August 8

People Were Made to Live!

KING XERXES was reviewing his troops prior to the great sea battle of Salamis in the year 480 before the Common Era. According to the Greek historian Herodotus, this Persian monarch shed tears as he viewed his men. Why? “I was thinking,” said the king, “and it came into my mind how pitifully short human life is​—for of all these thousands of men not one will be alive in a hundred years’ time.”

Doubtless that proved true, for man’s life-span is relatively short. Concerning it, the inspired psalmist declared: “In themselves the days of our years are seventy years; and if because of special mightiness they are eighty years, yet their insistence is on trouble and hurtful things; for it must quickly pass by, and away we fly.”​—Ps. 90:10.

No wonder many feel that life is too short. American author Mary Roberts Rinehart put matters this way: “A little work, a little sleep, a little love and it is all over.”

Though a person’s years of life seem so limited and “their insistence is on trouble and hurtful things,” man clings to life. In fact, for ages men have sought long life, even eternal life.

To illustrate: Indians told the Spanish explorer Ponce de León that on an island by the name of Bimini there existed a fountain capable of restoring youth to the elderly. “The Indians were actually repeating a European legend that they had heard from the white man,” says The World Book Encyclopedia.

Ponce de León went in search of Bimini, but landed on the North American mainland in the spring of 1513 C.E. Though he explored much of the coast of the present state of Florida, he, of course, never found and sipped any waters from the legendary Fountain of Youth.

Yet, why should man even dare to think of a fountain of youth? In view of the stark reality of human death, how can people conceive of everlasting life?

The reason is that people were made to live. Under, divine inspiration, wise King Solomon declared: “I have seen the occupation that God has given to the sons of mankind in which to be occupied. Everything he has made pretty in its time. Even time indefinite he has put in their heart, that mankind may never find out the work that the true God has made from the start to the finish.”​—Eccl. 3:10, 11.

Almighty God, the Creator, enabled man to conceive of past and future time indefinite, or eternity. The lower animals have no such concept. Something implanted in the human mind by Jehovah God gives man the concept of limitless existence. Humans can conceive of living forever.

Perhaps, though, you feel that as far as humans are concerned everlasting life is a biological impossibility. However, Walter Sullivan stated: “The cells of our bodies (with a few exceptions, such as brain cells) are constantly replenishing themselves. It would seem that, barring accident or disease, this should continue indefinitely, but because of some subtle influence the replacement process is imperfect.”​—We Are Not Alone, 1964, p. 282.

Dr. George R. Clements once stated: “If there is any one point on which leading scientists agree, it is that they can find no physiological reason in the body why man should not live forever.” And biologist William Beck commented: “I can see no reason why death, in the nature of things, need be inevitable.”

Of course, it is one thing to talk about a biological possibility and quite another to have an assurance that everlasting human life is more than a mere dream. But do you think that the Creator gave man the concept of unlimited existence for no purpose? Surely, Jehovah, “a lover of righteousness and justice,” would not unjustly give man this concept if there existed no possibility that humans could live forever.​—Ps. 33:5.

The Son of God, Jesus Christ, said: “This means everlasting life, their taking in knowledge of you, the only true God, and of the one whom you sent forth, Jesus Christ.” (John 17:3) Being “loyal, guileless, undefiled, separated from the sinners,” Jesus could be trusted to tell the truth. (Heb. 7:26) He would not hypocritically hold out a false hope.

If you were to read the first five chapters of the Bible book of Genesis, you would find that the original human pair were not given a limited life-span. Set before them was the prospect of eternal life. Yes, people were made to live! But man disobeyed God and thus was sentenced to death as a sinner.

So, why do people grow old and die? Because, as the apostle Paul said: “Through one man sin entered into the world and death through sin.” Yet, Paul also stated: “The gift God gives is everlasting life by Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Rom. 5:12; 6:23) As a sinner, the perfect first man Adam forfeited life for his posterity, but the death of the perfect man Jesus in faithfulness to God provided the needed ransom price that obtained humanity’s release from bondage to sin and death.​—1 Pet. 1:18, 19; 1 John 2:2.

Jesus himself put matters very well, in saying: “God loved the world [of mankind] so much that he gave his only-begotten Son, in order that everyone exercising faith in him might not be destroyed but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16) For many, that “everlasting life” will be enjoyed right here on this earth.

Interestingly, the Detroit Free Press stated: “A Baltimore doctor says that someday human life may be extended indefinitely. Does the prospect of living forever appeal to you?” In reporting on answers to that question, the newspaper indicated that 32.6 percent said Yes. From the 67.4 percent saying No, came remarks like these: “I don’t relish the thought of looking 200 years old.” “After supporting three kids and a wife for 30 years they’d have to offer me Utopia.”

Well, to the vast majority of those gaining God’s approval, the “offer” is everlasting life in human perfection in an earthly paradise. (Luke 23:43) Not only will old age be replaced by youthful vigor, but God will be with humankind. “He will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore.”​—Rev. 21:3, 4.

Just think of the efforts that men of the past made to locate the fabled Fountain of Youth, only to be sorely disappointed. Then ask yourself: Is it not worth time and effort to gain knowledge of God’s purpose for earth and man? Indeed it is. People were made to live, and you can be among those who will enjoy life eternal.

Freedom of Worship Triumphant

By “Awake!” correspondent in Brazil

HOW would you feel if you were at a meeting with fellow worshipers of God and suddenly the police burst in with an order to close that place of worship? That is exactly what happened to Jehovah’s Witnesses in Cachoeiras de Macacu and Japuíba, in Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil, on Sunday, June 13, 1976.

Why had such a thing occurred? Because certain Witnesses made use of their Biblical and legal rights to refuse a blood transfusion for their injured boy.

What Had Happened

On Friday, June 11, seventeen-year-old César de Souza Corrêa shot himself accidentally with a hunting rifle. His parents took him to the hospital at Cachoeiras de Macacu, where he arrived around 8 a.m. to receive medical attention.

The nurses and doctor on duty discovered that young César had suffered an internal hemorrhage with serious loss of blood. César’s father, Octávio Luiz Corrêa, begged a surgeon and personal friend, whom he had called in, to do all he could to save his son. However, on the ground of conscience, the father objected to the use of blood transfusions as a means of prolonging the boy’s life. At the same time, Octávio did nothing to obstruct proper medical attention. Nor did he enter the operating theater. Sad to say, though, César died during the operation, in spite of being given a transfusion over his father’s objections.

As usually happens in these cases, public opinion was whipped up and accusations of ignorance, fanaticism and the like were heard. Possibly influenced by public opinion and his own high esteem for human life, which he considered neglected, Mr. Justice Celso F. Panza passed sentence (Decree No. 5/76) on June 13, 1976, thereby closing two Kingdom Halls of Jehovah’s Witnesses and prohibiting their preaching about God’s kingdom in the municipal area.

Soon it was pointed out in the public press that the court’s action was unconstitutional. For example, Dr. Benjamim de Moraes, professor of penal law at Rio de Janeiro Federal University, said, in a statement to the newspaper O Globo, that the judge “went too far from the standpoint of the Constitution.” After quoting Article 153 of the Brazilian Constitution, which guarantees freedom of conscience, he affirmed: “In all certainty, this judicial action will be reversed at a higher instance.”

