Before You Doubt

Medicaid to the Rescue

PAGE 9

Opening the Door to an Endless Treasure

The Pope—“Pilgrim of Peace” at Fatima

PAGE 20

THE REASON FOR THIS MAGAZINE

News sources that are able to keep you awake to the vital issues of our times must be unfettered by censorship and selfish interests. "Awake!" has no fetters. It recognizes facts, faces facts, is free to publish facts. It is not bound by political ties; it is unhampered by traditional creeds. This magazine keeps itself free, that it may speak freely to you. But it does not abuse its freedom. It maintains integrity to truth.

The viewpoint of "Awake!" is not narrow, but is international. "Awake!” has its own correspondents in scores of nations. Its articles are read in many lands, in many languages, by millions of persons.

In every issue "Awake!" presents vital topics on which you should be informed. It features penetrating articles on social conditions and offers sound counsel for meeting the problems of everyday life. Current news from every continent passes in quick review. Attention is focused on activities in the fields of government and commerce about which you should know. Straightforward discussions of religious issues alert you to matters of vital concern. Customs and people in many lands, the marvels of creation, practical sciences and points of human interest are all embraced in its coverage. "Awake!” provides wholesome, instructive reading for every member of the family.

"Awake!" pledges itself to righteous principles, to exposing hidden foes and subtle dangers, to championing freedom for all, to comforting mourners and strengthening those disheartened by the failures of a delinquent world, reflecting sure hope for the establishment of God's righteous new order in this generation.

Get acquainted with "Awake!" Keep awake by reading "Awake!"

•’f ..isnrn Semimonthly by

WATCHTOWER BI! LE AND TRACT SOCIETY OP NEW YORK. INC 117 Adams Street                       Brooklyn, N.Y. 11201, U.S.A.

N. H Kxorr. President                     Grant Suiter, Secretary

iho Bible translation regularly used In "Awake'” i$ the New World Translation nf the Holy Scriptures. 1961 edition. When olhrr translations are used, this Is clearly marked.

CONTENTS

Jailed for Being Christian in Portugal 3

Before You Doubt

Medicaid to the Rescue

Opening the Door

to an Endless Treasure

Mutations Not Evolutionary

How to Make Your Vacation More Satisfying

The Pope—"Pilgrim of Peace” at FAtima

"Your Word Is Truth"

Earthly Blessings Enjoyed Under God’s Kingdom

Watching the World

Volume XLVII1                          Brooklyn N.Y., July 8, 1967                              Number 13

Jailed for Being Christian in Portugal

WHAT is wrong in Portugal? On May 18, 1967, within a week of the visit of Pope Paul VI to that country, a political tribunal in Lisbon consigned a large group of Christians to jail for no greater “crime” than that of meeting together to study the Holy Scriptures. The case against these Christian witnesses had already attracted a great deal of attention.¹

As the court confirmed the prison sentences that day, there were no handcuffs and no convoy of armed guards, which usually mark commitments to prison. From the court to the prison is a distance of about fifteen minutes on foot. When the formalities were complete, the Witnesses were left to walk the distance on their own. Manifestly the court considered these prisoners to be honest, serious citizens. Indeed, public officials in and around the courtroom were deeply impressed by the calm and dignity of the Witnesses, and some by their manner showed a marked sympathy.

The female Witnesses, constituting 75 percent of the group, were assigned to the Monicas Prison, the males to the Limoeiro Prison. Inmates at both places showed keen interest in these new arrivals. Who were these fine-looking men and women? Why were they being put in prison? What crime had they committed? Were they really a threat to the State? These and many other questions were now being asked and answered.

And who are these people who are said to constitute such a grave threat to Portugal’s security? At least two in the group are women nearing their seventies. And there is one young woman with a three-week-old infant in her arms. Yes, the child goes to prison too. Ordinary wives, mothers, housekeepers, they are not at all the type that could be dangerous to the State by the greatest stretch of even the ecclesiastical imagination. Yet it is well known that Roman Catholic clergy pressure on police and other officials is behind this travesty of justice.

In honor of the pope’s visit an amnesty was proposed whereby a number of criminals will be released from Portugal’s jails. But, now, what about this group of Christians? Is it possible they may yet be released under the papal amnesty, or shall there be in Portugal a repetition of that historic decision made by a priest-inspired mob in the year 33 C.E.? They preferred murderer Barabbas to the holy and undefiled One, Jesus.—Matt. 27:15-26; Acts 3: 14, 15.

And what is the effect of this persecution on those who love God’s truth? Are they frightened? No; in fact, the young woman with the infant was a person newly interested in Bible study at the time of her arrest back in June 1965. Despite the difficulties, she stood fast, submitted to water baptism last year, and now goes to prison convinced of the rightness of her course. Friends have undertaken to care for her other children while she is in jail.

Undaunted, another of these young women visited twenty families with whom she had been conducting Bible studies, to explain why she would be unable to come for a while, and to introduce another Witness who will conduct the studies during her absence. Many were anxious to learn what prison she would be in so they could visit her. Not one of them was pressured by fear into discontinuing the study of the Bible. As she went to jail, other Witnesses there in Portugal recalled the words of Paul the apostle: “Most of the brothers in the Lord, feeling confidence by reason of my prison bonds, are showing all the more courage to speak the word of God fearlessly.”—Phil. 1:14.

It is refreshing to note, however, that not all officials have heart for this persecution of innocent Christians. In one mainland town of the south, police were summoned to cope with what was reported as some great subversive plot. Plainclothes-men were so alarmed that they sent for a detachment of twenty soldiers armed with machine guns. Thirty-seven persons were marched off to the headquarters of the Public Security Police. The police chief in this instance was genuinely embarrassed to find that all this show of force had broken up an open-air Bible meeting.

The officers were quite nonplussed by the peaceful attitude of their prisoners, and later at the station, when one of the Witnesses explained something of their beliefs and the wonderful promises of the Bible, some of these policemen were visibly moved. The whole group was released with apologies and permitted to take their Bibles home with them. The interference had the effect only of spreading the Bible’s message, for the whole district seethed with talk about this happening. One Witness reported that he was kept busy all the following day answering the questions of his neighbors.

The publicity attending this campaign of persecution is, in fact, having a result opposite to that intended. Bible lovers are not being intimidated, least of all the Witnesses themselves. Rather, the number of Witnesses active in Portugal is increasing —a 31-percent increase in April over the record of the previous year. This year when the Witnesses celebrated that annual evening meal that Christ Jesus instituted among his disciples on the eve of his sacrificial death, it was most encouraging to note that the number of interested persons attending the celebration represented an increase of some 1,100 over last year's attendance. Also, scores of families have offered to care for children of incarcerated Witnesses, and generous donations have been made toward court expenses.

As for those faithful Christians in jail, are they downcast? No, rather they rejoice at being "counted worthy to be dishonored in behalf of [Christ's] name." —Acts 5:41.

HIS is an age that is rapidly be-• coming one of doubt and skepticism. And not without reason. For there is an increasing number of things that one reads and hears that prove untrustworthy.

Turn to the advertisements in a newspaper, for example. How much that you read there can you wholeheartedly believe? From experience you may have discovered that certain kinds of information are dependable but that statements dealing with quality of merchandise often are not.

You perhaps have found that the case is similar with other information. Some news columnists you have learned to trust, and others you have discovered are somewhat biased. Also, some salesmen you have found are honest, while others are not. It is little wonder, then, that you may have learned to doubt, and wisely so. For as the inspired Bible proverb advises: "Anyone inexperienced puts faith in every word, but the shrewd one considers his steps."—Prov. 14:15.

Living as we are in what the Bible describes as "critical times" when men are "fierce, without love of goodness, betrayers," there is indeed value in not believing everything one hears. (2 Tim. 3: 1-5) But this poses the questions: When should we doubt? How can we know’

when to put faith in what we hear and when to disbelieve? Is it a wise policy to doubt everyone and everything we hear?

Importance of Open-mindedness

If a stranger should approach you on the street or call at your home with information that he claims is for your benefit, should you turn him away or slam the door on him? Not only would that be unkind, but it would be unwise. It would be proper to listen to what the person has to say, unless, of course, by so doing your personal safety is endangered. The inspired Bible proverb points to the unwisdom of forming opinions on matters before listening to them, saying: "When anyone is replying to a matter before he hears it, that is foolishness on his part and a humiliation."—Prov. 18:13.

True, when listening to a stranger, especially when he is talking on significant matters that involve laying out money, or views that affect religious faith or morals, you are wise to give careful consideration before acting. "The shrewd one considers his steps,” the Bible proverb says. He is not immediately inclined to put "faith in every word." This does not mean, however, that he distrustfully closes his mind simply because the information or ideas are new or different from what he has heard before.

In the first century of our Common Era persons from the Macedonian city of Beroea manifested an exemplary disposition. The Bible record reports concerning their attitude upon hearing the message preached by Jesus’ disciples, who were at the time strangers to them: “Now the latter were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with the greatest eagerness of mind, carefully examining the Scriptures daily as to whether these things were so.” —Acts 17:11.

The Berocans listened, not with a skeptical, disposed-not-to-bclicve attitude, but with open-mindedness. They did not allow doubt to cause the message to fall on unreceptive cars. Rather, they took in the information, and then made a careful investigation of the inspired Scriptures to ascertain whether the things they had been taught were supported therein.

We, too, should follow this pattern of being willing to accept and examine ideas open-mindedly. “Make sure of all things,” the Bible encourages; “hold fast to what is fine.”—1 Thess. 5:21.

When to Doubt

So, then, when dealing with strangers, a shrewd person may wisely recognize the need to do some personal investigating. He is not necessarily inclined to disbelieve. But if it is discovered, after closer investigation, that there is no solid basis for what a person says or what is read or heard, from then on he may be disposed to doubt that source.

