Evening star., 1961-04-30
SPIRES OF THE SPIRIT
A Raven 's-Eye View
By DIR. FREDERICK BROWN HARRIS
Chaplai tha Unted

WIN Cne spring OF the
year comes the time for the
singing of birds. The feath-
cred chorus, clad in various
hued Surplices, perched in
the choir loft of the awaken
ing trees, makes glad the
dawning hour with the Gre
scendo notes of their salute
to the rising sun. How NOR
tails welcome them and their
CHEEKY chirpS, reminding us
that the winter is past! They
delight the eye and the ear.
But all that has to do with
a mans eye view of these
lovely creatures who share
our world. We have pom
derous tones of ornitho-
logical lore telling what we
humans see as we gaze at
these winged denizens of the
earth and air. But what is
the bird's-eye view of the
earth Of those who share our
common home?
What a bird really sees is
determined by its natural af-
finities. In the external
world it will seek that which
matches its inner nature. 1t
is ever true that a bird's-eye
view is governed by what a
bird is looking for. For in
stance, if it is a humming-
bird-its delicate garments
lovely as a flower-it is
seeking the nectar at the
heart of some enhancing,
blosSoming bush. If it is a
cowbird, it is always survey
ing some other birds nest
where it may lay its
own eggs to be Matched by
a foster mother, while it goes
off in utter responsibility.
That bird is always alert for
the chance to appropriate
the toll and skill of others
for its own selfish concerns.
In the bird world, as in the
world of people, there are
those who have as attractive
characteristics as the robin,
the canary, or the parakeet.
and those which with ugly
propensitieS are kin to the
vulture and the raven.
Take notice of the birds
eye view of these two melan-
choly members Of the feath-
cred tribe. To the vultures,
whose keen eyes go to and
fro over the earth, the mag
net which draws is carrion.
1t is at home in the realm
of decay-that is its world
and it sees little else. That
reminds us of human vul-
lures. The titanic evil power
we face in the world today,
atheiStic communism, with
its ridiculous claim of being
the inevitable master of the
future, can with no devia-
ton from the truth be
likened to a vulture as it
feeds on misery and decay
amid the stencil of dying
systems. Its aim is not to
restore, but to devour.
In the matchless old
drama Of job, the sickening
vision Of this bird of prey is
suggested by a striking SEN
tence: There is a path
which the eye of the vulture
hath not seem" This means
that there is a world
of beauty and of truth which
a vulture knows nothing of
just because it is a vulture.
Always there have been
vulture nations. History is
stained by the record of
individuals and of peoples
who have been characterized
by the predatory outlook.
Their ruling passion has
been to spy something upon
which they could pounce, to
appropriate for their own use
that which rightfully belongs
to others. And still there are
gangSter nations who look at
other peoples culture, tradi-
tionS, and freedoms with the
eye Of a vulture.
In a current magazine
read by millions there is a
reference to the de-
pressing bird Poe saw in his
familiar line-"Quoth the
raven 'nevermore.'" The
speaks of the ravens
on the branch of the
modern church, from whose
throats come nothing but
sounds of hopeless pessi-
miSm regarding the future
Of Professionalism in such an
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