the sermons than a faithful church-goer does. Hajo also explained that men of cience often disagree with some parts of the Bibl, and because of this, all religion is discarded. These men, Hajo said, think only a child can have a faith, because a child doesn't know science. All of these things were very new to me and so I inquired if perhaps the church was looked upon in this manner because of persecution by Adolf Hitler. He replied that to the contrary, war years were the most successful for the church because it had something to live for, and grew under the attacks made upon it by the Nazis. These many dif ferent views on churches were quite surprising to me, but it must be remembered that I talk ed to only one person, and per haps his facts are not completely accurate. Nevertheless, he is a sincere Protestant; so he prob ably has valid information. The church buildings through out the nation are very beautiful, as well as quite old. All towns are dominated by church spires, and Molln, the town I am living in. is quite typical. The church here dates back to about the year 1300, and in it is buried Till Eulenspiegel, who was a (jamous jester and wise man in early Germany. It is very interesting to note many of the styles of architec ture in the older churches. In Ratzeburg. a town not far from here, is a Protestant church. GUEST SPEAKER The Rev. Lewis Collins will be guest speaker at the 11 a.m. service at Central Point Commu nity Bible church. He will also bein charge of Bible study and prayer hour in the 7:45 p.m. Wednesday meeting. tion has seen hundreds of tele vised men and women moving to the front of Madison Square Garden as evangelist Billy Gra ham has pleaded with them to "accept Christ." Forty years ago Billy Sunday urged New Yorkers to "hit the sawdust rail," and they came in even larger numbers. But the effects of the Billy Sunday meet ings have long ago disappeared, and it seems likely the Billy Graham revival may have a similar transiency. Mass - pro duced conversions fail to endure the test of time. On the other hand, the one- Exchange Student Religion in Europe formerly a monastery. One can see the old Roman style, and as the church was enlarged, Gothic arches, and still later some Renaissance architecture. It is a pity that many many churches have been destroyed by war, for many historic ones were razed as far back as the Church News Adventists Gladstone Many members of the Seventh day Adventist church will be attending the Gladstone Park Seventh-day Adventists camp meeting this week end, accord ing to Elder John D. Trude, church pastor. Services at the Gladstone camp began July 25 and will continue to Aug. 3. A former associate pastor of the church here, Don Maclvor, is to be one of three men or dained to the gospel ministry at the camp tomorrow. Service Two Guests Speak At First Christian There will be guest speakers at both morning and evening services at First Christian church Sunday. Delbert Troxell will speak on 'Wrestling With Angels" at the 10:50 a.m. worship service. Mr. and Mrs. Troxell have recently returned from Japan where they served four years as mis sionaries for the United Chris tian Missionary society. Mr. and Mrs. William G. Pres ton wil sing the duet "The Nine ty and Nine" at the morning service. At the 7:30 p.m. evening wor ship, John Piper wil be guest speaker. He is the son of the Rev. William C. Piper, minister of the Medford church. The younger Mr. Piper is a graduate of Northwest Christian College and is doing post-graduate work at Drake university. He is pastor of the Altoona, Iowa, Christian church. Mrs. Piper is the former Janet Monia, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. C. V. Monia, Medford. They are spending their vacation at the homes of their parents. Pastor at Eastwood To Attend Conference The Rev. Richard M. Jones, pastor of the Eastwood Baptist church, will be in Green Lake, Wis., Aug. 3 to 11 to attend a church extension conference at the American Baptist Assembly. While at the conference, Mr. Jones will act as chairman for one of the 12 workshops dealing with problems of new churches in expanding areas. He and his family leave Sun day for Portland, then will trav el by train to L isbon. N.D. for a family reunion where Mr. Jones will conduct a wedding ceremony for his younger sister. The family will return to Med ford near the end of August. "WHAT PRICE GLORY?" The sermon subject for Ascen sion Lutheran church at the 11 a.m. worshiD service Sundav will be "What Price Glory?" Holy communion will be ob served at the service. ADVENTIST SPEAKER Eagle Point Elmer B. Estelle will be the speaker for the 11 a.m. worship service at Eagle Point Seventh-day Adventist church this Sunday. SAMS VALLEY PICNIC Sams Valley There will be a picnic on the Rogue river at Sur geon's place following