Thus, if you desire your word to be accepted, you should always be truthful and honest. You should be careful not to repeat tilings unless you have a sound basis for believing that they are true. Otherwise, others will come to consider what you have to say as being of little merit. They will view it with doubt. The value of being honest, truthful and reliable is, therefore, inestimable.

It is upon the basis of such qualities of integrity and faithfulness that true friendship.- are founded. Since time is required to become acquainted with these qualities in persons, it takes time for real friendships to grow and mature. However, when one has proved to be a reliable and trustworthy friend, should we doubt him everytime he tells us something new? Not at all! And if we do, our friendship likely will suffer or may even terminate. Mutual trust and confidence are vital in order to enjoy healthy, refreshing relations with others.

In the family, for instance, doubts can severely damage relations between members. If a wife doubts her husband's faithfulness when she has no substantial basis for doing so, this can raise a barrier between the two. She only torments herself by her doubts, and her decreased capacity to love her husband that may result will only cause him unhappiness too. How important it is to have real evidence before one doubts a loved one! It is much better to give a friend the benefit of the doubt, continuing to place trust in him until there is clear proof of untrustworthiness.

Need for Balance in Exercising Doubt

Some educators have observed a modern trend toward skepticism and doubt. The deterioration of honesty and integrity is unquestionably a factor in causing this. People have heard so many untruths and half-truths that they understandably have become distrustful of what they read and hear.

Perhaps another important factor in this trend is the popularizing of doubt as a key to scientific progress, which it indeed can be. Science writer Isaac Asimov explained in Science Digest: “If a scientist has one piece of temperamental equipment that is essential to his job, it is that of a built-in doubter. Before he does anything else, he must doubt.”

There can be no question that doubt has been valuable in leading to many scientific discoveries. Unfortunately, however, the unbridled exercise of doubt has resulted in a modern tendency to be skeptical of practically everything one hears or reads. And just as putting “faith in every word” can be dangerous, so, in the opposite extreme, a disposition not to believe can also be damaging and lead to grief.

Last summer the dean of a college in the United States drew this to the attention of a class of college freshmen. Getting to the crux of his address, which was published in Vital Speeches of the Day, November 1, 1966. he said: “To state as exactly as possible what I have on my mind, we must assume that what we read and hear is reliable and then test it with skepticism. My concern is that we are omitting the assumption, and are left with skepticism. Skepticism by itself is cancerous.”

That unbridled skepticism or doubt has eroded away confidence and undermined respect in modern society has been observed by many persons. It seriously disturbed this college head, as revealed in his following comments: “More and more of us are acting as if we were the only man alive. We are cynical of what we read and hear, critical of what we observe. , . .

“Could it just be that our disposition not to believe has duped us into becoming our own worst enemies? Could it be that we are becoming such egotists that unwittingly we are turning into bigots, intolerant of everything? Could it be that in our isolation we are becoming so convinced of our individual infallibility that a constructive idea, were it to come along, would fall on deaf ears?

“With conviction which I hope is based on fairly objective observation, I think we can cite one example after another of a general assumption not to believe, not to listen, not to trust, and I say again that if we begin with that assumption we are doomed.”

In Matters of Religion

When it comes to matters of religion, how can doubt be exercised in a balanced way? It would obviously be foolish to “put faith in every word" of the many different religions, since they often teach conflicting doctrines. Does this mean, then, that we should be distrustful and disposed to disbelieve any of them? Should we conclude that the Bible, upon which most of them claim to base their teachings, is all mixed up and not worthy of consideration?

No, that would be unwise. While we might hold reservations about a religion's claim to represent God, until we see convincing evidence of it, yet the wise thing would be to examine the Scriptures to see if what a particular religious organization claims is supported therein. Recall that that was the commendable course of those persons in Beroea. They listened to Jesus’ disciples “with the greatest eagerness of mind.” What they heard sounded good to them, but they were not necessarily putting faith in every word those strangers were telling them. For they then personally examined “the Scriptures daily as to whether these things were so."

How vital it is that we follow that example! It is important that we become familiar with the foundation of true worship, the Holy Bible.

Confidence in God and His Word

After becoming acquainted with the Bible one learns that it is faithful and true. He finds he can confidently put his trust in what it says, Its counsel and instruction invariably prove beneficial when followed. Yes, upon close study of it one comes to appreciate that the Bible is indeed the Word of the true God, Jehovah. And Jehovah God is the best friend a person could ever have! How should we view the word of such a friend? Should we doubt it?

Doubting a friend when there is no sound basis for doing so leads only to grief. It causes disturbance of mind and confusion. Thus, the inspired disciple of Jesus Christ wrote; "If any one of you is lacking in wisdom, let him keep on asking God, for he gives generously to all and without reproaching; and it will be given him. But let him keep on asking in faith, not doubting at all, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven by the wind and blown about." Mas. 1:5, 6) God has always proved reliable. One who has become his close friend has proved this. So there is no reason ever to doubt what He has to say.

The Israelite forefather Abraham is a man who came to know and trust Jehovah the true God. In fact, he is noted in the Bible as ‘‘Jehovah's friend," (Jas. 2: 23) Abraham learned that he could rely on Jehovah, so that even when God told him he was going to have a son when both he and his wife Sarah were long past the normal age of having children, he believed it. Abraham trusted God's Word; he did not doubt, as the Bible explains: "Because of the promise of God he did not waver in a lack of faith, but became powerful by his faith, giving God glory and being fully convinced that what he had promised he was also able to do.” —Rom. 4:20, 21.

How wise you will be if you also seek to take in knowledge of God and of His Word the Bible! What He says there directly affects your life. Do not turn a deaf ear to his entreaty: "My son, to my words do pay attention. To my sayings incline your ear.” (Prov. 4:20) Your personal safety is in no way endangered by taking time to listen to the words of God. So do not foolishly turn away from an opportunity to investigate what God says in his Word.

Consider those who refused to examine open-mindedly the message that God spoke through his prophet Noah. (2 Pet. 2:5) They were cynical of what they heard and critical of what they saw. Theirs was a skeptical, disposed-not-to-believe attitude. And what happened to them? Why, they suffered destruction when God brought the Flood just as he had prophesied.

But what concern does that have for us today? A great deal! For Jesus Christ said that this system of things will end in a similar destruction at God's hands, warning: "For just as the days of Noah were, so the presence of the Son of man will be. For as they . . . took no note until the flood came and swept them all away, so the presence of the Son of man will be.” (Matt. 24:37-39) The majority refused to examine the evidence, and perished. Only those carefully heeding God’s instructions survived. It will be similar again. We have the words of Jesus Christ for it.

Do you believe him? Even if you do not, wisely avoid a skeptical, disposed-not-to-believe attitude and humbly examine what the Bible says. Its grand promises of life in a new system of things are trustworthy and true, as an investigation will reveal. Learn about them! Do not allow skepticism and doubt to cause you to turn a deaf ear.—2 Pet. 3:13; Rev. 21: 3, 4.

expenses have become so great in the United States that many families cannot afford a serious sickness. In 1961, a person who had a semiprivate room for ten days in a New

York City hospital was usually charged about $560. In 1966 the bill was $842, and this year it will likely be close to $1,000. On top of this is the physician’s fee, which may amount to hundreds of dollars, depending upon what he is required to do. Even for medical treatment that lasts for only a little more than a day a patient can receive a big bill.

There is the case of a man in New York who was in a hospital for thirty-seven haul's, was given three series of X rays and four minor laboratory tests. His bill was $252. A two-year-old boy who spent forty-three hours in a hospital undergoing tests for a heart murmur ran up a bill for his parents that amounted to $434. Hospitalization is expensive, and it is expected to get even more expensive.

It has been estimated by some officials that the cost of being in a hospital may increase nation wide by as much as 15 to 30 percent during 1967. Regarding this. Dr. Madison Brown, the American Hospital Association’s director of planning and development, said, as reported In the New York Times of September 6, 1966: “The work of hospitals is complex and expensive. But in the next two years there will be raises far beyond what we’ve seen in the past. The national increase will range from 15 to 30 per cent from now until July 1, 1967." This is not a pleasant prospect for the average family.

What would you do if a member of your family had to be hospitalized and you were confronted with huge hospital and doctor bills? You probably would rely upon some form of medical insurance, which many persons carry for their family. Otherwise such bills could be a financial catastrophe. Carrying medical insurance, however, can be a difficult load, especially when insurance payments are raised repeatedly so as to keep pace with rising medical costs. Yet, such insurance is usually regarded as essential even when it will pay only part of a hospital bill.

But what if your income is insufficient to carry the additional load of medical insurance or it is not enough to carry the amount of insurance needed? What if you do not have the funds needed to cover that part of a bill that insurance will not pay? What will you then do if someone in the family is hospitalized for several days? This is when Medicaid comes to the rescue for persons living in the states that have instituted it.

How Medicaid Will Help

Medicaid is a medical assistance program financed jointly by the Federal Government, a state and the localities in the state. In New York the program will help needy persons of any age who are residents of the state to pay their medical bills. This includes persons in the low-income and moderate-income groups as well as others that are facing financial catastrophe because of huge hospital and doctor bills.

In a brochure published by the State Department of Social Welfare in New York, the following is said regarding the purpose of the program: “Children deprived of medical care because their parents cannot afford it, often become victims of conditions that impair their health and, later in life, limit their work capacities. Lack of needed health care, in time, builds a great burden of illness and disability in the community, much or all of which becomes a welfare burden eventually. . . . More and more individuals and families cannot pay for the medical care they require, especially people in the low-income and moderate-income groups, although they are able to support themselves otherwise. To help these citizens avoid needless suffering and disability and to prevent them from becoming welfare recipients because of medical bills, New York State, in cooperation with the Federal Government and the localities, has established a program of Medical Assistance for Needy Persons.”

