fOL. IV, N0.8
ST. ANDREWS PHESBYTERIAN COLLEGE, LAURINBURO, N. C.
Kuthdoif. OuiLtt
It OenUMtd
How many of the stories concerning the birth of Christ are
rue? That is the question Dutch Bible scholar, H. W. van der
aart Smit, answers in his book, BORN IN BETHLEHEM-
HRISTMAS as it really was. Mr. van der Vaart Smot
oes not try to falsify any of the Christmas tradition, but he
opes that by finding the facts behind the stories he can help
eople see the truth and beauty of the tradition. He feels that the
ables and legends are misconceptions which lead to disbe-
ief on Christ’s birth.
Today Joseph is depicted as an old and then sometimes a
oung man who was a humble, poor carpenter. Actually Joseph
as a fifty to fifty-five year old widower, who was a respected
iddle-class citizen of Nazareth.
Mary was a life-long friend of Joseph's, and Joseph sympathized
ith her vow to remain a virgin throughout her life. This vow
rought Mary town ostracism and gossip, and because Joseph
anted to protect his friend they became bethrothed. Also Mary
elt she could tend to Joseph in his old age, since all the children
y his previous marriage had left home. After the angel came
0 Mary, she left for a visit with her cousin Elizabeth. When she
eturned a month later, Joseph was put into an awkward position
ut before he could put her away without gossip, the angel spoke
0 him and changed his mind,
A monjh^ later Joseph and Mary made the trip to Bethlehem
ecause he had possessions in that district, which the Roman
ssessors would be checking. Joseph wanted to talk personally
0 the assessors so they would not cheat him. Not all Jewish
eople had to go, and the trip was not a mass migration.
Today we see Joseph and Mary heartlessly turned away from
11 the Bethlehem lodgings, and finally Joseph leading his wife
nto a stable full of animals. Actually Joseph was highly respect-
d m Bethlehem because he was of the House of David, and the
oom he found for Mary was nicer than most of the inns,
he room he found was a grotto built in a cave, which was the
bandoned home of the shepards of Bethlehem, The summer
eat had forced the shepards to the mountains for grass.
Much is said about the three kings who ■ visited the Christ
hi)d, Iheir names are known and one is said to have been a
egro. Mr, van der Vaart Smit claims that the magi were not
ings, but were priest-astrologers from Babylon. This fact ex-
ludes the Negro from the magi because Negroes were slaves
n Babylon at that time. Also the number of magi can not be
et at three just because of the three gifts they brought. A cara-
an probably made the trip because of the importance of finding
king. Furthermore, the magi did not reach Bethlehem on the
ight of Christ's birth, but arrived a month later.
Mr. van der Vaart Smit's book is a research of what really
appened on that first Christmas nearly two thousand years
0. It was not written for scholars, but for any person who
s to take it for its worth. The aim of BORN IN BETHLEHEM
s to show that the Christmas tradition Is human, but has divine
ualities.
Juniors Sell Candy As
DECEMBER 18, 1953
lb
und-Raising Project
The present candy sale being instigated here on campus is
initial effort of the Class of ‘65 to finance the construction
of two sets of entranceways to be placed at both the north and
outh entrances to the campus bearing the name of the college.
e project was chosen during the spring of last year, and it's
‘ ributed significiance is the function of symlwlizlngthefrontier-
^e quality (rf the endeavor nf thp 1961 freshmen class.
^ sufficient official title is on theL.A, Build-
|™unt (rf Mrs. Leland's Ciolden
ipu er-bits and Christmas Candy
(at a dollar per) to make
clear profit of $500 by Jan-
5. At the present rate of
trouble is anti-
® in meeting this goal,
® present high-salesman is,
Smiley Chavis;
‘^dispensable person whose
Ing staff.
Professor Thomas Johnson
was admitted to Scotland Me-
morial Hospital Saturday with
severe chest pains. He will
remain there for the next few
days for rest and observation.
We convey our wishes for a
speedy recovery.