Dr. José H. Dutra, criminologist and professor of penal law, stated: “By overstepping his position, Judge [Celso] Felício Panza . . . supplanted, it seems, the two other Powers: legislative and executive, contradicting the position defined by Montesquieu a long time ago. . . . Evidently, the course to be taken is a court injunction, since Jehovah’s Witnesses are in their obvious and absolute rights.”

Among other lawyers, Dr. Themístocles Cavalcanti expressed his belief that the question, once submitted to a higher court, would be decided in favor of Jehovah’s Witnesses. (O Globo, June 15 and 21, 1976) And this really happened, to the joy of all who love liberty and justice.

Freedom of Worship Triumphs

Jehovah’s Witnesses made use of their right to ‘defend and legally establish the good news.’ (Phil. 1:7) Through a local overseer, L. Lehký, they applied for a court injunction. (No. 188/76) It was signed by four lawyers.

In an outstanding summary, attorney Dr. Antônio Augusto de Vasconcelos Neto said: “The sentence [which ordered the Kingdom Halls closed] exceeded the limits of authority conferred upon the Judge, that is, handling specific cases in the interest of juveniles. I do not know of any law which authorized the Judge to issue a writ ordering the police to close all halls where a religious sect operates, whose operations have been duly authorized by the competent authorities. . . . The writ to close all places where Jehovah’s Witnesses meet, is against the constitutional principle of freedom of religion and the jurisdictional limits of the Judge.”

Noteworthy, too, was Document No. 274/76 because of its clear defense of freedom of worship. It was issued on behalf of the Judicial Department of the Ministry of Justice by Dr. José Antonio Marques, and reads:

“Initially, as the illustrious Chief of the Office of the Holder of this Portfolio indicates in his communication, the Church that it is intended to outlaw, exists world wide and all over Brazil.

“Next, it is to be noted that the closing of the churches does not mean the extinction of the cult, the end of the religious rules observed by the Jehovah’s Witnesses. The Christian religion was even practiced in the Roman catacombs and the more its followers were persecuted the more it spread in all the world.

“From the standpoint of the Constitution, Document No. 5/76, issued by Dr. Celso Felício Panza, is unsustainable, as it is opposed to Article 153 §5 of the Federal Constitution.”

The decisive judgment was rendered on the afternoon of October 26, 1976. The somber atmosphere in the courtroom of the First Civil Chamber of the Law Courts in Rio de Janeiro, Palace of Justice, gave rise to serious reflections. Around 4 p.m. the session began. Several representatives of Jehovah’s Witnesses were present, including two lawyers, H. S. Silva and O. do N. Paula.

When the chief judge asked whether there was a lawyer for Jehovah’s Witnesses present, O. do N. Paula asked to be heard, and he presented a brief oral defense, based on the summary of the defense counsel. In turn, the judges of the Venerable First Civil Chamber decided unanimously in favor of the appeal and declared the sentence issued by Dr. Panza null and void, permitting at the same time the reopening of the Kingdom Halls and the preaching of the Kingdom message in the municipal area of Cachoeiras de Macacu. Once again freedom of worship was triumphant.​—See Diário Oficial of Rio de Janeiro State, November 11, 1976, part III.

Important Questions Involved

For the benefit of sincere persons who wish to reason on such incidents, we list here some vital questions relative to this case.

Q. What is the viewpoint of Jehovah’s Witnesses regarding life?

A. “Jehovah as the source of life has decreed that human life is precious, sacred. (Gen. 9:5; Ps. 36:9) . . . We who are lovers of life, holding every day of life sacred, endeavor to conduct our daily affairs and associations in a way that will merit the approval of the One who gave life to humankind.”​—The Watchtower, July 15, 1975, pp. 447, 448.

To Jehovah’s Witnesses death is no blessing. It is an “enemy” that will soon be done away with by God.​—1 Cor. 15:26, 54; Rev. 21:4.

Q. As it was not his own life but that of another human being, what considerations moved Octávio, a Witness, when he rejected the blood transfusion for his son?

A. Every Witness loves his children deeply. In this case, Octávio and his wife have always cared well for their eight children and an adopted daughter. Therefore, when Octávio made his decision, he took into consideration: (1) his parental responsibility before God, which is well defined in the Holy Bible and by the laws of this country; (2) the wishes of his son as a person.

According to Dr. Jean Chazal, honorary president of the International Association of Juvenile Judges, “The child, since it is a person, must always be treated as an individual and not as an object.” (Les droits de l’enfant, quoted in Rights of Juveniles by A. Cavallieri, p. 20) Certainly this is true in the present case of a minor who was a Witness. A judge having such high esteem for the person of a minor, would never force a blood transfusion on him against that person’s will and conscience.

Q. Why did Octávio Corrêa refuse the blood transfusion?

A. Basically because of the Bible’s prohibition as to the use of blood for nourishment or to prolong life. The Great Encyclopedia Delta Larousse (Portuguese) says: “Blood is living tissue that runs in the circulatory system and whose main functions are: 1) to carry needed nutritive substances and oxygen to all tissues in the body; 2) to collect and take residues, useless or dangerous to the cellular activity, to the excretory organs (kidneys, lungs, skin, etc.).” (P. 6079) Thus, blood nourishes and cleans the body.

Jehovah God, who knows more about blood than anyone else, prohibited the eating of blood. His Word, the Bible, states: “Only do not eat flesh with its life in it, that is, the blood.”​—Gen. 9:4, Pontifical Bible Institute, Rome, Paulinas Editions, Brazil.

The apostles of Jesus Christ and early Christian elders obeyed this divine command. Under the direction of God’s holy spirit, it was required that Christians “abstain from meat presented to idols, blood, strangled meat and illegitimate relationships.”​—Acts of the Apostles 15:20; 21:25, The Jerusalem Bible, Brazilian Edition.

Q. By rejecting a blood transfusion, did Octávio Corrêa not restrict the surgeon’s professional liberty to choose the best treatment for his patient?

A. The Medical Ethics Code indicates in Article 48 that it is the doctor’s prerogative to choose the treatment for his patient. But Article 31 also points out that the doctor has the duty to inform the patient of his diagnosis and prognosis, as well as the purpose of the treatment. It is obvious that such information is provided in order to obtain the patient’s consent. After all, who is going to pay for the treatment? Who really decides about the person and his welfare?

Article 32 §f of the Medical Ethics Code is limitative when it says: “The doctor is not allowed to: exercise his authority in such a way as to curtail the patient’s rights to decide about his person or welfare.” This ethical principle is confirmed by regulations of the civil and penal codes, and it shows that the physician is obliged to answer for any harm done to his patients.

Consider a doctor who is being treated by a colleague, perhaps a specialist. Will he not use his ‘rights as a patient’ and decide whether he will accept or reject the proposed treatment?

Jehovah’s Witnesses do not curb the doctor’s professional liberty when they ask him to respect his own Code of Ethics and neither exaggerate the seriousness of a case nor proclaim a blood transfusion to be the infallible cure, which it is not.​—See Article 32, §d and Article 5, §e.