How Medicaid Came to Be

When the House Ways and Means Committee of the Federal Government handled the Medicare law that was passed in 1965, it appended to it a section called “Title XIX,” which is the so-called Medicaid law. This was regarded at the time as a modest provision for Federal, state and local aid to be given to persons who are “medically indigent.” It was estimated by the Federal Department of Health, Education and Welfare that the Medicaid program would cost the Federal Government only about $240 million a year.

Title XIX received little attention during the Congressional battle over Medicare, which is a provision for Federal payment of a large part of the medical expenses of persons that are sixty-five and over. Medicaid is for persons of all ages and is no form of medical insurance. It was not until Medicare was made law that the lawmakers began to realize that Medicaid would be far more costly than they had planned. This happened when New York State greatly expanded its medical assistance program under the provisions of Medicaid.

New York gave such a liberal interpretation to the expression “medically indigent" that 40 percent of tire State’s population could qualify for medical assistance. This was such a shock to the House Ways and Means Committee that it. expressed determination to change the law, but opposition from the states was so great that it finally did no more than recommend a mild change.

Half of the cost of the program is carried by the Federal Government, and the other half is shared by the state and local governments. Due to the fact that the program has expanded far beyond what Congress intended, the initial estimate of $240 million for the program was far too small. Federal officials now think that New York’s program alone will cost in the neighborhood of $1.4 billion by 1970, when, it is said, it will be operating full scale. It was the opinion of New York’s governor Rockefeller that Medicaid for New York State would cost $532 million for the fiscal year running from July 1, 1966, to June 30, 1967.

Other states are setting up Medicaid programs, but the number of persons that will benefit from them will vary according to eligibility requirements. The nation's most populous state, California, estimates that its program will benefit approximately 1.3 million persons.

Who Qualifies?

Each state is free to use it.-, own judgment in defining the “medically indigent." Consequently, the requirements for eligibility vary. In New York State, where the program is the most liberal, the factors that determine whether a person qualifies for medical assistance or not. are the amount of annual income, financial reserve for burial costs, savings and medical expenses. The total income a person has after deducting income taxes and the cost of health insurance premiums is the first determining factor.

If, for example, a single person has an annual income that does not exceed $2,900, Medicaid will help him with his medical expenses without his having to pay anything from his income. A family of four persons can have an income of $6,000 without having to pay anything on a medical bill, and a family of eight persons with two wage earners can have an income of as much as $10,250.

A person is also permitted to have savings in the bank up to one-half of his annual income before he is required to use the savings to pay medical expenses. Anything in excess of that amount would have to be used, except for what is needed to establish a reserve to cover burial expenses for the family when it lacks minimum insurance protection.

Anyone that owns property and needs medical assistance is not required to give a lien or a mortgage to the welfare department, although this will probably be required of income-producing property. Such things as an automobile and personal property are not regarded as assets, and so the person getting medical assistance is not required to sell them. Personal property includes furniture, appliances and equipment needed in a business or trade.

An annual payment toward out-patient medical expenses is ordinarily required of a person who is not receiving welfare and who has an annual gross income over $4,500 before Medicaid will help him with medical expenses. This payment is called a “deductible." The amount of the deductible or annual payment is one percent of the gross annual income. For a family of four with a gross income of $7,000 a year, the annual payment would be $70.

When a person finds that he needs help from Medicaid he can make application for it at the local department of public welfare. Application can be made in person or by mail. This department then decides on his eligibility for assistance. If he is accepted he receives an identification card.

By considering these eligibility requirements of the state of New York we get an idea of how extensive the Medicaid program can be. Of course, other states have different requirements. Washington state, for example, limits Medicaid assistance to persons that have a monthly income of $140 or less for an individual and $190 or less for a couple. Medicaid does not come near the scope of socialized medicine that exists in Great Britain and some other countries. Nevertheless, it can care for a real need among families with low incomes.

In these days of steadily rising medical costs and insurance rates a family of modest means needs help to shoulder the huge medical bills that can result from the hospitalization of a member of the family. As a form of health protection provided by tax money, Medicaid exists to help such persons. It is ready to come to their rescue. Those who qualify for it need not hesitate to use it, because it was formed for their benefit. It is better to call for the help of Medicaid than to be bankrupt as a result of medical expenses.

By “Awake!" correspondent in Zambia

OU who are reading this article possess a precious gift, a divine gift Ythat, if cultivated, can be a door to an endless treasure of knowledge. This gift is the ability to read, but it is a gift that has not been cultivated by about half of earth’s adult population. This ability can be termed a divine gift because man's Creator endowed the first man with the ability to read and write. (Gen. 5:1) However, for Adam’s descendants the knowledge of how to read is not a gift acquired by heredity. Learning to read is hard work. The problem of illiteracy is not something that can be easily overcome, and the problem is immense.

According to a noted authority on literacy, Dr. Frank C. Laubach, writing in 1947, three-fifths of the world’s population could not read or write. In 1957 the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization estimated that there were 700 million adult illiterates in the world, that is, 44 percent of the then total population fifteen years old and over. The problem is greatest in Asia and Africa, with adult illiteracy rates of 65 percent for Asia and between 80 and 85 percent for Africa. For example, in Zambia 80 percent of the adult population cannot read or write. Adult illiteracy, however, is a world problem. Even in the United States, the Census Bureau claimed a few years ago that there were 8.3 million

persons twenty-five years and over who could not read or write. For hundreds of millions of persons this door to an endless treasure is still shut tight.

Because of being unable to read or write, these millions of persons are subject to poverty, exploitation and superstition. There are many jobs and trades that cannot be learned or fully accomplished unless the worker can read and write, and thus the poorest group in a nation are the illiterate ones. If a person is a farmer or a hunter but can only put his mark on an agreement that he cannot read, he can the more easily be exploited by selfish traders. A mother who is illiterate cannot read a letter from her son nor can she write to him.

The illiterate, being unable to read the Book of revealed religion, develop their own natural religion and become prey to false ideas and victims of crippling superstitious fears. Those who respond to oral preaching of true religion and break away from false worship and superstition find it difficult to progress in knowledge and spiritual understanding because they cannot read and study. Literacy could become for them a door opening to an endless treasure of knowledge, leading to spiritual maturity.

Combating Illiteracy

Developing countries find illiteracy one of the greatest barriers to helping their peoples to progress economically and socially. The illiterate are unable to read and apply simple government instructions on improving agriculture or diet and safeguarding health. Thus, as more and more countries achieve self-rule, more governments are taking positive steps to combat illiteracy.

For example, since independence the adult literacy program in Zambia has been given new impetus. As part of community development a qualified literacy officer with countrywide powers has been appointed and assigned necessary funds. Under his direction twelve trained fulltime local literacy officers have been assigned to all the provinces and main centers, and more are being trained. It is not the purpose of these literacy officers to teach illiterate persons how to read but to train literate persons how to teach illiterates.

This program calls for self-help on the part of the community and the individual students. It is up to a community or a religious body to encourage and gather the students, find the teachers, provide the classrooms and to buy the literacy primers or to get the students to buy these. The government provides the literacy officers to train the local teachers and has devised and printed a series of six progressive literacy primers in seven of the principal languages. Generally a literacy officer will train a group of teachers in ten two-hour periods spread over two weeks. It is hoped that, under this scheme, by 1970 all adults in Zambia who wish to become literate will have had opportunity to become ‘functionally’ literate, that is, ‘to be able to engage in all those reading activities normally expected of an adult in his community.’

One of the first groups in Zambia to cooperate in this new literacy campaign has been Jehovah's witnesses, who, for years, have been active in combating illiteracy. Thousands have been taught to read in the more than nine hundred literacy classes conducted in their 725 congregations.

A subject of much discussion and continuing research with regard to teaching literacy is that of the best method of teaching. Methods of teaching reading have been broadly classified into two groups, “synthetic" and "analytic." In the synthetic method the student first learns the sound of the smaller units, letters and syllables, and then he is taught to combine these into larger units, words, phrases and sentences. In the analytic method the student is taught first to recognize larger units, words, phrases or sentences, and then later helped to break these down into the elements making them up, that is, syllables and letters. Methods of teaching literacy usually included under the synthetic group are the alphabetic, the phonic and the syllabic.

Alphabetic and Phonic Methods

Probably the oldest method of teaching reading of alphabetic languages is the alphabetic method. The student starts off by learning the names of the letters in alphabetic order, then learns to spell and pronounce two-letter combinations, such as m-a, ma, then three-letter combinations, m-a-n, man, and so on. Syllables are combined into words and words into phrases and short sentences. By constant repetition, boring for most adults, the student eventually learns to pronounce correctly the names of all the letters. Another system widely used is the phonic method.

Phonic means ‘of vocal sounds,’ and so in the phonic method the student is taught, not the names of the letters, but how they sound in a word. The student is usually taught first the vowels and then the consonants. These are joined into two-, three- or four-letter combinations to form short words or syllables. These syllables are combined to form words, then phrases and then sentences.

Syllabic Method

Similai- to the phonic method is the syllabic method. In this method, instead of the sounds of single letters being taught, the student first learns to pronounce syllables. He then learns to read words and sentences made up from these syllables. In some languages many words consist of syllables of two letters, and thus from the beginning the student is taught to read simple words. A variation of this method is to use pictures to introduce a few common words. These words are then broken down into their syllables. The student learns to pronounce the syllables and then to combine these into different words that are made up of the same syllables. For example, in Spanish he may learn the words papa (daddy), mama (mommy), dama (lady), vaca (cow), and from these words he learns to read the syllables pa, ma, da, va, which, in turn, can be combined into other words and sentences.

