The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1946-03-14

I
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CHRISTIANITY OR?
AS we look forward to what lies
ahead for our harassed world
thoughtful people are becoming in
creasingly conscious that we must
act quickly if we are to prevent
the humiliation of civilization
Should such thing happen, or any
thing remotely approaching it, man
kind S future on this planet viii be
fraught with grim and terrible I'M
certainty.
From many pens are coming
warnings that now we can no long
er fail to deal with mankinds basic
problem man himself They are
reminding us that our technology
has far outstripped our capacity to
use 1t wisely and Tor mankind's
own good.
In essence they are saying that
we must do two things simultan-
eously-one, Immediately; the other,
beginning Immediately, but carry
ing on continuously.
First we must have an effective
world organization to which all the
peoples of the earth will adhere.
Second we must address oursel-
YES to mankind's spiritual rehabili-
tation. AS the editorial in Fortune
Magazine for January 1916 says,
If we are to meet the challenge
of atomic fiSsion, we must cure the
fission that exists in mems minds
and in their hearts. In this sense
it appears that the problem is not
or even just political,
but spiritual and personal"
Arthur H. Compton, Chancellor of
Washington and one of the scien-
lists having most to do with the
of the atomic bomb,
puts it in slightly different words.
but with the same intent. Inter
national agreements may prevent
the early recurrence of a war of
destructiVeness. But
the lasting peace the world is seek
ing can come only as men learn
to live in the knowledge of the
truths of the spirit"
The principles Of Christianity are
in a book, the Bible. Some
Important part of it has been put
nto the languages of 9Z10ths of the
human race. But never vet have
sufficient funds been supplies to in
sure its adequate distribution. In
IS entire 100 years of existence the
American Bible Society, the reeog-
lized agency Of more than 40 de
has yet to receive from
III sources the equivalent of the
ost of single battleship like the
J. S. S. Missouri.
Having now spent our billions to
ecure military victory and a fresh
nance to build new order in
which wars will be impossible, we
Will do well to spend some millions
n spreading the book containing the
messages which alone will form the
,asis of that new order if it IS to
ndure
In Japan the Emperor Hirohito
as renowned his claim to divinity
hat means simply that church and
tate are now effectively divorced.
10 longer need there be conflict I
etween a Japenese's feeling Of ?
atriotism and his religion
The repercussions of this event
iere felt Immediately in Japan as c
videnced by d letter received
hortly after by the American Bible :
ociety 1t came from Col. Ivan
'ennett, Chief U S. Army Chap {
ain in Japan, and reported a con- /
arence with Kagawa and other 7
apanese Christian leaders They :
tie the immediate need of send =
lg from this county as the only !
ossible source of supply 100000
apense Bibles and 212 million
apanese New Testaments.
Much the same story can be told (
Germany. Reports from chan I
inns received by the Society in
icate a great receptivity on the =
art OF the people. and an eager \
ess on abe part of German pastors n
, get the books into the hands Of r
le people as an essential part of y
leir spiritual rehabilitation
1t is within the power Of Ameri- o
ans Of good will to fill the worlds .
oral vacuum with the healing mes "
lge of the Christian gospel. To =
Ill 10 do so may well mean dis c
;ter even within our own genera /
on IT,
Your gifts should be sent to the j
merican Bible Society, $50 Park a
venue New York 1927 N. Y. Il