Q. Did not Octávio Corrêa work against science, or act ignorantly, when he rejected the blood transfusion for his son?

A. Dr. Arthur D. Kelly, former secretary of the Canadian Medical Association, declared: “No doctor can be positive that a person will die if he doesn’t get a transfusion or live if he does. . . . I deplore methods of trying to force a transfusion or any kind of treatment. You are putting yourself in the position of God.”​—Religion, Medicine and Law.

No informed doctor denies that good medical textbooks contain weighty warnings about blood transfusions. Some hospitals even hold discussions about the dangers of transfusions.​—See HED, magazine of Ernesto Dornelles Hospital, for March 1972, pages 87-108, and the medical journal Iamspe, October-December 1975, p. 28.

Are the following declarations unscientific?

Dr. Almeida Machado, Minister of Health, Brazil, stated: “The patient must have a minimum of safety when he receives a blood transfusion. . . . He should not be exposed to an inoculation of malaria, hepatitis, syphilis, Chagas’ disease.” (Veja, March 31, 1976, p. 54) And when giving evidence before the Parliamentary Inquiry Committee of the Consumer, in the House of Deputies, Dr. Machado said that contaminated blood “is producing more ill effects than all the prohibited medicines together.”​—O Estado de São Paulo, Nov. 26, 1976.

Dr. Baruch Blumberg, Nobel Prize winner in medicine in 1976, commented: “Especially in Brazil the sale of blood should be prohibited, because not only hepatitis but also many other diseases, such as Chagas’ disease and malaria, can be transmitted through transfusions.”​—Jornal do Brasil, Sept. 20, 1976, p. 4.

Q. From the medical point of view, what valid alternatives have Jehovah’s Witnesses to offer in the place of blood transfusions?

A. Jehovah’s Witnesses are grateful to scientists who discovered the so-called plasma substitutes, and also to doctors willing to use them, especially as blood expanders. Octávio Corrêa told the surgeon that he would permit the use of plasma volume expanders, such as saline solution, Ringer’s lactate, Haemaccel, dextran, PVP and others.

Not Fanatical, but Firm

This brief consideration underlines the following: Jehovah’s Witnesses are not fanatics, but their beliefs about the use of blood are firmly rooted in God’s infallible Word. They consider it absolutely vital to follow their Christian conscience, trained by his Word, even when their own life is at stake. Moreover, they appreciate the efforts of physicians and scientists to prolong life, whenever these efforts do not violate the Christian’s Scriptural obligation to ‘abstain from blood.’​—Acts 15:20, 29.

Nevertheless, Jehovah’s Witnesses are firm in their determination to obey Almighty God and his Word. Hence, they will continue to abstain from blood. Also, they will persevere in efforts to uphold freedom of worship. To this end, as true Christians, Jehovah’s Witnesses follow the Bible’s counsel to pray “concerning kings and all those who are in high station; in order that we may go on leading a calm and quiet life with full godly devotion and seriousness.”​—1 Tim. 2:1-5.

“Sea Sense”​—Boating Wisdom

By “Awake!” correspondent in New Zealand

“MISSING After Boat Swamps,” “Man Lost in Cook Strait,” “Police Launch Saves Yacht,” “Six Good Kids Die​—And a Town Weeps,” “Man Rescued After 11 Hours in Water Without Lifejacket,” “Holiday Drowning Toll Is 14.”

These headlines and others like them appeared in the Auckland, New Zealand, daily newspapers between mid-December 1975 and mid-January 1976. They all referred to individual tragedies involving people using, for recreation, the sea and waterways of New Zealand’s North Island.

Reports such as the foregoing will sadly be echoed around the earth, wherever man pits his knowledge, or lack of it, against the sea, whether for pleasure or profit.

While it is true that the practice of pleasure-boating has reached a peak in recent years, thus attracting many novices, it should be carefully noted that even ships passing inspection by the most reputable authorities and manned by qualified professional seamen continue to be overwhelmed by tempests and other perils, often resulting in the loss of life.

Cities on Harbors, Rivers and Lakes

Almost all the large concentrations of population are located on either harbors, rivers or lakes. One such city is Auckland, with a population approaching 800,000. It sits astride an isthmus between two great harbors, the one on the west opening to the Tasman Sea and the eastern one providing entry from the Pacific Ocean. A combined coastline of some 380 miles (610 kilometers) is contained within these two waterways alone, while further harbors, rivers and sheltered islands and inlets abound within easy reach of small craft. Such an environment, together with a mild climate, make this South Pacific city a place of considerable acquatic activity.

Not only in this area, but in the whole of New Zealand, with its long coastlines and numerous rivers and lakes, the toll from drownings continues to rise, no fewer than 130 persons losing their lives in this way in 1975. The water safety council has pleaded with people to take better care in the water this year; and the New Zealand Volunteer Coast Guard recommended that “a healthy state of fear [is] probably the most important thing to take with you in a small boat.”

“The Ordinary Practice of Seamen,” or Common Sense

By international accord the Maritime nations observe and follow the “International Regulations for the Prevention of Collision at Sea,” with which are incorporated lights and shapes required to be carried by vessels as well as the “Steering and Sailing Rules” and distress signals. Since the opening paragraph of the rules states that they are to be observed by all vessels upon the high seas, and in waters connected therewith, it follows that everyone who seeks to take a craft of any description from the shores should at least be familiar with their contents. But surely the most important rule is No. 2, which states: “Nothing in these rules shall exonerate any vessel or owner, master or crew thereof, from the consequences of any neglect to comply with these rules or of the neglect of any precaution which may be required by the ordinary practice of seamen, or by the special circumstances of the case.”

The overriding words to define “the ordinary practice of seamen” are common sense, nothing more and nothing less. Not to be exonerated, as stated in the rule, may mean suspension of license or certificate or may even mean a fine or imprisonment. Some local authorities impose fines and penalties against amateur pleasure-boat owners for infringements of bylaws and regulations. But what about the boat owner who, through lack of observing “the ordinary practice of seamen,” and through carelessness or neglect of common sense precautions, causes loss of life? Certainly his conscience would never exonerate him, even if the law did.

Ten Basic Rules

The New Zealand booklet Ahoy Skipper lists what it calls ten golden rules for safe boating. These are (1) Watch the weather, (2) Do not overload, (3) Make sure you have necessary equipment, including life jackets, (4) Keep your engine 100 percent reliable, (5) Know the collision regulations and bylaws, (6) Keep a good lookout, (7) Know the distress signals, (8) Guard against fire, (9) Do not mix drinking and boating, (10) Before you depart advise some person on shore of your intentions.

But whatever approach you might take when embarking upon your first or your one-hundred-and-first voyage, do not treat the experience lightly or as being in the same category as a trip in the car. For the person setting out on a water journey, however short, there are profound differences.

The water roads do not remain smooth all the time. One may not be able to stop and ask directions. If the engine fails, one cannot pull to the side of the road and await assistance. The types of vessels using the water roads may vary in size from a few feet to over 1,000 feet (300 meters) in length. These vessels may be fishing, dredging or navigating with difficulty in confined waters. They may be towing, anchored or anchoring. They may be “not under command” or sailing with or without power. They may be crossing your course or overtaking you, or may be on a collision course or approaching you head on. You must be able to identify them by their lights at night and by their characteristics by day. You should be sufficiently familiar with the “rules of the road” to know what to do to avoid collision​—what your rights, responsibilities and obligations are under international and local laws, all of which amounts to plain common sense and observing the ordinary practice of seamanship.