The phonic and syllabic methods are most effective for languages that are entirely or almost phonetic, that is, for languages that use one letter for one sound and are pronounced the way they are spelled. Most of the African languages that were given a phonetic Roman alphabet by missionaries fall into this category, including Cibemba, Cinyanja, Citonga and Silozi, the most prominent languages in Zambia. Where a language is phonetic, a student who is taught the sounds of the letters can quickly learn to pronounce new words. One main argument against this is that it is claimed that it develops poor comprehension in the student. He is so busy with the mechanics of pronouncing what he sees that he does not think of the meaning of what he reads.

“See and Say" Method

Those who prefer an analytic method claim that this type of teaching makes for much better comprehension in the student. The analytic method could be termed the “see and say” method. Also known as the “whole word” method, this method teaches the student to recognize whole words at the outset without being able to pronounce the individual syllables and letters that make up the word. This, it is claimed, makes it very suitable for teaching the reading of languages that are not purely phonetic, such as English. This method can be termed analytic in that pronunciation of syllables and letters is eventually introduced by the analyzing and breaking up of the words into the syllables and letters making them up.

Extensions of the word method are the sentence and the story method, where whole sentences or simple stories are first learned and then broken down into words and syllables. It is argued that, because the student learns to recognize the word or sentence as a whole, he can concentrate on what the words mean rather than working out their pronunciation. This method has few supporters among those foremost in teaching reading to adults in phonetic vernacular languages.

The main criticism of the “see and say” method is that it produces readers who guess at words, who are poor in being able to pronounce new words and who read inaccurately because of confusing similarlooking words.

Of all these methods, then, which is the best for teaching adult illiterates?

Eclectic Method

Today an eclectic method is often preferred; that is, one that chooses what is best from each method, according to the type of language, the quality of the teachers available, and othei' related factors. Thus the Cibemba primer recently introduced in Zambia starts with a picture of a man and under the picture appears his name, M alamo. The student learns to read his name, and then he learns to read and write on the following pages the syllables ma and la. Shortly thereafter another picture introduces another word, and the student learns to pronounce and write the syllables making up this word. Soon, by combining these with the first syllables that he learned, he can read and write simple words.

While this method is basically syllabic, it can be seen that it draws on elements of the phonic and whole-word methods. It is hoped that the average adult will work through the six primers in four to six months and then will progress by reading and enjoying simple books written for new literates.

Need of Literature for New Literates

For students in many areas and languages their new-found ability does not open the door to an endless treasure. This is because there is nothing further in their language that they can read. The only literature available in their language may be the Bible, and, for most, the gap between their primer and the Bible, or other literature available, is too great for them to jump. Unable to use their basic reading skill, they become discouraged, make no progress and eventually forget, what they learned. For this reason much of the effort of those organizing literacy programs is now directed to the preparation of literature for new literates.

To assist in this in Zambia, the Department of Community Development has produced a list of six hundred basic words to be used by those writing for new literates.

In addition to using a simple, limited vocabulary, books, pamphlets and articles for those who have just learned to read should be written in short simple sentences. A local literacy officer has stated that the book From Paradise Lost to Paradise Regained, written in simple language and published by the Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, is suitable for helping new literates to progress further. Once the student has completed the six primers he should be able to work his way through this book.

While the use of an effective teaching method and the provision of simple reading matter are important, there is another aspect of teaching literacy at least equally important.

The Teaching Attitude

It has been claimed that 60 percent of the success in teaching literacy to adults depends on the attitude and manner of the teacher. The teacher must take into consideration differences between teaching adults and teaching children. The adult illiterate is more sensitive, very conscious of making mistakes, easily embarrassed and can be quickly discouraged. Thus an essential quality that a teacher must exercise is fellow-feeling. He should put himself in the place of his student and try to appreciate his difficulties.

The student cannot read a book, but he can read his instructor. If the instructor is bored, superior or impatient in his attitude, the student will sense this and be discouraged. If he loves his student and is genuinely interested in his progress, the student will respond. The teacher should work on the same level as his student, not standing or sitting above him, but sitting alongside him. His voice should not be loud, but just loud enough to be clearly heard. He should appear as a partner with him in the joint venture of opening the door to an endless treasure, not a superior schoolmaster.

The successful teacher avoids embarrassing the student. If he says ba instead of da, the teacher does not pounce on his error. He goes back to ba, agrees that that is ba, reminds the student that da begins with a different letter and lets him try da again. By commending at each opportunity, he encourages his student and builds up his confidence in his ability to read. When the student reads the word correctly, the teacher does not waste valuable time by repeating it after him. He lets the student do the speaking. The classes should be small, at best four to six, but not more than ten. Avoiding any spirit of competition among the students, the teacher encourages each one to progress at his own pace by giving each one individual attention. From the beginning he encourages a thoughtful reading attitude. That is, he makes it his aim not merely to produce mechanical pronouncers of symbols but to produce thinkers who can understand and apply the thoughts represented by the symbols. He keeps alive in his students a strong motive for persevering at their studies, discussing with them the benefits that being able to read will bring to them.

It is with joy that the patient instructor will hear his student read his first sentence. His joy will be greater as he observes the mind of his student opening to new thoughts, new ideas, replacing ignorance and superstition with knowledge and true belief, becoming equipped to progress socially, economically and spiritually. Working together, the teacher and student will have opened a door still shut to millions of persons—the door to an endless treasure.

Mutations Not Evolutionary

The modern theory of evolution asserts that mutations have enabled one organism to evolve into another. However, the Journal of the American Scientific

Affiliation for September 1965 notes: "Concerning the supposed role of micromutation and selection in producing the organisms of today, J. J. Duyven£ de Wit has said, 'As a result of mutation we may get alterations with respect to certain existing characters, for example in the number and size of hair bristles in Drosophila, but it appears that after a number of X-ray treated generations, the induced mutations pertaining to a selected character reach a limited ceiling beyond which no further change occurs. . . . Moreover, and this is of crucial importance, mutations, and even series of directed mutations, never gave rise to the appearance of essentially new characters of generic magnitude. From this, it clearly appears that mutational changes remain structurally restricted to the basic genotype to which the race or species in question belongs. In other words, transformation of a given basic genotype into another one as a result of a series of one-directional mutations cannot be produced experimentally.’"

HUMANS require periods of rest or change from their regular work in order to function at full efficiency. The mind, body and spirit are restored when the normal routine is

altered and there is a change of pace and activity. Most employers have come to recognize this. So it is the general custom in many lands today to give employees a regular vacation from their jobs, often with pay.

It is observed, however, that some persons fail to realize enough satisfaction from their vacations. One noted physician pointed to a reason why: “I have had patients who did the same kind of thing on their vacations that they were doing all year long on their jobs." Thus, this doctor observed, they return to work bored and "wondering why they feel so tired.”

So, remember, vacations are generally more satisfying when there is a definite change of pace—when you are able to go places or do things you normally do not have the time or opportunity to do.—Mark 6:31, 32.

Vital for True Satisfaction

There are certain things ordinarily done, however, that cannot be omitted during vacations if these are truly to be satisfying occasions. For an obvious example: eating and drinking. You may even derive added pleasure on vacations due to the different times at which you eat, or because of the type of food and drink consumed.

Similarly, worship of God is vital to true satisfaction, and that during vacations too. (Matt. 4:4) As always, dedicated Christians will pray to God. Perhaps on vacation you have occasion to be by yourself where you are surrounded by the marvelous beauties of God’s creations. What a satisfying experience to be able to communicate in prayer with the Grand Maker of the luscious green meadows, the majestic mountains, the blue sky, the roaring surf! On such occasions your heart may especially be moved with appreciation for the loving provision that Jehovah God has made for righteously disposed

cation? Take your time. Enjoy taking in the information.

Just as eating breakfast on vacation at 10 or 11 a.m. may lie a pleasurable change from routine for some, so leisurely reading of a subject of personal interest can be a rewarding experience. Do it when you are refreshed. Perhaps after breakfast, propped up in bed. Or you might settle down in a pleasant out-of-doors location, under a tree or in a hammock. The change in time and place of study, and the reward of learning valuable new things can be exhilarating.

Some years ago a youth spent two weeks of his summer vacation before graduating from high school reading a copy of the Christian Creek Scriptures. He had heard others talk about the things recorded therein, but had never really personally read them himself. It was an experience that perhaps more than anything else affected his life, causing him to take up the full-time ministry upon graduation from school. Until this day he vividly recalls that delightful vacation of over fifteen years ago.

Others have gained real satisfaction on vacation from reading the faith-strengthening Bible publications Life Everlasting—in Freedom of the Sons of God, “Make Sure of All Things; Hold Fast to What Is Fine" or “Babylon the Great Has Fallen!" God’s Kingdom Rules! Have you personally read these books? You might find that your vacation becomes a memorable one for doing so, or for reading other such publications.

Sharing Spiritual Things

While such diversions as getting out in the woods, up in the mountains or down to the seashore for a week or two can be a satisfying change, some persons have found a real high point of their vacation to be searching out fellow Christians in the area visited and attending a congregation meeting. Some time might even be enjoyably spent in making ministerial calls, and talking to people in the neighborhood about God and his purposes, just as the Lord Jesus did after traveling to a lonely place to "rest up a bit."—Mark 6: 31-34.

Last summer a young couple from New York City had this very purpose in mind when they decided to take a week’s vacation in West Virginia. They selected that area because it was a section that was not assigned to any congregation of Jehovah's witnesses. While they needed a rest and change from the fast pace of city life, they planned to spend some time talking to people in the house-to-house ministry. In their territory in New York City they simply had not found enough people truly interested in discussing the Bible, and, as a result, they felt a spiritual lack.

What a refreshing lift their vacation in the country proved to be! "We got plenty of sleep," they explained, "and just relaxed and took our time. We were there to enjoy ourselves in the beautiful out-of-doors. At the same time, we desired to talk with interested persons about God and his purposes for man. We were not trying to reach any goals, beyond meeting and talking with people.”