Ned Browning, SA Veep, Halts
Demonstration Against Food
Hector McLean, Chairman of the Board of Trustses,
talks to Carol Brooks, Ed Howard, and Joyce Clanton
after they presented the student petition concerning
food and service in the cafeteria.
Trustees Receive
Food Service Petition
An unsuccessful attempt at a food demonstration last Wednes
day resulted in a petition of grievances being presented to
the Board of Trustees,
Presented by Carol Books, Student Association president,
Joyce Clanton, Student Association secretary, and Ed Howard,
chairman of the Food Committee of the Senate, the petition
contained approximately 600 signatures.
SA Defeats ACC
In College Bowl
Last Tuesday night, December
10, the second round of the two
round College Bowl match with
Atlantic Christian College re
sulted in the defeat of A. C. C.
by a score of 345 - 105, This
made the final score, St. Andrews
575, and Atlantic Christian 140, '
At the same time last Tuesday
night, the other games between
the members of the College Bowl
were having their games which
will determine who we are going
to play next. After all of the re- '
quired games are played, the'
finalists are going to compete '
at the N, S, S, G. A, Spring'
Convention.
Questions are made up by pro
fessors for each team in the Col
lege Bowl, All games are on the
same night so the questions are
the same.
The contest is based on the quick
recall of the answers, not on the
total amount of knowledge of the
students.
Hector McLean, Chairman of the
Board of Tru*stees, accepted the
petition. He assured the students
that action would be taken. In
accordance, President Ansley
Moore is organizing an investi
gating committee.
The text of the petition reads;
“We, the undersigned students
of St. Andrews Presbyterian
College, respectfully request
that the Board of Trustees
conduct and immediate and
thorough inquiry into the ex
ceedingly poor quality, quan
tity, and sanitation of the food
served in the student cafeteria.
Thanking you for your interest
and concern in rectifying an
almost intolerable situation,
we remain;"
Begun around 7 p.m, Wednesday,
the petition contained nearly 400
signatures by TTiursday morning.
By noon, when the petition was
presented to Mr. McLean, the
number of signatures had reach
ed nearly 600.
All Student Cabinet members
signed the petition.
An attempted food-protest de
monstration last Wednesday
evening during supper hour was
thwarted by Student Association
Vice President Ned Browning.
The demonstration grew out of
general *discontent on the part
of a number of students with the
quantity, quality, and appearance
of the food served in the cafe
teria.
Demonstrators had planned to
march from the cafeteria with
food trays, across the causeway
to the L.A. building, where the
trays were to be placed in front
of President Ansley Moore’s of
fice, They felt that such a graphic
sign of protest would prompt
action by President Moore to cor
rect the conditions.
Some 20-30 students, including
a number of Student Association
members, were ready to parti
cipate in the “food-march.”
However, the initial attempt was
undertaken by less than ten stu
dents.
As the group moved to march
out of the cafeteria they were
met at the door by Vice-presi-
dent Browning who refused to let
them pass. At this point most of
the professed marchers ac
quiesced, leaving only several
students. The students who re
mained argued with Browning,
who urged them to try more
rational and peaceful means, that
peaceful or gentlemanly means
had proven ineffective in the past.
They felt that it was necessary
to take more drastic and rash
action.
After a short while, however,
this small group withdrew.
The students protested that the
food served in the cafeteria is
generally very poor in nutritional
value, improperly prepared, and
unappetizingly served. Dissatis
faction is not only with the food
itself, but with conditions of sani
tation in the serving area and din—
ing area.
Food Committee
The Food Committee met Mon
day, Dec, 16 with Mr. Silas
Vaughan, Mr. Robert Davenport,
Mr. Charles Stevens, and Mr.
Thomas Kanonas to discuss the
current grievances concerning
the food in the student cafeteria.
Beginning immediately the menu
for breakfast will be; Monday,
Wednesday, and Friday —
scrambled or fried eggs and a
meat (sausage, bacon, or ham);
Tuesday, Thursday, and Satur
day — a choice of omelet or
sweet breads (pancakes, French