You cannot hope to absorb the sea lore of generations of seafaring in ten easy lessons. There are some things that only experience will give you​—you will realize that there is always the unpredictable, the unforeseen threat of calamity. And one man may be able to cope with a sudden emergency in an unfamiliar environment, while another, even though experienced, may “go to pieces.” So, do not attempt small-boat activity for pleasure if you are not sure you can handle any emergency situation that may arise.

High-Speed Runabouts

These small, fast craft have become a source of particular concern to the authorities in New Zealand and elsewhere. They are relatively easy to purchase, are launched by a ramp from a trailer and are retrieved in the same manner. Under ideal circumstances a boy or a girl can start them, open the throttle and steer them at speeds of twenty knots and more. Obviously such boats are highly lethal in the hands of the inexperienced or foolhardy or those too young to recognize the awesome responsibility involved in confined or crowded areas. Legislation makes it illegal for persons under fifteen years of age to drive any vessel capable of exceeding ten knots under power. They must not exceed five knots when within 200 yards (180 meters) of the shore or when passing within 100 feet (30 meters) of other vessels or any person bathing or fishing. When towing water skiers, the boats can approach or leave the shore only through properly designated access lanes and must always have aboard at least one person in addition to the driver.

Minimum Safety Requirements

In any waters on which a craft is being used the wise boatman should see that his vessel is adequate for its intended purpose, and that it meets at least the minimum safety requirements. All boats should have at least a secondary method of propulsion, such as a spare set of oars or a spare engine (outboard), or sails. They should have means of dealing with fire, and a bailing device, such as a bucket or a pump. There should be sufficient buoyant material, such as cushions filled with kapok, to provide flotation for the number of persons in the boat, and an anchor with enough rope or “warp” to be able to hold the craft under at least moderate conditions.

All boats capable of making extended cruises involving the prospect of overnight passages should carry a reliable compass, and the person in charge should know how to steer by it and take an elementary bearing so as to establish a position on a chart. Such vessels, of course, should be equipped with regulation navigation lights. All boat owners should have a copy of the latest chart covering their area of proposed operation or at least be familiar with outlying shoals and sand banks and with tidal flows and ranges. They should know where the deep-water channels used by vessels other than small craft are, and the obligations that they have not to obstruct such fairways and the large vessels that use them.

Gaining Experience and Confidence

If you have never done any sailing or boating before, do not start off with a flourish and set sail with your family on a long trip such as one of forty miles (60 kilometers) or so across Auckland’s Hauraki Gulf to the Great Barrier Island. Be content to do short inshore passages of a mile or so for a season while you build up knowledge by observing and talking to others and acquiring experience and confidence in varying circumstances and conditions. It is better to start with a small low-powered motor or sailing craft whose limitations are obvious so that you will not be tempted to exceed your own capabilities. If you possess a lifetime of experience, you should not need to be reminded that when you have recently purchased a new boat you should limit your passage duration until all “bugs,” if any, have been eliminated and you have become thoroughly familiar with the boat’s characteristics and behavior.

You may be able to recite every publication ever written on safety in small boats and craft, but you will not have profited at all if you fail to exercise sound common sense and prudence. Make this the guiding principle in every step you take, in every voyage you contemplate, for the sea is harsh and unrelenting to those who treat it lightly or fail to accord it proper fear and respect.

Hot Water

Some of the hottest ocean water is found in the Persian Gulf. Water temperature at the surface sometimes exceeds 90 degrees Fahrenheit (about 32 degrees Celsius) during the summer months. In the open ocean, areas of maximum water temperature occur north of the equator.

The Piano​—Versatile and Expressive Instrument

WHAT is your favorite musical instrument? It would not be surprising if your answer was, The piano. In the United States alone, over twenty-one million people play this instrument. And it is little wonder, since the piano possesses many qualities that make it ideal as a means of musical expression for both the amateur and the skilled professional.

The piano’s range of eighty-eight notes is the widest of any standard instrument. Its notes can reach higher than a piccolo and lower than a bass violin. Because of the way it is constructed it is possible for a pianist to play both melody and accompaniment at the same time. In fact, when playing piano duets, two pianists can strike as many as twenty-four notes at one time. The piano lends itself to many different musical styles, and it blends in with almost any combination of instruments. Yet, even the beginner can quickly learn to play simple pieces that sound quite agreeable. No doubt you are among the millions who take pleasure in listening to piano music or, perhaps, enjoy playing the piano yourself.

In your enjoyment of piano music, have you ever wondered what goes on inside that large wooden box​—what causes that lovely ringing sound to come out when the player strikes the long row of black and white keys? How did we come to have the piano?

In terms of musical history, the piano is a rather recent development. Although there are records of keyboard instruments dating back as far as the middle of the fourteenth century, it was not until about 1700 that the first real piano came into existence. It was the invention of Bartolomeo Cristofori, a maker of harpsichords in Florence, Italy. The harpsichord had come to be the most popular keyboard instrument of the time, but it had the disadvantage of being able to produce music of virtually only one volume, since the mechanism merely plucked the strings. Variety was achieved by the addition of different groups of strings, but still the player could not alter the sound significantly by the way in which he struck the note. Cristofori’s invention, on the other hand, made use of small hammers that struck the strings rather than plucking them. This innovation enabled the player to control the sound of each note by the force with which he struck the key. He could accent certain notes, and he had at his disposal the whole range of volume from piano (soft) to forte (loud). The new instrument was called gravicembalo col piano e forte (“harpsichord with soft and loud”), later simplified to “pianoforte” and eventually to “piano.”

While the piano underwent many changes over the following years, Cristofori’s instrument had the essentials of the modern piano: wire strings, hammers, keys, dampers (small pads that rest against the string to stop the tone when the key is released) and an escapement, a device that allows the hammer to fall away from the string while the key is still held down. Cristofori’s piano, however, met with little success in Italy. Consequently, he went back to making harpsichords, leaving the further development of the new instrument to others.

Germans living in Germany, Austria, England and America made most of the important contributions to the piano’s development in the years that followed. In the early 1700’s Gottfried Silbermann of Freiberg in eastern Germany became acquainted with Cristofori’s design and began building pianos. Later, his pupil Johann A. Stein began building them at Augsburg in southern Germany.

But in order for the piano to continue to develop it was necessary that musicians like the instrument and be moved to write piano music. Johann Sebastian Bach, the great German composer, is reported to have played Silbermann pianos, though they never caught his imagination. But two of Bach’s sons, Carl Phillipp Emanuel and Johann Christian, made significant contributions that aided the piano in gaining acceptance. C. P. E. Bach wrote the first dependable guide to piano fingering, Essay on Keyboard Instruments, as well as 210 compositions for the keyboard. His youngest brother, Johann Christian, is credited with the first public performance on the piano in London in 1777. The first composer to write pieces exclusively for the piano was Muzio Clementi, who published three sonatas in 1773.

However, the one who became the most famous pianist-composer of his day and who did more to develop piano music than any other composer of the eighteenth century was an Austrian, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. He wrote his first piano concerto at the age of eleven and composed many more during his lifetime. He preferred the pianos of the German and Viennese makers, especially those of Johann A. Stein. These pianos reached the peak of their development toward the end of the eighteenth century. They had a well-balanced scale, neither bass nor treble being too loud, the one for the other. These instruments produced a beautiful singing tone, but without the customary volume of modern pianos. Many feel that Mozart’s compositions still sound best when played on this type of piano.