The results were beyond their expectations. "Why, people really enjoyed talking with us about the Bible,” they observed enthusiastically, “In the entire week only two persons did not want to discuss spiritual matters. Although our primary purpose was not to place literature, people were so interested that we left 55 bound books, as many booklets, and over 100 Watch tower and Awake! magazines. It was a very pleasant experience. Absolutely delightful!”

Perhaps when you are planning your vacation, you will want to write tin? Watch Tower Society in your country to find out whether the place where you plan to go is frequently visited by Kingdom ministers. There are still many areas that are seldom reached with the Kingdom message. You may add greatly to the joy of your vacation by spending parts of some days making ministerial calls and discussing with interested persons God’s wonderful provisions for life and happiness.

Another possibility to keep in mind is the sharing of spiritual things with relatives that you might visit during vacations. One minister from Los Angeles visited his relatives in Louisiana on two consecutive vacations several years ago. While there, not only did he make a point of witnessing to them about God’s kingdom, but he also made ministerial calls on others in the neighborhood. "We even arranged to give a Bible talk," he explained, “and several dozen interested persons came. It was wonderful!” From the persons that this ministei' contacted during these vacations there are now seven dedicated Kingdom proclaimers!

Full-Time Preaching

Thousands of Jehovah’s witnesses have taken advantage of the provision made by the Watch Tower Society fox^- qualified ministers to share during their vacations in the full-time preaching activity. These have derived great joy and satisfaction from spending their vacations in this way, even though it was for as short a time as two weeks. This provision is known as "vacation pioneering.” It can be a delightful change of pace from usual work or school schedules.

Wrote one minister from Grand Rapids, Michigan, in November 1966: “It was my blessed privilege to vacation pioneer for the first time last December. The joy I gained from that experience can best be expressed by letting you know that I would rather do that again during my vacation this year than anything else.” Certainly a recommendation for this vacation activity! This January a young minister from Concord, California, wrote: “I would like to express the joy that I have experienced vacation pioneering over Christmas vacation from school. With this privilege, my appetite has been whetted for regular pioneering.”

What often makes vacations pleasurable is the opportunity for families to do things together. Vacation pioneering affords a wonderful occasion for this. It draws families together in spiritual pursuits, as one family head from Illinois enthusiastically observed: "What a pleasure it has been! A daily pioneering schedule has resulted in drawing my wife and sixteen-year-old son even closer than we were before.”

Some families have made vacation pioneering a regular vacation activity, and have found it thoroughly satisfying. Earlier this year a mother of three children from Fort Wayne, Indiana, wrote: “Our family has vacation pioneered for two weeks in June now for the past three years. And we are looking forward to two weeks this summer pioneering. This two-week period offers a marvelous way for a family unit to be so very close together, and be able to serve Jehovah whole-souled. The experiences one has can never be equaled. To our family the vacation pioneering time is as important as is our attending Christian assemblies.”

How can you realize a more satisfying vacation? Where will you go? What will you do? Those, of course, are decisions you will have to make. But, remember, a change of pace can be of definite value. And for Christians, what can make vacations most satisfying is setting aside some time to learn more about their Creator and to serve His Kingdom interests.

64QO GREAT is our desire 0 to honor the Holy Virgin Mary . . . that We have come as humble and faithful pilgrims to this Holy Sanctuary.” With this fervent expression, Pope Paul VI began his history-making message to an estimated one million pilgrims gathered in the Sanctuary square located in the tiny village of Fatima in the heart of Portugal. The date was May 13, the fiftieth anniversary of an apparition that is said to have been seen by three young children.

However, for the myriads of persons gathered in the huge square, forming the largest crowd Fatima had ever seen, the pope was much more than a "humble pilgrim” coming to pray to the "Queen of Peace" at the "Altar of the World"—Fatima. This was the first time in Portugal’s eight-hundred-year history that a pope had visited Portugal, and many of the pilgrims believed that beholding him would be like beholding Christ.

For days pilgrims had been arriving at Fatima for the occasion. They came on foot, on donkey, by bicycle, bus, train, plane or by any other means of transportation available. Women arrived loaded with blankets, food and clothing wrapped up all together and balanced adeptly on their heads. They came on foot from the extreme reaches of Portugal: from Valenka on the northern frontier and from Faro on the southern Atlantic coast. They came from Timor, Singapore, Peru, North America, Vietnam and several other countries of the earth. One girl walked from

Valpassos, Portugal, to Fatima in eight days; a distance of 225 miles (362 kilometers) !

On reaching the Fatima Sanctuary, many elderly women could be seen fulfilling the final part of their journey to the basilica. Beginning at the High Cross near the entrance to the huge asphalt square, they got down on their knees and began traversing the half-mile temple area, which is twice the size of St. Peter’s Square in Rome. As they approached the basilica, which dominates the whole plaza, blood could be seen on the rough pavement as knees, bruised from severe contact with the wet, muddy surface, bore the worshipers to the base of the 213-foot tower, which has at its peak a seven-ton bronze crown and an illuminated crystal cross.

Anniversary Program Begins

Ceremonies began May 12, with services in several tongues for foreign pilgrims. The Cardinal Legate Dom Jose da Costa Nunes, arriving from Rome as forerunner of the pope, was welcomed by Portuguese bishops, foreign delegations and civil and military authorities as representative of Pope Paul VI, who was referred to as "Sweet Christ on Earth."

At dusk began the candlelight procession. Tens of thousands of men, women and little children lit candles, creating a flickering sea of dancing lights in the darkness of the square, which was covered by heavy overcast skies. At midnight began the Renewal of the Consecration of Portugal to the Hearts of Jesus and Mary. Then, beginning at 1 a.m. Saturday morning, Adoration of the Holy Sacrament was conducted until 6 a.m. Many remained awake all night, while others, including women with small children, rolled out blankets and coats on the wet pavement and went to sleep, as rain continued to fall. Others retreated to shelter under the huge eaves of the cathedral or to any other spot that could give some protection from the cold and wet weather. But shelter was not available for thousands upon thousands that had come. However, for these pilgrims inclement weather only gave more weight to their expressions of penance, self-denial and prayer.

As early as 6 a.m. crowds began gathering on the square to await the arrival of the pope. More than 450 sick, including paralytics, blind and other infirm, were transported by stretcher to beds set up near the platform so they could receive a special blessing from the pope. And all eagerly awaited the information to be presented concerning the "message of Fatima," which, according to Lisbon's Didrio de Noticias of May 5, 1967, “is, after the Gospel, the most vehement appeal to the harmony, the complete change of life, the renewal of man."

Services started at 10:45 Saturday morning with the Procession of the “Image of the Virgin.” The image was borne by students from the little Chapel of the Apparitions to the platform. As the students, wearing their black university capes, accompanied the image, the audience frantically shouted, cried, prayed and waved white handkerchiefs wildly above their heads. Pamphlets bearing the imprimatur of the church proudly declared that the image had already made several pilgrimages to Europe, Africa, Asia and the islands of the Pacific.

Meanwhile, shortly before 10 a.m. the pope arrived at the military airport in Monte Real aboard a Portuguese TAP Caravelle. Received by Portuguese President Americo Tomas and Prime Minister Dr. Antonio Salazar, the pope declared: “We will go to Fatima, with the humility and the fervor of a pilgrim who undertakes a long voyage, in order to entrust them [our appeals! to Her, whom the Church and Christian people invoke with the sweet name of Mary.” He was then accompanied by a procession of dignitaries to the cathedral. All along the twenty-five-mile route he was wildly cheered by thousands who lined the roadway. Reaching the sanctuary at 12:10 p.m., he was taken by an open-top Rolls-Royce to the platform. As he crossed the square, the crowd cheered and shouted in a frenzied exhibition of adoration, waving handkerchiefs and shouting in unison: “Viva o Papa! Viva o Papa!” (Let the Pope live!)

Prayer for Peace—In Church and World

Ascending the platform steps, the pope blessed the masses with outstretched arms and then conducted mass. In the following message he stated the two primary purposes of his visit: to pray for the internal peace of the Catholic church, which has been in conflict over the opposing liberal and conservative views that have erupted since the Ecumenical Council; and to pray for peace.

Commenting on the liberty some church leaders have taken in making individual interpretations and changes, he appealed: “What terrible damage could be provoked by arbitrary interpretations, not authorized by the teaching of the Church, disrupting its traditional and constitutional structure, replacing the theology of the true and great Fathers of the Church with new and peculiar ideologies, interpretations intent upon stripping the norms of faith of that which modern thought, often lacking in rational judgment, doesn’t understand and doesn’t like. . . . We want to ask of Mary a living Church, a true Church, a united Church, a Holy Church.”

Regarding the second purpose of his visit, he added: “You can easily see that the world is not happy; is not tranquil . . . it is full of tremendously deadly armament, and it has not morally progressed as much as it has scientifically and technically . . . the world is in danger. For this reason we have come to the feet of the Queen of Peace to ask her for the gift, which only God can give, of peace.”

Finally he appealed: “Do not contemplate projects of destruction and of death, of revolution and of suppression; but think rather of projects of mutual strengthening and of solid collaboration."

Very interesting to note was his appeal in behalf of “those nations in which religious liberty is almost totally suppressed . . . We pray for such nations; we pray for the faithful of these nations; that the intimate strength of God may sustain them and that true civil liberty be conceded to them once more.” No reference was made to the fact that Portugal has shown herself to be among such countries where ‘religious liberty is suppressed,’ to the extent of sentencing to prison forty-nine of Jehovah’s witnesses for peacefully gathering in Bible study. At the very moment that the pope spoke, these Witnesses were preparing to begin their prison sentences, which began five days later.