the 11 a.m. morning service at Sams Valley Gospel church. SERMON SUBJECT "Truth" will be the sermon subject Sunday at 10 a.m. at the First Church of Christ, Scientist. Friday. July 28, 1937 by-one conversions which take place through the churches amount to more than three mil lions each year, renewing a Christian community of nearly 100 million each generation, without fanfare or excitement and with a minimum of loss and disillusionment. BelieTes In Conversion Right off I must make it clear that my skepticism concerning the value of mass evangelism docs not mean I am skeptical concerning the importance of re ligious conversion. Real conver sion is not only possible; it takes place every day and under the Thirty Years war, which was fought between the two reli gions. World War II also took it's toll of the old churches, but most of these are gradually be ing reconstructed. At a later date I hope to report on other church activities and youth groups in modern Germany. Attending Park Camp will be at 2 p.m. with Elder L. E. Biggs, president of the Oregon Conference of Seventh day Adventists, and Elder C. A. Scriven, president of the North Pacific union, will officiate. Maclvor was associate of Med ford, Valley View, Ashland and Eagle Point churches a year ago. He led a series of meetings in Prospect and directed a lay men's evangelistic campaign in Gold Hill while here. The camp meeting at Glad stone will feature Elder William Fagal, television speaker, with his quartet, at worship services this week end. Other church leaders I om around the nation are scheduled to speak duripg the week. Conference officers for the next two years were selected at the biennial business session Wednesday and Thursday. First religious service at the meeting took place Thursday night. Eagle Point Members of the Eagle Point Seventh-day Ad ventist church leaving this week for the Gladstone Park camp ground are Mr. and Mrs. Roy Clark and family, Mrs. Myrtle Bennett, Mr. and Mrs. Herschel Kr.rper, Mr. and Mrs. Adrian L. Pittsley and family, Mrs. Roy Swan, Mr. and Mrs. Elmer Es telle, Mr. and Mrs. Irvin Per shall, Carole and Pat Pershall, and Mrs. Victor Bartholomew. Local Unitarians Hear California Minister The Rogue Valley Unitarian Fellowship will be host Sunday at a 5 p.m. potluck picnic in Ashland's Lithia park. Attend ing will be Unitarians from Grants Pass, Klamath Falls, and Rogue valley points. The J. Ford Lewis family of Stockton, Calif., will be guests of honor. Dr. Lewis is minister of the Unitarian church in Stockton. He was graduated from Salem college, received his M. A. de gree from the University of Arkansas in 1940. In 1952 he received a Doctor of Philosophy degree from the University of California at Berkeley. The Lewis family has been vacationing at Lake of the Woods. The fellowship will furnish coffee and punch at the Sunday picnic. C. Pt. Presbyterians Hold Picnic Monday Central Point The annual picnic for families fo Central Point Presbyterian church and the church school will be held at Tou Velle state park Monday, July 29. Games for young people will begin at 4 p.m. and a picnic pot luck supper is planned for 6 p.m. Those wishing transporta tion should meet at the church at 3:45 or 5:30. The women's circle is sponsoring the picnic, and will furnish coffee. CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH Thomas McCamant, Minister Groveland Ave. and Oakwood Drive Summer Schedule Church School . at 10 a.m. Church Worship at 10 a.m. right circumstances it is greatly to be desired. Conversion can bring a radical and wholesome change to life. A person who has been consciously alien, despairing, guilty, con fused as to his goals and at odds with the universe, with society and with imself, can be changed. He or she can come to know reconciliation with God, with other people, with self. Despair can be transformed to confi dence, guilt to forgiveness, the cross purposes of uncertain goals to the integrity of one aim. The personality, hitherto utterly alone, takes on a new character as it becomes part of the church, the living society which hails as its highest designation the title "Body of Christ." Clearly it is of overwhelming importance that a person who has been at odds with himself and the universe can be so rec onciled with God, his fellows and his own soul. This change is conversion. It can usually take place without a wracking emo tional upheaval, but it involves the emotions since they are part of the totality of personality. But it can never take place without the presence and help of the church at various stages. Urges Church Association Billy Graham is right in in sisting that every person must make his own decision about Christ, must surrender his life to God. But experience has re peatedly shown that the person who "accepts Christ" 'T