The Piano Comes into Its Own

During this time, another school of piano building was developing in England, headed by the Broadwood Company. Their pianos were larger, more heavily strung and were thereby able to produce a greater sound. This kind of piano pointed in the direction that piano construction would be taking as the nineteenth century began. As piano playing and composition of music developed, greater and greater demands were made on the instrument.

Ludwig van Beethoven, who made his concert appearance in Vienna in 1792 at the age of twenty-two, had tremendous technical ability and was also noted for the depth of the expression and the power of his playing. His music was truly piano music. Much of the music published prior to Beethoven could be played on most keyboard instruments and often was represented as being “for harpsichord or piano.” But there could be no doubt about Beethoven’s music. It was piano music, and it demanded the best of both performer and instrument, often more than the pianos of the day were able to deliver. Beethoven was noted for attacking pianos with such force that during the performance keys, hammers and strings would go flying.

In efforts to adjust to the ever-increasing demands of pianists, piano manufacturers built larger and heavier frames to support the desired string tension. The real solution to the problem proved to be in the one-piece cast-iron frame. In 1825, the idea was applied in the “square” piano (resembling the clavichord) by an American craftsman, Alpheus Babcock, and was incorporated in the grand pianos of Jonas Chickering of Boston. Later, it was improved on by the New York firm of Steinway & Sons, whose frame, developed in 1855, has been the model for all successive pianos up to the present time. For all practical purposes, by the mid-1800’s the piano had developed into the instrument that we know today, although many refinements are still being made.

How the Piano Produces Music

So when you look into a modern grand piano, what do you see? Your attention is first drawn to a large cast-iron frame lacquered a golden bronze. Over the frame are strung some 240 steel strings of various lengths and gauges, the shortest and thinnest at the treble or right-hand end and the longest and heaviest​—the bass strings—​on the left. The bass strings are wound with another wire so that they are heavier and can vibrate more slowly. The strings are held by “hitch pins” on the curved side of the frame and are attached to tuning pins along the front of the piano, just in front of the player. These pins go through holes in the frame and into a very hard laminated wooden “wrest plank,” or pin block. The wrest plank is made from rock maple or some other hardwood, and the pins fit very tightly to prevent them from slipping. The strings exert a pressure of almost twenty tons on the frame.

In order for the instrument to produce music, the strings have to be set in motion. This is accomplished by means of the “action.” The only part of the action that we usually see is the keyboard, but when the key is struck, it sets into operation a finely balanced mechanism that throws a small, felt-covered hammer at a string. The hammer is only in contact with the string for 1/100th of a second before it falls back into place, ready to be struck again. Each of these little mechanisms is called an “escapement,” and there are eighty-eight of them in a piano. The action contains a total of over 8,000 separate parts. The keyboard also operates the “dampers,” which are strips of felt attached to wooden frames that rest on top of the strings. When the key is depressed, the damper is raised, allowing the string to vibrate freely as long as the key is held down. When the key is released, the damper falls back into place, stopping the vibration of the string.

All the dampers on the piano can also be raised at one time by means of the damper or “loud” pedal that is operated by the player’s right foot. For most of the notes, each hammer strikes three strings tuned in unison; the lower notes have only two strings or one string. The pedal on the left is called the “una corda,” or “soft,” pedal. It shifts the entire action to one side so that the hammer will strike fewer strings, giving a quieter sound.

However, merely setting the strings in motion by means of the action is not enough, because the vibration of the thin metal strings creates such small air waves that the sound is scarcely audible. For that reason, the piano contains a device that is common to all stringed instruments, a “soundboard.” The soundboard is a piece of thin spruce that covers the entire underside of the piano (the back side of upright pianos). To transmit the vibrations from the string to the soundboard, the string is passed over a wooden bridge that is glued to the soundboard. The vibrations pass through the bridge and the soundboard is set in motion. The fine range that you hear is due to the amplified vibration of the air waves made by the soundboard.

Piano builders make the piano pleasing not only to the ear but also to the eye by installing the instrument in a handsome case that also serves as a second soundboard. Many piano cases are finished in beautiful veneers of mahogany, walnut or other fine woods. Some pianists prefer the simple elegance of the traditional black-ebony finish. When completed, the modern piano contains over 12,000 parts. It is a marvel of engineering and design and is the result of more than 250 years of continual development. As a result, it produces a wealth of sound. It is no wonder that composers have been fascinated by its seemingly endless musical possibilities, and that pianists themselves never tire of playing it.

We can be grateful that man’s Creator put within him the capacities of mind and heart that enable him to enjoy and to make for himself and others the beautiful sounds of music. We can be thankful also that He gave man the ability and ingenuity to conceive of and build instruments like the piano.

Are Your Children Generous?

“GIVE me that! That’s mine!” Are those words familiar? Do they voice the sentiments of your children when asked to share things with others? This might well be the case, if the young child shows signs of being selfish and possessive with his belongings.

Parental concern is natural when children develop and display these undesirable tendencies. But what can parents do to arrest such traits? How is it possible to teach children to become liberal, openhanded and generous?

Generosity Must Be Taught

A newborn baby’s wants and needs are of prime importance to him. He does not even realize how many sleepless nights his parents experience in an effort to keep him well fed, dry and supplied with the attention he craves. Of course, in time the child becomes more aware of others. But he has to be taught generosity, as well as other admirable qualities.

The age when such instruction can be absorbed varies with each child. By the time children are of school age, some are companionable and ready for friendships and all that these entail. Other children of the same age, however, may not have adjusted in this way. They hold on to the traits of babyhood. The task of teaching these children is more difficult, especially if the youngster is an only child.

Of necessity, many children in large families learn that their individual needs and wants are not of utmost importance. At an early age they learn to share food, clothing and other material things, if not their thoughts, with their brothers, sisters and other members of the family. And usually these children grow up to become well-adjusted, balanced and mature human beings.

What about your children? Are they generous or selfish, openhanded or possessive, gracious or tightfisted? Well, when did you last look at them objectively? “How,” you ask, “can this be done while they are still young and pliable?” A simple way is to observe them at play with other children. Often a child with selfish tendencies will be very possessive with his toys, refusing to allow other children even to touch them. Yet, he will want to play with theirs, even becoming angry if not given his way. In contrast, the generous child usually will be quite willing to share his things with others. Some are even eager to do so. They notice the needs of less fortunate children and are willing to share without any prompting from the parents.

Interestingly, it is often noted that this type of child generally comes from a home where the parents set a good example of giving. He also receives much love in the home. Thus, the security he feels is not dependent on material things that he can hold on to. He is secure in the love of his parents and knows that he is safe inside a loving family arrangement. Is that true of your children?

