The globe-independent. (Hagerstown, Md.) 1943-19??, 1953-05-28

largely the result OF men trying 10
pull apart what God has put to-
gether," Rev. Raymond j. Purnell,
minister of the Sudbrook Methodist
Church, Pikesville, told the members
of the Kiwanis Club at Thursdays
luncheon meeting.
The meeting, with president Os-
car Hartsock presiding, was held in
the Hotel Alexander, and the speak
er was introduced by Robert Fleigh,
of the Club Extension Committee,
through which the program was ar
ranged.
Reverend Purnell, who spent last
summer in the Middle East as mem
Der of a study group on refugee
problems in the Arab world and the
State of Israel spoke on problems
In The Middle East" which, he stat
ed, is the strategic spot in the world
today, because it could complete the
buffer that Soviet Russia is trying
to establish and also because of its
natural resources that Russia covets.
The speaker then went on to draw
a comparison between the two main
nations in the Middle East-Egypt
and Israel. Touching first on Egypt,
he gave a dark and dreary picture of
that country, as he saw it.
To begin with, he said that of the
100000 square miles of Egypt, only
5000 was iveable territory at the
present time. He then went on to
tell his audience that no less than
80 per cent of the population of
Egypt suffers from a disease caused
by the water system of the country
because the one source of supply is
used for drinking water for both
humans and cattle, as well as for
bathing.
"Six hundred of every thousand
children born in Egypt" he said,
"die before they are six years of
age, and 80 per cent of the popula-
ton is illiterate"
Commenting on the tax structure
of the country, he pointed out that
95 per cent of the land is owned by
only per cent of the people, and
it is from this 5 per cent that the
government of Egypt is drawn. This
has resulted in the setting up of a
tax levy of 7 per cent, but the veal
thy land owners are exempt from
this taxation, with the result that it
is the poorer people of the nation
that have to pay all the taxes.
Egypt" the speaker went on, "has
refugee camp of over 100000
people, but the Egyptian government
makes no effort whatever to as
simulate them into the economy of
the country, but keeps them herded
together in shocking poverty, with
the money for their subsistence,
such as it is, being supplied by the
United Nations.
add to all of this Eygpt's hatred
of Israel" the speaker said, "and
you have a perfect example of man
trying to pull apart what God has
put together"
Turning to the neighboring nation
of Israel Mr.. Purnell gave what he
believes to be a fine illustration of
people trying to live together as God
intended.
To begin with, he stated that al
though it is 20 times smaller than
Egypt, Israel also has some 100000
refugees within its borders. But
unlike Egypt, they are steadily being
assimilated into Israeps economy.
Gas quickly as it is possible" Mr..
Purnell said "they are taken from
the refugee camps, housed in new
ly built homes, and given profitable
work, so that they can sustain them
selves and help develop the young
nation"
In strong contrast to Egypt, Mr..
Purnell stated that Israel is the Sec
ond healthiest country in the world,
being surpassed only by New Zea-
land.
While the nation is not an indus
trial one, it is developing its re-
sources to the utmost and this point
was illustrated by the speaker, who