such cir cumstances as those seen in Madison Square Garden is very likely to lose his way. He may transiently know what it means to be converted, but if he fails to become integ rally identified with other Chris tians in a church, the experience will wither. He needs guidance immediately into an understand ing of the good news which runs far deeper than that preached by the mass evengelist, whose sole concern is to present only that portion of the gospel which bears on "decisions for Christ." The new Christian needs more help than ordinarily he knows to "grow in grace." He is for tunate if he is led into the ex perience of conversion by the pastor or members of a church whose individual counsel and prayers guide each step. NAZAHENE SPEAKER Dr. W. D. McGraw, district superinten dent of the Oregon-Pacific dis trict of the Church of the Naz- arene, will speak Sunday at the 10:50 a.m. morning worship service at First Church of the Nazarene, 520 North Holly st. McGraw was recently re-elected for a three year term after serving for six years in the dis trict office. Rogue Valley Gideons Hold Potluck Meeting Central Point The Rogue Valley Gireon society met for its regular monthly potluck dinner and business meeting in the Community Bible church here Monday evening. The Rev. R. E. Matthews, of Foursquare church, was guest speaker. Solos were sung by Lee Mansfield, accompanied by Mrs. G. E. McUne at the piano. Mans field is choir director at the First Church of the Nazarene. One new member was ac cepted by the group. Forty-five persons were present. Election of officers will take place at the August meeting. AQUARIAN HALL OF TRUTH The Aquarian Hall of Truth will hold services every Sunday at 8 p.m. in the Hedman hall at Fourth and Apple sts. Pastors are Rev. Flora Hara and Rev. Alice Cook. & i, - " -Tarn K- tit If W . h- MINISTER TRANSFERRED The Rev. Ernest Volkman, min ister for the past two years at the First Presbyterian Church of Phoenix, has been transferred to the First Presbyterian church in Oakland, Calif. A reception for Mr. and Mrs. Volkman will fol low 8 p.m. Union Vesper serv ices at the Phoenix church this Sunday. He will deliver his last sermon here at the regular morn ing service Sunday. Ernest Volkman, Phoenix Minister Moves to Oakland Phoenix The Rev. Ernest Volkman will conduct his final service at the First Presbyter ian church here Sunday morn ing. He and his family will move next week to Oakland, Calif., where he will assume duties as assistant pastor of the First Pres byterian church there. Mr. Volkman, his wife and two sons, moved to Phoenix in June of 1955, shortly after he was graduated -from the San Fran cisco seminary. He was ordained and installed at the PhoenrX church on Aug. 18, 1955. He has served as minister there since then. A reception for the family will follow the Union Vesper services to be held for all Rogue valley Presbyterians at the church Sunday evening. The Rev. Harold Bridges of Jackson ville is speaker at the service, beginning at 8 p.m. This will be the last night of the vesper services for the summer. The Volkmans have been on vacation the last month visiting his parents in Chicago, 111. Dur ing that time the morning mes sage has been delivered by Dr. Clifford Miller, professor of history at Southern Oregon Col lege, and Dave Heinz, leader for Young Life work in Medford. Both Mr. and Mrs. Volkman come originally from Illinois. He attended Wheaton college and Northwestern university be fore entering the San Francisco seminary. While in the seminary, he served as student assistant to the minister in a Berkeley Pres byterian church. Pathfinders Begin New Club House Construction was begun this week on a club house for the Medford Pathfinder society, Seventh-day Adventist youth or ganization. The c!ub house is to be on the Rogue River Academy school grounds, South Stage rd. Oral W. Tucker, director of the group, said the building will be rustic in architecture. Plans include eight unit-meeting rooms equipped for hobby and craft work, in addition to a counsellor's room, kitchen and large assembly hall. When the building is com pleted, it wil be available for practice sessions by the school band also, Tucker said. Work is being done largely on a volunteer basis, and funds will be raised by club members. Pathfinders are selling candy house-to-house in Medford this month to aid in financing the club house. Park Picnic Scheduled For Phoenix Nazarenes Phoenix A picnic at Tou Velle state park is schedule-for momlwn nf the Phoenix Church of the Nazarene Sunday school tomorrow. The ninnic will begin at the park at 2 p.m., featuring con tests races and a tug-o-war. Pot luck supper will be served there at fi n.m. Those attending are asked to bring covered dishes. Anyone wishing transporta tion may call the parsonage or