What Parents Can Do

One of the important factors in helping children to become generous and outgoing is the continuous encouragement given by their parents. Consider, please, a mother with four children who has been successful in this respect. She sits down and talks with her children as soon as they can comprehend. The mother lovingly helps each one to appreciate that the family arrangement of brothers and sisters is a precious gift from God and that they have to take care of one another as they grow up. The older ones then help the younger ones as they come along. She points out the unloving and violent attitude of children around them and shows her own young ones how they can be different. When her children deviate from a proper course, she patiently reminds them. This young mother also lets them work out their problems with one another whenever that is possible. She has said: “I don’t believe that sibling jealousy is natural. I don’t see any reason for brothers and sisters to be forever fighting and bickering with one another. I have tried to root out such actions in our family by giving each child all the love and attention he or she requires. It is not easy, but it has brought some results.” This approach certainly works, for it is noted that the fighting that exists between some brothers and sisters generally is absent in this particular household.

Another couple with a large family, including a retarded child, also has been successful in rearing children in a loving and generous atmosphere. Contrary to what may occur in similar households, the retarded child is encouraged and expected to be generous with his older and younger brothers and sisters. Yet, he is not the center of attention. Nor is he neglected or made to feel inferior by the others. This boy’s loving nature, and particularly his concern for children he has not even met, warms the hearts of individuals meeting him. His mother said that she and her husband expect their children to be loving with one another. Instead of indicating surprise when children display such love, and giving them rewards or even bribes, these parents show surprise and quiet dismay when their youngsters do not treat each other in a loving manner. This attitude ‘rubs off’ on the children without any long sermons or tongue-lashings.

Do you deal with your children in this way? Or do you assume that any selfishness you notice in them is just a phase they are going through and that they will outgrow? Too many parents have felt that way, only to find that by the time they see the need of doing something about their child’s selfishness, it has become too deep rooted to change.

When parents first notice such a bad tendency, they can work toward uprooting it promptly. Mothers, particularly, need to make such efforts, since they usually are with the child more than the father. But they must be in harmony with their husbands if their children are to feel secure. Nothing can make a child more anxious, and more possessive, than feeling insecure about his parents’ love for each other. If the youngster senses their disunity, he is likely to rely more and more upon material objects​—things that he feels safe with and to which he can cling. Also, the child becomes quite withdrawn in personality and dealings with others.

Sometimes parents feel discouraged. because, no matter what they do, there are no good results. Or, so it seems. Nonetheless, things done by parents make impressions on the child. For instance, reminiscing about his childhood, one man recalled with amusement an incident that occurred when he was about eight years old. He said: “I remember saving my pennies and buying several of my favorite candy bars. I had intentions of going off alone and sitting under a tree and just eating all that candy myself. Well, as soon as I had purchased the candy, who did I run into but my mother. Of course, she instructed me to offer some to my brothers and sisters. I remember how horrified I was at such a thought because my brothers and sisters outnumbered the candy bars I had. After a few anxious moments when they acted as if they would devour all my candy, they gave most of it back to me and off I went. But after that I remember thinking more about them when I bought something.”

He also remembered a dispute he had with a younger brother over some pie and just who was going to get the larger piece. His father settled the matter by establishing a rule. From then on, one would do the cutting and the other would have the first choice. The result? They each developed skill in cutting equal pieces. In time, however, they became less exact with one another and a more generous spirit prevailed.

The Only Child

Since an only child has no brothers and sisters with whom to associate and share things, he often becomes quite greedy and self-centered. If unchecked, this selfish tendency will display itself in adult life. Such children can become persons who always want the best seat, the first choice of food, and so forth.

What can be done to help an only child? A concerned mother took what some viewed as a drastic approach to her six-year-old son’s increasing selfishness. Talking to him brought no results. So she embarked on a different plan. She, along with her mother (the three lived together), decided to make him aware of how much he depended on them for his food, shelter, clothing and the like. Every time he used something that was theirs, she and his grandmother would remind him that it was not his. Soon he came to appreciate that what was “his” really was a gift from them. It was their property, and he was merely being granted permission to use it. In a short time, the youngster seemed to get the point. Without their prompting, he began to share with them more and more of what was “his.” This spilled over into his growing circle of friends. Observing her son at play, this mother noted his new, if initially reluctant, attitude toward the sharing of things with his playmates. In a short time, generosity became more and more a part of his personality, especially when he saw how this pleased his mother, grandmother and others. And are not all children hungry for affection and acceptance? Surely they are, and an only child is no exception.

Proper Attitude Important

It goes without saying that no parent wants to raise a selfish child. But, strange as it may seem, parents sometimes contribute to the selfishness of their children. Parental attitudes can foster greed in sons and daughters. Some parents feel that they want their children to have all the things that they themselves missed while growing up. If they had to work hard as youngsters, they want their children to have an easy life. Have you heard such expressions? Well, on the surface this type of thinking may seem harmless enough. But a deeper probe reveals some serious flaws in such reasoning. Parents having this attitude fail to realize that, generally, the hard work, the sacrifices and the deprivations that they experienced early in life were factors that helped to make them self-reliant and mature. Denying their children at least some of these experiences can hinder them in developing similar good qualities.

There is little doubt that when parents give their children everything that they want when they want it, those youngsters will grow up believing that everyone else will treat them the same way. If children are given all the spending money that they want, they may never feel that it is necessary to earn anything on their own. Nor will they be prone to give to others. If parents do everything for their children, seldom will their offspring take the initiative. Rather, they will expect others to shoulder responsibilities for them. So much depends on how the parents train and discipline their children while the children are young. Don’t you agree?

Parents who equate material things with happiness teach their children to woo the very opposite​—unhappiness and frustration. What a sad legacy to pass on to one’s children!

On the other hand, loving parents want their children to grow up to become self-sufficient, reliable, loving and gracious men and women. And their role as parents is vital in achieving that goal. Usually, children do one of two things: what they are taught to do, or what they are allowed to do. They do not become selfish and spoiled by receiving love, affection and thoughtful discipline. Usually, it is when children receive too little or none of these things that they become self-centered and egotistical.

When grown, children generally are the product of the training, discipline and love (or the lack of it) that they received from their parents. If they turn out well, the parents can ‘take the bows,’ as it were. Otherwise, they must painfully accept much of the blame. If the effort is put forth while the children are young, good results usually follow. As the Bible says: “Train up a boy according to the way for him; even when he grows old he will not turn aside from it.” (Prov. 22:6) Of course, that principle applies to girls too.

Surely, concerned parents want their offspring to turn out well. So, make the needed effort as a parent and very likely your children will become generous. They will come to appreciate that “there is more happiness in giving than there is in receiving.”​—Acts 20:35.

[Picture on page 19]

‘Father taught us to share equally’

Should You Build It Yourself?

ALMOST from his very creation man has been a builder. The Bible tells us that Cain, the eldest son of the first man, Adam, was the constructor of a city named Enoch.​—Gen. 4:17.

At the very beginning of human building projects nearly 6,000 years ago, man did not have to concern himself with laws and regulations that governed what, where and how he could build. In many areas of the world today, this still holds true. Yet, as a general rule, it is not now possible for an individual merely to pick a spot and start building his home. Today, in almost all cities and in many rural areas, there are laws that govern construction.

Nevertheless, constructing something with your own two hands still is a very satisfying experience. You may be able to share in this experience by building your own home, or by participating in a community project, such as the constructing of a Kingdom Hall (as the meeting place of Jehovah’s Witnesses is called). Let us suppose that you plan to build your own home, considering principles that apply to all building projects.