After the delivery of the message, Paul VI triggered a postclimax demonstration of uneontainable religious emotion when he presented to the audience Lucy, the only living one of the three shepherds said to have had an apparition of the "Virgin” in 1917. Now a nun in the Carmelite Convent in Coimbra, she did not speak to the audience, but her appearance was sufficient to ignite the greatest display of wild applause yet heard during the entire celebration. This was the first time that many had ever seen her in public, as she has remained completely out of contact with public and press. This was her first appearance in Fatima in twenty-one years.

The pope then blessed the sick present and placed a large silver rosary on the “Virgin” image, directing a prayer to her. The celebration concluded with the procession of the “Virgin” back to the little chapel, during which the audience jubilantly shouted “adeus” to the image.

History of the Appearances

What has motivated thousands to go to Fatima during the past fifty years? Let us briefly look at the record of the apparitions. This is what we are told about what happened:

The year is 1916. World War I rages on, Three tiny shepherd children are tending their flocks at Cova da Iria, when suddenly an apparition, believed by the young children to be an angel, speaks. On this and on two subsequent occasions this apparition announces that in the near future the “Virgin" will appear to them and tells them that they should pray often to her in preparation for the event. In the third appearance the apparition, appearing to be “a youth of 15 years, clear and brilliant as a crystal,” teaches the three, aged 6, 8 and 9, a prayer, beginning: "Most Holy Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Ghost, I adore you profoundly."

It was on the 13th of May of 1917, the following year, that the three were tending their sheep on a lonely moor eighty-five miles north of Lisbon, when suddenly the clear, sunny sky flashed with lightning, and thunder sounded. As the three prepared to lead the sheep home, they are said to have seen "above a holm-oak a Lady all dressed in white, more brilliant than the sun.” The apparition is said to have told them that she had come from heaven and asked them to return. "Tell your beads every day to gain peace for the world and the end of the war."

In June the apparition is said to have given the little shepherds a vision of hellfire. Lucy later reported their seeing a great fire, “in which were plunged black and burning demons and souls in human form, resembling live, transparent coals. Lifted up into the air by the flames, the demons and the souls fell back on all sides, like sparks in a conflagration, with neither weight nor balance. The children could hear their screams of pain and despair, which made them shudder. The devils were distinguished from human beings by their forms of horrifying and disgusting animals."

The apparition then revealed to the children a secret, saying: “You have seen hell where souls of poor sinners go. To save sinners, our Lord wishes to establish in the world devotion to my Immaculate Heart. . . . Finally my Immaculate Heart shall triumph. The Holy Father will dedicate Russia to Me and it will be converted and a period of peace shall follow.”

Lucy later related seeing the apparition in August and September, the three being told again to tell their beads to bring about the end of the war. But the most important apparition reportedly came on October 13, 1917, when about 70,000 persons are said to have gathered to await the promised miracle and revelation of the secret. Although the audience never witnessed any appearance, Lucy gave this description of what she saw and heard: "Soon after we saw . . . Our Lady. 'I wish to tell you to have a chapel built here in honor of me, who am Our Lady of the Rosary, and also go on telling your beads every day.' ” Lucy continued: "When Our Lady disappeared in the depths of the sky we saw St. Joseph by the sun with the Child and Our Lady dressed in white, with a blue cape. St. Joseph with the Child Jesus seemed to bless the world with their gestures, making the sign of the cross.”

Suddenly many of the crowd are said to have seen a miracle: the sun appearing a fiery disk with rays of every color, gyrating swiftly, plummeting toward earth and finally climbing back to its place in the skies.

Since that event, on the 12th and 13th of May and October, every year there is a mass pilgrimage to Fatima, having the primary purpose of praying to the "Immaculate Heart.”

Within the next three years two of the young shepherds, Jacinta and Francisco, who had remained completely silent about the whole occurrence, died. The third, Lucy, remained alive, but in 1921 entered a convent, and until today has remained in complete seclusion, no journalist or inquirer having any “possibility of interviewing that religious one” who “continues hidden in the profound silence of the high inaccessible walls of a convent," as stated in Lisbon’s Didrio de Noticias. Not until twenty years later did she reveal the vision of fiery torment that so impressed her. She also revealed a second secret: that unless Russia were converted there would come a new and more terrible war than that raging in 1917. A third secret, yet to be revealed, recently caused much controversy on the question of who has trusteeship of the sealed envelope containing the revelation. Many had speculated that the pope would reveal the secret during his visit, but he said nothing at all of the mystery.

For Christians?

What is the Christian's stand in relation to the events that are claimed to have occurred at Fatima? Is a Christian obliged to comply with the requests made by the apparition? It is only fair to state here that there is much skepticism about the authenticity of the apparitions, even among Portuguese church leaders. Some have even spoken out against the whole account as being one of the biggest religious frauds ever- perpetrated. Books have been written relating in detail the events surrounding the happening, going to the extent of calling it a complete hoax. In his book Na Cova dos Ledes (In the Lions’ Den), pages 422 and 423, Tomas da Fonseca, describing the questioning that took place after the children related what had happened, and the contradictions of statements made by the three, calls the whole incident “the most scandalous fraud of its kind ever construed” and a “premeditated crime.” In a letter that the author addressed to the leader of the Portuguese church, he accused: “You knew, and did not condemn, rather you applauded, the very close vigilance exercised over the three unhappy children, which vigilance only terminated with the death of the two and the isolation of Lucy in an inaccessible convent.”

The same author then quotes the Lisbon newspaper, Didrio de Noticias of August 8, 1954, which published an “Official Report from the Patriarchal Curia,” stating: "After careful examination of what happened with regard to the purported apparitions, it was verified that:

"(1) Nothing exists to confirm or appear to confirm the truth of such apparitions;

“(2) There is an absolute lack of basis in the assertions made to the public." We now have two alternatives before us: either the Fatima apparition is a fraud, or it is an actual historical event. If it is a fraud, certainly it is not for’ Christians. If it is a historical event, how do the events harmonize with the only authority for Christians, God's Word the Bible?

Be sure that the Roman Catholic Church, and especially its leader Pope Paul VI, gave the subject very serious consideration before the now world-famous pilgrimage of the pope was announced. What would be the result of such a visit upon the future of the church? Upon doctrine? Upon world opinion? Such a visit by the pope to Fatima would signify wholehearted support by the leader—and thus by the church—of the complete Fatima incident. And in a period of history when the church, by means of the Ecumenical Council, has encouraged union of all Christian religion, could the pope risk visiting Fatima and thus reaffirm completely the church’s devotion to Mary, a doctrine that has been one of the chief stumbling blocks to union? And, remembering that many representatives of the press, radio and television, including American NBC, CBS and ABC television networks, would converge upon Fatima from all over the earth to give worldwide publicity to the visit, could the church risk having the whole event later proved a fraud? Certainly not.

Scriptural or Demonic?

Let us, then, assume that something supernatural did occur at Fatima in 1917. Could it possibly have been from the true God? Today there Is widespread evidence of supernatural events occurring because of the intervention of demons in human affairs. Were the apparitions the work of the Creator or of "the god of this system of things,” Satan the Devil? (2 Cor. 4:4) Let us briefly examine again some of the events that occurred at Fatima, comparing them with the written authority for Christians, the Bible.

When the apparition said to have been the “Virgin Mary" appeared to the three, they fell down to worship her. But, if the apparition really were from God, w'hy did it not tell the children, as an angel did when the apostle John fell down before him: "See thou do it not.... Adore God”? (Rev. 19:10, Douay) Why did the apparition instruct them to continue to tell their beads to gain peace for the world and the end of the war? If it were truly Mary, a faithful servant of God, had she forgotten what the Bible says about venerating objects fashioned by men? Or when the apparition said: "Our Lord wishes to establish in the world devotion to my Immaculate Heart,” did she not remember what Christ's apostle Paul said, as recorded at Romans 1:24, 25, when he spoke of those wicked ones who "venerated and rendered sacred service to the creation rather than the One who created, who is blessed forever"? Could the apparition thought by the young children to be an angel possibly have been from God and at the same time have told the shepherds to do something absolutely contrary to the Word of God?

At the time of the last apparition, in October of 1917, the three young children were told to "have a chapel built here in honor of me, who am Our Lady of the Rosary." Is it proper for Christians so to venerate someone other than God? Does not God himself say at Exodus 20:5: "I Jehovah your God am a God exacting exclusive devotion”?

And when the hundreds of thousands of pilgrims in Fatima cheered and hailed the image of “Our Lady of Fitlma," yes, when Pope Paul VI placed a rosary upon the image of the "Virgin” and then, with folded hands, addressed the image in prayer, should other church leaders observing not have given warning of what the Bible says at Isaiah 44:9-13, 17, 18 concerning image worship: "Who has formed a god or cast a mere carved image? Of no benefit at all has it been . . . gradually he makes it like the representation of a man [or a woman], like the beauty of mankind, to sit in a house [or a chapel] . . . their eyes have been besmeared so as not to see, their heart so as to have no insight," and “their darlings themselves will be of no benefit"?

And should not the Roman Catholic leaders who took such a close interest in the three little shepherds have warned them also against image worship, as did Christ’s apostle John: "Little children, guard yourselves from Idols"?—1 John 5:21.

What about the vision of hellfire torment that the apparition gave to the children? Could this vision have been from God, when the Bible nowhere teaches that the dead are suffering but rather are unconscious? (Eccl. 9:5, 10) Could you imagine God standing aside watching “poor sinners burn forever" like “live, transparent coals” in a fiery place, and deriving satisfaction from hearing their “screams of pain and despair," when God's way is love? (1 John 4:8) Stanford University’s Dean of the Chapel B. Davie Napier recently said that to condemn even an unrepentant Hitler to eternal suffering “makes a demon out of God.” (Time, May 19, 1967, p. 40) Could it be that perhaps this was not God at all that gave the vision, but a demon, who was intent on “making a demon out of God”? Could an angel of God give a vision of such a horrible punishment when history shows that the doctrine originated with pagan Babylonish religion, which has always been opposed to true worship?