superintendent, at K E y st one 2547. William C. Pip Minister ! ft lis lamorma Minister First Presbyterian Speaker on Sunday The congregation of First Presbyterian church will hear a guest speaker at both 9:45 and 11 a.m. services Sundav. The Rev. Larry Cardwell, Berkeley, Calif., a missionary appointee to Beirut, Lebanon, will speak briefly on his plans for work abroad. Mr. Cardwell has been ap pointed for a three year term to teach and counsel students in the Near East School of Theol ogy. His work will be related to the Protestant Student House adjacent to the American univer sity of Beirut. The local congregation has shared over the past three years in support of the Rev. Lynn Boleik who has carried on sim ilar duties in Beirut. Mr. Cardwell will speak to the combined Geneva and West minster fellowships at the 7 p.m. service. He has been working with students in Berkeley and is a recent graduate of Princeton Theological Seminary in New Jersey. The assistant pastor of the church, the Rev. John Reynolds, will preach at both morning services on the theme "A Day of Good News." The Westminster choir, under the direction of Miss Priscilla West, will sing anthems at the first service. Mrs. Charles Champlin will be soloist with the chancel choir at the second service. St. Luke's Methodist To Break Ground The congregation of year-old St. Luke's Methodist church ex pects to begin its building pro gram with ground breaking ceremonies tentatively set for Sunday, Aug. 11. The present site is on Barnett rd., just west of the new Rogue Valley Memorial hospital. Thursday, the trustees of the church met with the Rev. Mel- vin Dixon, pastor; the Rev. Meredith Groves, district super intendent; and the Rev. J. B. Harris Jr., executive director of the western and south central jurisdictions of the department of church extension of the di vision of national missions of the board of missions of the Methodist church. The trustees and building com mittee are under advisement from Mr. Harris on preliminary planning and building proce dures and also on recommenda tion for a building donation from the national board of missions. Ascension Lutheran Ceremonies Sunday Ground breaking ceremonies are scheduled this Sunday at 3 p.m. for the new Ascension Lu theran church. The church site is at Barnett rd. and Black Oak dr. Fred Robinson, Medford city councilman, will represent the city at the ceremonies, according to Walter Nelson, secretary, of Ascension Lutheran. The construction contract has been awarded to Meyer Jones, Medford contractor, by the home mission department of the Evangelical Lutheran church. The contract calls for the first unit, a Sunday school building, and parking lot for about 50 cars. This is to be completed within 150 working days. The cost of this unit is estimated at $45,000. The entire project will take approximately $260,000. All interested persons are in vited to attend the ground breaking. Three Ministers Talk on Roundfable Three Mdford ministers will discuss a Question on scripture from the book Matthew on the Ministers Roundtable program over station KMED at 8:30 p.m. Sunday. Thp ntiectinn Is: "Please ex plain Matthew 7:13-14. I am es pecially curious to Know why the way that leads to life is hard and why there are only a few that find it." Appearing on the .program nrill he Tir Georse Roseberry. First Methodist church; the Rev. Mansveld, First Church of the Nazarene; and the Rev. Robert Rnior cummer assistant at St. Peter's Lutheran church. The Rev. John Reynolds, First Pres byterian church, is moderator. First Christian Church The Friendly Church Welcomes You TO ALL SERVICES Bible School 9:45 a.m. Morning Service 10:50 a.m. Youth Meeting 6:30 p.m. Evening Service 7:30 p.m. 9th and Oalcdale Medford, Or. Baptist Film Shows Story of Barabbas "Wine of Morning," a two- hour film, will be shown at the First Baptist church in Medford at 8:30 p.m. Sunday, and at the Berean Baptist church in White City at 8 p.m. Tuesday, July 30. The film is the story of Barab bas the man whom Pilate re leased at the demand of the mob in the trial of Christ. It is in color. Unusual Films of Bob Jones University, Greenville, S.C., pro duced "Wine of Morning." The story includes a number of miracles performed by Christ. Most of the camera work was done on the 200-acre university caripus. A member of the uni versity faculty wrote the orig inal score. The Bob Jones university is a school of about 3,000 students In 1950 it instituted a depart ment ot cinema for teaching film techniques and production of films centering around reli gious films. Lutheran Intermediates To Spend Week at Camp Southeast of Portland Eleven young people of the intermediate classes at Zion Lu thean church will spend next week at the Lutherans' Camp Colton, about 34 miles southeast of Portland. The