Think Before You Build

It is important to know why you want to build. If a building does not reasonably satisfy your reasons for constructing it, you will have wasted time and money. Common reasons for building a new home are: To obtain more space for a growing family; to be more conveniently situated in relation to work, schools and friends; to enjoy a better environment.

Before starting to build, determine what limitations are imposed by your financial resources. Can you really afford to build? And what about taxes? Jesus Christ once remarked: “Who of you that wants to build a tower does not first sit down and calculate the expense, to see if he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, he might lay its foundation but not be able to finish it, and all the onlookers might start to ridicule him, saying, ‘This man started to build but was not able to finish.’”​—Luke 14:28-30.

Another point to consider is this: Do you have the time to devote to building your own home? The time involved will vary, but one authority on home construction in North America says that to do this work yourself, you can count on spending all your weekends and evenings for a year, plus two weeks of vacation. Can you afford to spend that much time?

Then, too, what building skills do you possess? Do you have the patience to shop around for construction materials? And do you usually finish what you start? These are factors to consider beforehand.

What are the alternatives to building your own home? You may want to consider buying and renovating an existing structure. On the other hand, what about renting? Initially it is less expensive to rent, and a rented building usually is ready for occupancy. Upkeep and taxes are the responsibility of the owner. But there are disadvantages too. The owner may not keep the building in suitable condition. And, when you move out, there is nothing tangible to show for your years of paying rent.

If you have decided to build your own home, you will need to purchase a piece of property, unless you already have one. There are a number of things to consider before buying land, as shown in the accompanying chart. Take your time in selecting land. Try to see how it is affected by different climatic conditions. Also, determine the legal requirements before beginning to build.

Meeting the Legal Requirements

In the United States, there are two code bodies that govern building construction: zoning laws and building laws. Zoning divides a city or county into various “zones,” or districts, and specifies how land can be used within each “zone.” These laws also deal with “density,” that is, how much land you will need for a building of a specific volume and lot coverage. These requirements may prevent you from building the sort of structure you desire on one piece of property, but may allow it on a nearby lot. To avoid problems, obtain copies of the zoning maps and laws from your local zoning board or planning commission.

The other set of laws governing construction is the building code. Hardly any city lacks these laws. Though complex and perhaps difficult to understand, it is not wise to think of the building code as an enemy that must be foiled. Rather, it has been designed to protect you, ensuring that certain minimum engineering and safety requirements are met. Building codes are based on practical experience and common sense.

A governmental agency may have requirements that make it too difficult and expensive for you to build on certain land. By obtaining all necessary permits beforehand, costly mistakes can be avoided in that regard.

In many localities it is required that preparation of the plans for your home be done or supervised by an architect or engineer licensed in your area. Check with the local building department to be sure of the requirements. However, there are times when the services of an architect should be obtained whether that is legally required or not. Since buildings of a public nature involve the lives and welfare of many people, an architect’s understanding of building design and safety could prevent a tragedy in the event of a fire or other disaster. Of course, architects and engineers vary in ability, and it is good to shop around for one who has the skills and qualifications that you desire.

Determine what sort of work will have to be done by licensed tradesmen, such as plumbers and electricians. In some localities it is illegal to do your own work in these fields. Check with the local building department to see what work you can and cannot do personally.

Building Your Own Home

The key to successful home building is being able to organize your work and the obtaining of materials. With this in mind, prepare a schedule with a realistic timetable. It should help you to set goals and should aid you to organize the ordering of materials. Personal acquaintance with suppliers of construction materials also is desirable, since they can assist you in selecting materials.

It is very important to start your project with a complete set of plans and specifications. (Compare 1 Chronicles 28:11-19.) Follow the plans closely and write down all deviations. At the conclusion of the project some building departments require that revised plans be filed that show the work as it actually was done.

Arrange ahead of time for the craftsmen needed to help with work that you cannot do yourself. If you wait until the last moment, they may not be available to do the work. This is especially true of licensed men, such as plumbers and electricians. Likewise, you will have to arrange for the periodic visits of building inspectors.

Proper follow-through also is essential for a successful building program. You may find it very useful to carry a note pad on which to jot down items that need attention. Be sure to care for all problems promptly, or they will accumulate and can prove to be a source of great discouragement. Keep your list current and check off items as you care for them.

Strive to keep your enthusiasm high. While this may be easy to do at first, it becomes increasingly difficult as the project progresses. By keeping to your schedule, however, you will be able to combat loss of enthusiasm.

Now for some thoughts on safety. Be sure to have adequate insurance to cover both yourself and others in case of an accident. Provide fire-fighting equipment, and learn how to use it. Make sure that first-aid supplies are readily accessible, and establish a procedure to follow in case of an emergency.

Building a Kingdom Hall

Presently you may not have the opportunity to build your own home. But if you are one of Jehovah’s Christian witnesses, you may someday share in the preparation of a Kingdom Hall. With over 40,000 congregations world wide, and the number ever increasing, there is a constant need for more of these meeting places. In Spain, more than two thirds of the over 600 congregations have their own meeting halls, and, in neighboring Portugal, a similar zeal is being shown for the preparation of these meeting places.

Should a congregation consider building a new Kingdom Hall? That must be decided by members of the congregation. They should consider their needs. For instance, is the present hall too crowded? If there is notable growth, something should be done before the situation becomes critical. However, it is also very important that the congregation’s ability to handle such a project be considered. A congregation, just like a family contemplating the construction of a home, should not be saddled with excessive debt. Of course, every congregation does not need to have its own Kingdom Hall. Often several congregations acting together are able to obtain a meeting place that one congregation alone could not afford. And for some congregations renting is the practical alternative to the construction of a Kingdom Hall.

Indeed, there are many factors to consider when it comes to establishing a place of worship or a home. Is it better to rent, to buy or to build? Give that question careful thought, and decide whether you should build it yourself.

[Box on page 22]

CHECKLIST FOR JUDGING PROPERTY

THE LOT

Size (Large enough or too large?)

Shape (Difficult to use all the land?)

Soil (Can it support your building?)

Water (Flooding danger? Will septic tank drain?)

Neighbors (Will they want your building?)

PUBLIC UTILITIES AND SERVICES

Availability (Sewer, water, gas, electricity, phone)

Trash and garbage collection

Police and fire protection

Regular postal service

Are schools close? Good?

NEIGHBORHOOD

Quality of life (Uphill, downhill, stable?)

Environmental conditions (Highways, factories?)

LOCATION

Near to markets, parks, congregation, employment?

Is it served by public transportation?

LIMITATIONS

Can you get a clear title to the land?

(See an attorney)

Are there deed restrictions?

Are there zoning restrictions? (Setback, volume)

Must you maintain easements and right-of-ways?

FINANCES

Can you afford the property?

Will you need a loan?

Are there hidden costs?

(Special assessments, unpaid taxes?)

What will your taxes be like?

Good

Fair

Poor

[Box on page 23]

Typical Areas Covered by Construction Codes

Zoning Regulations

Determining zoning districts

How buildings can be used

Percentage of land usable for a building (density)

Maximum volume of building

Maximum height

Distance set back from road and neighbors

Parking regulations

Minimum lot-size requirements

Can be used to maintain or change “neighborhood character”

Building Code

Fire protection

Safe exiting (egress)

Handling of potentially dangerous building uses

Designing for crowds (Public buildings)

Structural safety

Adequate light and ventilation

Sanitary plumbing

Fire-fighting equipment

Safety during construction

Primary intent is to protect life and welfare of building’s occupants

Must We Say Good-bye to Another Bird?

