Newspapers / Jones County Journal (Trenton, … / June 4, 1964, edition 1 / Page 3
Part of Jones County Journal (Trenton, N.C.) / About this page
This page has errors
The date, title, or page description is wrong
This page has harmful content
This page contains sensitive or offensive material
Ml 1 9 m Church Leader W* continue various church in* strayed into the political arena, presume to take debatable and controversial positions in the name of fantastically large segments of church members who have never been consulted on the questions. It is not surprising, then, that serious rifts dre beginning to appear in many churches of the nation. The National Council of Church es has-a fondness for the myth that it somehow speaks for ‘‘40 million Protestants” when, as a matter of fact, the Council actually is speak ing only for a handful of men or women who happen to compose the commission or committee maik - ing the pronouncement. The -Gen eral Conference of the Methodist Church, meeting at Pittsburgh re cently, came forth with policy statements relating to Red China and Cuba that rattled the teeth of many a Methodist back home. Yet, the press dutifully reported that the Methodist General Conference was speaking for or representing "ten million Methodists.” The net result is remindful of Mr. Dooley, the Irish wit, who once commented: “Th’ dimmycratic par ty ain’t on speakin' terms with itself.” Everybody in the party, Dr. Dooley had observed, was speaking for the party, with no body knowing what the party stood for. The National Council of Church es, or one of its component parts, has advocation the recognition of Red China. The Council is active ly promoting Negro demonstra tions, even to the point of endors ing the violation of various laws and providing bail for those ar rested. It has, in one way or an other, demanded the abolition of the House UnAmerican Activities Committee, Each time, and in each instance, the press has stated that the Council represents those “‘40 million Protestants.’’ Suffice it to say that the National Council of Churches would be hardpressed to find even a substantial fraction of that number who agree with its ac tions and its positions. The Methodist Conference, im piicity speaking for "ten million Methodists’’ emerged from the Pittsburgh meeting with a flurry of positions, all subject to question, all controversial, all highly debatable. A sprinkling of pious words ac companying the Methodist resolu tions did little to settle the dust. Many a Methodist throughout the land was shocked and dismayed. PARAMOUNT Glenn Ford Stella Stevens BRIGHT LEAF Drive-In Theatre SUNDAY THRU TUESDAY June 7, 8, 9 " Take Her, STARTS THURSDAY • June 4th "Advance To the Rear” The leadership of the Baptist denomination in North Carolina has placed itself squarely in oppos ition to a constitutional amendment which would clarify the Supreme Court decision relating to prayer and Bible reading in the schools. And which would eliminate the ef fect of the. decision in outlawing such religious practices. Baptists boast of their autonomous and de mocratic procedures, but here again we 'find church leaders taking de batable positions in affairs of gov ernment and politics, leaving the impression that tjiej^ are speaking for their denomination which in fact Baptist congregations have not even been consulted. There is no suggestion that church leaders keep silent on contempo rary issues. And certainly no re strictions. should be placed on their tight* to speak their Views* as in dividuals. But presuming to speak, or appearing to speak, for vast mil lions of unconsulted church mem bers is something else again. . It is all well and good to hope and work for the brotherhood of man in this troubled world. But there is no justification, Biblical or otherwise, for /the abdication of historical truth, factual awareness, and practical reality. The murder ®us regimes of Red China and Communist Cuba are steeped in atheism. They sneer at the prin ciples of a nation founded on a faith in God. Yet, religious forces call for a reexamination of our re lationship wtih these nations. It is, when all is said and done, a clear call for appeasement. Christ could have avoided the cross had He been willing to ap pease and coexist with the forces antagonistic to His teachings. Thus, there may be an obvious theological defect in the positions so eagerly being taken by so many church leaders. Even so, they should not be denied their right to their views. We are troubled, as we say, simply by their presuming LURDS 100 Proof GIN Other Editors CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR India Renewed The leaders of the parliamentary system in India are' now standing on their own feet. We wish them well. They have an immense task ahead. > Reform of government, both at the center and throughout India, has only. been chipped at and is now long overdue. The Congress Party in particular needs the kind of overhaul that could only come after M/. Nehru no longer held the or appearing to speak for others. If they emphasize that they are speaking for themselves, that is fine. When they go beyond that point, they are doing; infirmity not only to.the church but to the cause of religion itself. reins. So does the administrative machine, both; in Delhi and throughout the country Some of this can be done at lower levels but this is a genuinely national cri sis of leadership at the top. It was characteristic of India that the country and its officials wanted to leave Mr. Nehru the un questioned leader to the end. This was a tribute of affection and great respect. Responsibility for govern ing was diffused as Mr. Nehru moved further away from the role of chief administrator, yet power still resided in him. The unavoid able result was what always hap pens when those who hold respon sibility do not have the power. The bureaucracy, which always had formidable inertia iff India, became worse congested and indecisive. It is rerparjtabje binder the cir cumstancA^UMt So much continued to be done reasonably well. Mr. Nehru’s last days after the trag edy of the Chinese Communist at tack were days of dignity. Bat ev eryone knew that the reckoning would have to come. There will now be a fresh start. There has to be. Even those clos est to had never really been free tCTmeV'themselves. Those of US 'who have faith in Indian democracy know that it now will be tested. For the first time since independence, India will itself have to form and assert ks own character, in its own right. Self government will; have to spread horizontally and vertically through the governing ranks. Parties and officials will have to be renewed. This is the task of Mr. Nehru’s plural successors. I Quick! Pick a Chevrolet and fill in the spaces Now’s the time to see the great outdoors in a great Chevrolet buy! Here you are on the brink of vacation time. There’s your Chevrolet dealer in the midst of Trade ’N’ Travel Time;, You two should get together! Object— celebrating the joys of summer in a new Chevrolet. ' Why a Chevrolet? Well, with 15 models in four series, what possible reason is there to look further? Take the Impala Super Sport (and a lot of people do just that). Comes as a Sport Coupe or Convertible. Has trimmings like front bucket seats, center con sole, special trim—all as stand ard equipment. And offers a typically Chevrolet array of extra-cost options. Plain Impalas are anything but. They come in all popular body styles, including wagons. They’re dressed up to a fare thee-well: fully carpeted interiors, uphol stery as durable as it is attractive. Bel Airs and Biscaynes, the lower priced rat iw cmot Hwmwv ravoMKM Chevrolet^, make a practice of hiding it. All the conveniences, no sacrificing comfort or style. Did we mention that Trade ’N’ Travel Time won’t last forever? It won’t. So see your Chevrolet dealer. Then go fill in the spaces. Chevrolet Impala Convertible Chevrolet Impala Sport Coupe Chevrolet Bel Air i-Door Station Wagon i CHECK THE T«N»T PEALS ON CHEVROLET • CHEYELLE • CHEVY n -CORVA|R *Hp CORVETTE NOW AT YOUR CHEVROLET DEALER'S . ' 32-8528 Community Chevrolet Company, Inc. Pkan* PI 3.3221 f MaysvitU, N. C. Manufacturer's License No. IM
Jones County Journal (Trenton, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
June 4, 1964, edition 1
3
Click "Submit" to request a review of this page. NCDHC staff will check .
0 / 75