When the apparition taught the three little children to pray: “Most Holy Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Ghost, I adore you profoundly,” was it teaching them a Scriptural prayer, one that the Creator would like to hear, or was it teaching them to pray to another god, a three-in-one god nowhere mentioned in the inspired Scriptures? Did Jesus Christ teach his followers to pray thus? (Matt. 6:9, 10) Did not Jesus himself, rather than claiming to be equal to his Father, say, as recorded at John 14:28: "The Father is greater than I am”? Instead of encouraging his followers to seek intercession through Mary, did he not say: “No one comes to the Father except through me”? And did not the apostle Paul teach: “There is one God, and one mediator between God and men, a man Christ Jesus”? (John 14:6; 1 Tim. 2:5, 6) Did Jesus pray to ‘Mary, the Queen of Peace, the Celestial Mother’? Certainly not! After his baptism he did not even call Mary mother, but ‘woman’! (John 2:3, 4; 19:26) The Bible does speak of Christ as “Prince of Peace,” but never of Mary as the "Queen of Peace.”—Isa. 9:6, 7.

When Lucy claimed to have seen “St. Joseph with the Child Jesus” who “seemed to bless the world with their gestures, making the sign of the cross,” could she have really seen the same Joseph and child that were seen by shepherds after the birth of Jesus? In the year 1917 was Jesus still a little child? And was Joseph an angel in heaven? No, the Bible shows that Joseph was still in the grave, for the hour had not yet come "in which all those in the memorial tombs will hear his voice and come out.” (John 5:28, 29) Even faithful David, a forefather of Joseph, remained inactive in the grave after the time of Jesus’ death. (Acts 2:34) Moreover, could you imagine Jesus making the sign of the cross, a symbol that has absolutely no Biblical foundation but that finds its origins in pagan Babylon?

There are many other things to be considered here as to the Fatima occurrence and the words spoken there that show us whether that event could really have come from the Creator or not. The complete support given to the Fatima pilgrimage by the spiritual leader of the Roman Catholic Church clearly shows us the church’s stand in relation to God.

Only Hope for Peace

Can it be expected that peace will come in answer to the appeals of the pope to "the Queen of Peace”? Could it possibly come by the bestowal of the “Virgin’s blessing” upon human efforts and organizations such as the United Nations organization, to which the pope, in his visit to the organization headquarters in 1965, gave his complete support and backing, accepting it as “the last hope of concord and peace"? The Bible plainly shows us that these man-made efforts are ineffective and are doomed to be destroyed. (Isa. 8:9, 10; Ps. 146:3, 4) Only God’s kingdom in the hands of the “Prince of Peace” Jesus Christ can heal mankind of its sick, corrupt condition, and bring about ‘peace without end.’—Dan. 2:44; Isa. 9:6, 7.

Earthly Blessings Enjoyed Under God's Kingdom

THE kingdom of God, for which Christians pray, is a righteous heavenly rule or government. (Matt. 6:10; Isa. 9:6) Under its administration the entire earth will lx? transformed Into a paradise of pleasure, and the desires of all righteously disposed humans will be perfectly satisfied. Please locate your own copy of the Bible and turn in it to the one hundred and forty-fifth Psalm, verses thirteen and sixteen, and note the sound basis for this hope. If yours is the Authorized or King James Version It will read: “Thy kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and thy dominion endureth throughout all generations. Thou openest thine hand, and satisfies! the desire of every living thing.”

What blessings do you desire to see enjoyed upon the earth? The doing away with war and its accompanying miseries? By means of his Kingdom rule Almighty God will bring this about, as the Bible prophecy assures: “He shall judge among many people, and rebuke strong nations afar off: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.” (Mlc. 4:3, AV) The inspired Bible psalmist recorded the further comforting assurance: "The Lord will bless his people with peace."—Ps. 29: 11, AV; see also Psalm 46:8-11.

The peace brought by God's kingdom will be so far-reaching that even the relations between man and the lower animals will be affected. Even wild beasts will never again be a danger to man, as God's Word declares: “In that day will I make a covenant for them with the beasts of the field, and with the fowls of heaven, and with the creeping things of the ground: and I will break the bow and the sword and the battle out of the earth, and will make them to lie down safely.”—Hos. 2: 18, AV; Ezek. 34:25.

Under God's kingdom even creatures that were once fierce will be at peace, not harming others. “The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. . . . They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea." —Isa. 11:6-9, AV.

Without devastating war to disturb the land or any danger from wild animals, the earthly subjects of God’s kingdom will be able to care for their crops unmolested, and the land will produce abundantly. “There will come to be plenty of grain on the earth,” the Bible promises. (Ps. 72: 16; see also Psalm 67:6) Under the rule of God's kingdom never again will food shortage or painful hunger lx? experienced' God's blessing will be present, and the earth will respond to the loving attention of its caretakers, as indicated by the Bible prophecy: “Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree." The earth will become a global paradise, or park.—Isa. 55:13, AV; Ezek. 34:26, 27.

Perhaps one of the keenest desires of people is to enjoy perfect health, free from disease and the deteriorating effects of old age. Happily, Almighty God will open his hand and also satisfy this desire of the subjects of his kingdom. "No resident will say: 'I am sick.”’ (Isa. 33:24) Do not conclude that this prospect is an impossibility, for when he was on earth the Son of God, Jesus Christ, demonstrated what could be expected regarding the curing of ills. (Matt. 15:30, 31) Yes, under God's kingdom even the old and lame are certain to enjoy restored youth and full physical powers!—Compare Isaiah 35: 5, 6.

Is it possible to enjoy such perfect health forever? Can death be eliminated? Although men of science and medicine have proved unsuccessful in their attempts to conquer death, we have this assurance of God’s Word: "And [God] will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be any more. The former things have passed away.’’ (Rev. 21:4) Jehovah God will see to it that all causes for distress and sorrowing are removed and that the obedient subjects of his kingdom are blessed with everlasting life in an earthly paradise!—Isa. 25:8; Rom. 6:23.

But what about dead loved ones? How millions of earth's inhabitants long to see, talk to and associate with persons now deceased! Even this cherished desire will be realized! Jesus Christ demonstrated what would be experienced on a large scale when he resurrected the son of the widow of Nain and Jairus’ daughter. (Luke 7:11-17; 8:40-42, 49-56) With confidence, therefore, we can look forward to the fulfillment of Jesus’ own promise: "The hour is coming in which all those in the memorial tombs will hear [the Son of God’s] voice and come out.”—John 5: 28, 29; Acts 24:15.

Think of it! To enjoy everlasting life in a restored paradise with cherished loved ones! No more will there be the fear of crime or calamity. Slums and overcrowded living conditions, too, will be things of the past. Interesting work and a close relationship with God will cause life to be satisfying and enjoyable. “They shall build houses, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them. . . . They shall not labour in vain, nor bring forth for trouble . . . And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.”—Isa. 65:21-24, AV; Ps. 37:9-11, 29; Mic. 4:4.

Do you desire to live to enjoy these blessings of God’s Kingdom rule even in a physical sense here on earth? If so, prepare now to live then. Learn more about the kingdom of God and the requirements for enjoying its blessings. Then, after taking in the necessary knowledge, courageously serve God. Obediently submit to his wise direction, for "he that does the will of God remains forever.”—1 John 2:17; John 17:3.

Can you answer these questions? For answers read the article above.

(1 ) What satisfaction will be realized by earthly subjects of God's kingdom? (2) Will conflicts and wars continue to exist, and what assurance do we have regarding this? (3) What will then be the relationship between man and the animals? (4) What change will occur in the habits or disposition of certain animals under God's kingdom? (5) How will the earth then respond to the care given it, and what will it become earth wide? (6) How will the physical health of the Kingdom's subjects be affected? (7) How long may perfect health be enjoyed under the Kingdom rule? (8) Is there any hope of life as a subject of God's kingdom for those who are now dead and in their tombs? (9) What conditions that are common now will no longer exist under the Kingdom rule? (10) What must we do now if we desire to live then?

War in the Middle East

.* On May 15 Egypt was placed on a "war footing” as combat units and artillery vehicles rumbled through Cairo. The United Arab Republic asked the United Nations to remove its emergency force from the armistice line on the Egyptian border with Israel. Secretary-General U Thant of the United Nations ordered the withdrawal of U.N. troops. Israel issued a call to arms. She ordered a partial call-up of her reserves. America urged her citizens to get out of the danger areas. On May 23 President Nasser of Egypt announced an Egyptian blockade of the Gulf of Aqaba, cutting off Israel’s access to the Arabian Sea. The matter was referred to the United Nations. The Security Council of the United Nations was called on to meet. On June 4 fighting broke out between Israel and the Arab nations. Battles raged from Syria, on the north, to the Sinai Desert, on the south, and on the Jordanian-Israeli border. Ceasefire efforts were stalled in the United Nations. U Thant said failure in world morality is what has brought on the crisis and may bring on another world war.

Hit by Blackout

Four states in the United States were hit by a massive electrical power failure on June 5. The shut-off of power came at mid-morning. It was not until 8:15 p.m. that the entire area was back to normal. Some sections, however, began to regain power within a half hour. The precise cause for the blackout, which hit New Jersey, much of eastern Pennsylvania, eastern Maryland and the northern half of Delaware, was still being sought. For the most part people took the power failure very much in their stride. However, those following the Middle East crisis felt somewhat annoyed when their televisions went off.