Rev. G. H. Hillermarr, pastor of the Medford church, will accompany the group. Campers will return to Medford next Saturday evening. Going to the camp are Judy Alder, Brian Christoffersen. Bil ly Gates, Janice Hillerman, Kit Jepson, Donna Johnson, Danny Kadin, John Kuoni, Terry Perk ey, Salli Reule and Brian Wal- deyer. Two Men of Letters Featured on Broadcast A dialogue between Mark Van Doren, Pulitzer prize winning poet and professor of English at Columbia university, and Maurice Samuel, author and lec turer, will be broadcast on NBC over radio station KMED from 9:30 to 10 a.m. Sunday. The dialogue is the fourth in a series of 10 on the wisdom books of the Bible over the pro gram Eternal Light, sponsored by the Jewish Theologicial Sem inary of America. During the 10-week period the two men are discussing in unrehearsed dialogues Job, Pro verbs, Ecclesiastes, as well as Ecclesiasticus and the Ethics of the Fathers. Phoenix Women's Group Hears Speech About UN Phoenix The Women's asso ciation of First Presbyterian church here met recently for a business meeting anfi covered dish luncheon at the church. During the afternoon, Mrs. Carl Bismark spoke on the United Nations. Plans were also made for the reception to be held this Sunday for the Rev. and Mrs. Ernest Volkman. STUDY TOPIC The 6 p.m. Sunday Bible study topic at the Kingdom Hall of Je hovah's Witnesses will be "Ac; cepting Responsibility in the New World Society," as featured in the June 15 Watchtower. BAPTIST MESSAGE "Christ Hath Abolished Death," will be the pastor's sermon from the First Baptist church at the 11 a.m. service Sunday. It will be broadcast over radio station KBOY. CREATIVE FELLOWSHIP The sermon theme for the 11 a.m. worship service at East wood Baptist church this Sunday will be "Creative Fellowship." SERMON ON HAPPINESS The topic for the 11 a.m. Sun day sermon at the First Metho dist church of Ashland will be "Springs of Happiness." SJ3 &Jh , J 3h.-irL ill j WINE OF MORNING "The most spectacular the most dramatic evangelical film ever produced" SUNDAY 8:30 P.M. FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH North Central at Fifth Brotherhood Hour Four Give Special Concert at First Church of God The Christian Brotherhood Hour quartet will be featured singer in a special concert at the First Church of God Tues day evening. The group will appear at the church. Haven and Holly sts., at 8 p.m., according to pastor Dar- old H. Jones. The Christian Brotherhood Hour is a 30-minute weekly radio program produced by the Church of God. Appearing in the Medford church will be Gene Miller, first tenor; Dave Turner, second tenor; Paul Hart, baritone, and Darrcll Taylor, bass. Paul Yerden is piano ac companist. Clergymen Trained To ep in Mental Cases Philadelphia OP) A grant of $10,000 has been allocated to the National Academy of Re ligion and Mental Health by the Smith, Kline and French foundation to train chaplains for mental hospitals. The non-sectarian, non-profit academy was organized in 1954 to emphasize how clergymen can deal with mental health problems. A spokesman for the academy aid that although clergymen are often consulted at the time of an emotional crises, very few are trained to deal with the prob lem. Episcopal Church Dedicated July 7 Wellfleet, Mass. (m A unique Episcopal chapel to be known as St. James the Fisher man was dedicated here July 7. The chapel has an open, pyramid-shaped tower for a steeple and a rough-hewn interior de signed to create the atmosphere of an old-time sailing vessel be low decks. Olav Hammarstrom, Finnish, born architect of Cleveland, O., designed the chapel, which will accommodate 175 persons. Revival Meetings Set For Prospect Church Prospect A series of revival meetings will be conducted at the Assembly of God Church here every night except Mon day. The meetings begin Sunday evening at 7:30 p.m. The meet ings are conducted by the Rev. Charles D. McLintic, pastor of the Assembly of God Church in Shady Cove. 'EXCELLENT EXCHANGE' The sermon subject for St. Luke's Methodist church at the 9:30 a.m. morning worship Sun day will be "An Excellent Ex change." ROSEBERRY SERMON Dr. George G. Roseberry will deliver a sermon entitled "im portant Events" at both the 9:30 and 11 a.m. services at First Methodist church Sunday. SERMON SUBJECT "Can This Be Christ?" will be the topic of the 11 a.m. worship sermon at the First Church, of God Sunday. ANNUAL UNITY PICNIC SUNDAY, JULY 28 - 1 P.M. CASEY'S PARK On Crater Lak Hwy., tbeva Trail. Devorionil services as viusl at Center rooms. Holly Theatre. Your family and friends am cordially invited to attend. Bring basket lunch. Coffee, soft drink and ice cream furnished. CHURCH for Sale Largs corner lot with park ing area located in Medford Ph. KE 5-1457 or NO 4-2829 & 'ft & it mi . - , . . . . - . , .,,mJ. 1