High Abortion Rate

<§> Dr. Vinicio Calventi, gynecologist at La Maternidad Nuestra Sefiora de la Altagra-cia hospital in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, reported that 20,000 abortion cases had been treated in this center in the past seven years at an expenditure of two and a half million pesos. In 1966, 3,643 abortions were registered. The majority of these were selfinduced or performed by persons without medical knowledge and thus resulted in infection, hemorrhage, and complications, often incurable.

Dr. Calventi estimated that, for every case treated, there were two that did not seek hospital aid. He added that this hospital treats one case of abortion for every four births. The figures given apply only to the city of Santo Domingo, which represents one-fourth of the total population of the Republic.

Fire Disaster

<$> About 1,000 persons—customers and employees—were believed to be in the huge L'Innovation department store In Brussels, Belgium, on May 22, when fire broke out. Before the fire was brought under control, some 300 shoppers and store workers had perished, making it one of history's most disastrous building fires. Some suspect that the fire was the work of arsonists with anti-American motives. The store was showing special displays of American goods and flying the United States flag at the time. A store official put the loss at about $20,000,000.

WUd Weather

<$> People can do nothing much about the weather but talk about it, and April and May provided ample material for conversation. Drought in southern Florida threatened to dry up the Everglades, but heavy rains in May helped relieve the condition. In northern California some 400,000 construction workers grumbled about heavy rains, which kept them idle for two consecutive weeks. Massachusetts had a snowstorm on May 25, hurricane winds struck New England, killer tornadoes and hailstones blasted central and southern United States. Why all the unusual weather? Weather officials say that it is due to the activity of jet streams—high altitude "rivers” of fast-moving air undulating in paths from west to east across the nation. When these move in exaggerated sweeps, they say, extreme peculiarities in the weather pattern result. And this year has had its share of extremes.

“Couldn't Think Straight”

■$> The Observer, a magazine published by the United Church of Canada, gave the following answer to the question: "If a man came to you with a large gift of money for the church, and then explained that he had won it gambling, would you accept it? What would you say and do?" Answer: “We’d accept it and say 'Gulp!' If later we thought we shouldn’t have, we’d forgive ourselves with the excuse we were so surprised we couldn’t think straight.” Perhaps that is part of Christendom’s problem—it cannot think straight because of its love of money and double morality.

150 MPH Trains

In Japan, the famed To-kaido Line has trains with top speeds of 160 miles per hour (mph). However, the top speed in daily operation is about 125 mph. In the United States, the New York Central recently ran a test train, propelled by a jet engine, at 185 mph. The Pennsylvania Railroad has demonstrated a short-haul ride on a train that traveled up to 150 mph. The run between New York and Washington, D.C., reportedly will take 2 hours and 55 minutes. The railroad companies hope, by means of the newly designed trains, to compete with the airlines for traffic in these heavily traveled areas.

Where Houses Disappear

<*> Florida, known for its cooling breezes and warm winter sunshine, is faced with a problem of sinking houses. Mrs. Benny Watson of Bartow, Florida, glanced out of the window one Sunday morning, to see two of her neighbors' houses disappear into the ground. It appears that the rock structure of Florida erodes underground. Then, often without warning, huge areas fall in, engulfing houses, roads, even people. Geologists describe the rock upon which Floridians live as "soft limestone." The stone contains enormous quantities of water. During the recent drought much of the water drained, leaving gigantic underground caves. When the rains finally fell, adding tremendous weight to the surface, cave-ins were inevitable.

Compulsory Inoculation

“The Constitution of the Republic should make provision for medical freedom as well as religious freedom. To restrict the art of healing to one class of men and deny equal privilege to others will constitute the bastile of medical science,” so wrote Dr. Benjamin Rush, signer of the Declaration of Independence. Newsday for May 3 reported that a number of students were barred from classes in Levittown. New York, after failing to produce proof of immunization against polio. Robert Neidich, assistant superintendent of the Levittown School District, said the school administration will not accept a statement by a parent who claims that individual conscience prohibits his child from being inoculated. The only exceptions allowed by the new state law requiring Immunization to polio are for children whose physicians say they should not be inoculated or for children whose families belong to "a bonafide religious group" whose teaching forbids inoculation.

Parochial School Problems

Due to the decline in the number of clerical teachers and the growth in Roman Catholic parochial schools, laymen now constitute one-third of the teaching force within the Catholic school system in the United States. Until recently, it was unusual for lay teachers to teach in Catholic schools. But now that lay teachers are in these jobs they want better wages and better living conditions. Most parochial school systems have what many view as painfully inadequate tenure, pension and medical-insurance programs. The Inevitable result is not only discontent among laymen but a disturbingly high turnover. In the past few months, teacher walkouts have hit perhaps a dozen or more Catholic schools from New York to Los Angeles. Parochial school administrators say they lack the means to satisfy the teachers. Faced with rising costs, many dioceses have shut down or combined marginal and inefficient schools. And Time magazine for June 2 stated that some Catholic educators are beginning to wonder whether it might ultimately be necessary to abandon parochial school education entirely. St. Louis’ Joseph Cardinal Ritter recently is reported as having said: “If we were confronted with the question of whether we should start parochial schools today, I am sure they wouldn't be started.”

Presbyterians' New Creed

<$• After nine years of debate, study and revision, the United Presbyterian Church, the latter part of May, approved the "Confession of 1967." It is the first new Presbyterian creed in 320 years. What does it say? The Confession, a 4,500-word document, commits Presbyterians, in the name of Christ, to labor for such causes as world peace and the elimination of poverty and injustice. Nothing is said about the Christian responsibility of making disciples of men and preaching the good news of God’s kingdom as a witness to all nations. (Matt. 24:14) The document describes the Bible as simply the "witness without parallel" to God’s word rather than the Word inspired by God, as the apostle Paul so appropriately referred to it. —2 Tim. 3:16.

Human Guinea Pigs

<«■ A United Press International report out of London stated that Dr. Maurice Pappworth, a London consultant physician, charged that British and American teaching hospitals used patients as "human guinea pigs’’ for medical experiments that were sometimes unnecessary and resulted in death. Dr. Pappworth was reported to have said that hours-old babies, expectant mothers, convicts, the chronically and mentally sick, the aged and the dying had been submitted to experiments in the past twenty years. Pappworth, who gives 200 examples of alleged experiments, said that in 1954 New York doctors gave high oxygen concentrations to 36 premature babies for two weeks, despite reports indicating danger from this treatment. Out of the 36 infants, eight developed “irreversible’’ blindness of both eyes and two others had possible involvement of one eye. The charges are made in a book by the doctor called "Human Guinea Pigs—Experimentation on Man.”

LSD's Heavy Price

<$> Four users of LSD impaired their eyesight for life. While under the drug’s influence, they stared at the sun, which resulted in the burning of the macula, a small part of the cornea, and caused total loss of reading vision. It was reported on May 18 that the patients, all males between 18 and 24 years of age, had no awareness of pain or discomfort while the sun was burning through the eye's tissue because they were under the influence of the hallucinatory drug.

Abortion Advice

<S> In a 600-word statement twenty-one Protestant ministers and rabbis in New York city declared that they had set up a consultation service to assist women seeking advice about abortions. Clergyman Howard R. Moody, spokesman for the group, said that the new group would offer advice in obtaining legal therapeutic abortions and advice on alternatives, such as keeping the child or having him put up for adoption. “In some instances," the clergyman said, "it is possible we would attempt to facilitate her getting an abortion in a country where it is legal.” Even though abortion has repeatedly been denounced as murder, these clergymen stated that they disagreed with such a view. In fact, they held that "when a doctor performs such an abortion motivated by compassion and concern for the patient, and not simply for monetary gain,” they "do not regard him as a criminal but as living by the highest standards of religion and of the Hippocratic oath.” Of course, the opinion is that of these religious leaders and not that expressed in the Bible.

We need to have a purpose in life. Those who have none usually come to a tragic end. But as indicated by the lack of true happiness in the world, there is something lacking in the goals many pursue as their main purpose for living. The Bible says that “the whole obligation of man” is to “fear the true God and keep his commandments.” What loftier purpose could we have? But what are God’s commandments? What does God’s Word say on all these vital matters that affect our daily lives? Be sure! Make sure! Read:

"Make Sure of All Things;

Hold Fast to What Is Fine"

117 ADAMS ST. BROOKLYN, N.Y. 11201

I am enclosing 75c Please send me "Make Sure of AU Things: Held Fast to What Is Fine," the excellent pocket-sized handbook of 512 pages that lets the Bible speak lor itself on 123 major topics vital to life.

Name ..........    „..........

City .......... . .................

JULY 8, 1967

YOU DO NOT NEED to dream about the future. Read what God's Word says about it in the stimulating and faith-inspiring Bible-study aid:

You enjoy being free.

Naturally so, for man was created to be free.

But you would like to see all men free too, wouldn't you, and to see freedom preserved for all times?

You can rejoice at the news that a day of liberation is coming, and, better still, that the healing of the nations is at hand! Mail the coupon below and learn how this hope is to be realized in our day!

This book of 416 pages is hard hound in a red-colored, gold-embossed cover and has subject and scripture Indexes. Sent, postpaid, for only 50c. Mall the coupon below and receive free the timely Bible booklet Healing of the Nations Has Drawn Near.

I am enclosing 50c. Please send me the book Life Everlasting—in Freedom of the Sons of God and the free booklet Healing of the Nations Has Drawn Near.

Street and Number

Name ..................................................................... or Route and Box ......................................................

City .......   _......................................... State...........................  Zone or Code................

In: AUSTRALIA address 11 Beresford Rd., Strathfield. N.S.W. ENGLAND: The Ridgeway, London NW. 7. CANADA: 150 Bridgeland Ave., Toronto 19, Ont SO. AFRICA: Private Bag 2. P.O Elandsfonteln, Transvaal.

32                                             AWAKE!

¹

For more details, please see Awake! of June 8, 1967. page 9.