By “Awake!” correspondent in the Philippines

LOVERS of wildlife are pained at its wanton destruction by thoughtless individuals. Here in the Philippines we may be nearing the point of saying good-bye to another bird. Sadly, it is a rare species, found nowhere else in the world.

People who study birds call the endangered creature Pithecophaga jefferyi. The first of these terms means ‘ape eating,’ referring to the peculiar diet of this bird. Live monkeys are a frequent item on its menu. This flying creature is known popularly as “the monkey-eating eagle.”

A closeup view of this bird is impressive. When adult, it measures three and a half feet (one meter) from bill to tail, with a wingspread of ten feet (three meters). Many view the ‘monkey eater’ as the largest of the eagle family (though the harpy eagle of America may be heavier). The male of this species features rich-brown feathers on the upper portion of its body and buff-white feathers lower down. Lady eagle, however, has darker, more glossy plumes and a white breast.

Near Mount Apo, tallest peak in the Philippines, is an eagle research center known as the “Summer Camp.” Here one can observe caretakers feeding the monkey-eating eagle. When workers throw into the huge wire enclosures a chicken, housecat or pigeon, the bird swoops down and catches it with one foot. The lance-like talons of this eagle spell instant disaster for any creature it may choose for food. A bite at the nape of the neck decapitates the prey and it soon disappears.

Why Danger of Extinction?

Only a few years ago this massive winged creature numbered about a hundred. But now, based on actual sightings in the rain forests of Mindanao Island, they have dwindled to about forty, maybe less. A few are said to be holding out in parts of the Sierra Madre mountain range on Luzon Island. But these areas are inaccessible to humans.

The Red Data Sheet, a quarterly supplement of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources, provides information about wildlife in danger of extinction. On the list of the world’s most endangered species the monkey-eating eagle ranks high. With a reported annual mortality rate of 19.6 birds, this eagle could well disappear within two or three years.

What is responsible for its decline? To some extent the bird itself is to blame, due to its breeding habits. The female lays an average of one egg a year and has a life-span of around forty years. And to date it has not bred in captivity.

The most prominent enemy of this eagle, however, is man. He comes in the form of the inveterate hunter, the trapper-collector, the compromising official, the unscrupulous logger and the kainginero, a nomadic cultivator who follows the logger and practices ‘slash and burn’ agriculture.

Hunters have various motives. These eagles are in demand for zoos and as pets. Many persons wish to stuff and mount them as parlor trophies. The hunting process itself, which requires skill, brings prestige. Moreover, the bird brings a colossal price on the world market. It is said that available price quotations from Europe go as high as one million dollars for a single eagle.

Loggers, too, bear their share of responsibility. The Philippines is now losing 170,000 hectares (420,000 acres) of forest annually. More than half of this loss, 90,000 hectares (222,400 acres), occurs on the island of Mindanao. This deforestation is considered the most important single cause of decline for the monkey-eating eagle.

Efforts at Preservation

As danger of extinction looms ever nearer, some steps have been taken to preserve this great bird. Why? For one thing, many are coming to realize that what happens to wildlife is closely linked to the welfare of humans. “Humankind clings to but one thread of the mysterious web of life on earth,” noted an article in Reader’s Digest of June 1975. “We pluck on the others at our peril.” In illustration of this, the article pointed to extermination in Europe of the lynx and the wolf, natural predators of deer. As a result, the deer population increased and brought extensive damage to commercial forests and crops. Too, in Great Britain a decline in the number of ordinary frogs resulted in an upsurge of insect pests.

As for the Philippines, preserving the monkey-eating eagle means keeping intact its habitat of rain forests, which, in turn, means soil stabilization. Indicating the importance of this are these comments in Expressweek of June 17, 1976: “When mountains are denuded of trees, whose roots are nature’s deterrents to over flooding of the lowlands, the rainfall that falls in these mountains cascades in totality to the lower areas, carrying . . . earth and other solid materials. This is called erosion which also brings about landslides.” Investigators have pinpointed forest denudation as “the main cause of yearly floods,” one of which recently inundated fifty towns on the island of Luzon.

Some legislation favorable to preserving this bird is now on the books. It includes prohibition of logging in national parks, and bans, as well as other strict measures, regarding hunting and exportation of this eagle. A campaign for its preservation, organized by the director of the World Wildlife Fund, has gained new impetus recently. It involves a continuing information/​education program presented by radio, in newspapers, brochures, posters and through public displays of photos and other materials.

It has now become a crime to catch, possess, wound or kill the monkey-eating eagle. A Reuters dispatch from Manila reported: “Philippine wildlife officials are hopeful that a three-year program . . . has helped save the indigenous monkey-eating eagle which is in danger of becoming extinct. . . . Officials said more and more nesting sites of the bird are being sighted and protected from hunters and predators by parks and wildlife game wardens.” Also, there have been recommendations for eagle sanctuaries, and proposals for setting aside areas of forest for exclusive use of the eagle and other wildlife.

Happily, more and more people feel a sense of responsibility to preserve wild places and wild creatures. Due to the sincerity and diligent efforts of such individuals, perhaps it will not be necessary to say good-bye to another bird.

What Is the Bible’s View?

Women in the Pulpit?

“‘Women Preachers’​—The Fight Rages On”

‘Ordination of Women Authorized by Episcopal Church’

“VATICAN: PRIESTHOOD FOR MEN ONLY”

“WOMEN CROWDING SEMINARIES”

SUCH newspaper headlines tell of a growing controversy. Recently several Protestant religions have changed their ‘church policy’ to permit women “ministers” or “priests.” Among these are Lutherans, Episcopalians and Anglicans.

To the contrary, the Vatican, on January 27 of this year, restated its position that only men could be Roman Catholic priests. However, many ‘Catholic activists’ immediately said that they would continue to argue for the ordaining of women.

In view of all of this, one naturally wonders: ‘After hundreds of years of only males in the pulpit, why the current debate?’ It is generally agreed that the women’s liberation movement has been the main force. Feminist writers contend that women are equally qualified and “a change in the tradition seems imperative.”

Actually, whether to “abolish tradition” seems to be a large issue in the controversy. But, instead, should not the first concern be: To whom does God give the responsibility of teaching the congregation? Yes, rather than exploring man-made traditions, let’s consider the Bible’s view.

Jesus loved people, including women. In contrast with the Pharisees and others, he treated females with respect and readily taught them. Women loyally attended him and were the first to see him after his resurrection.​—John 4:27; Luke 10:39; Matt. 27:55, 56; 28:1, 9.

There is nothing in the Gospels to indicate that Jesus discouraged women from telling others about the “good news” of salvation. In fact, after the outpouring of God’s spirit upon about 120 men and women assembled at Pentecost, Peter quotes Joel’s prophecy: “I [God] shall pour out some of my spirit upon every sort of flesh, and your sons and your daughters will prophesy.” (Acts 1:14; 2:1-18; Joel 2:28, 29) Thus, in the early congregation, men and women joyously shared their new hope with any who would listen.

On the other hand, we must carefully consider the Bible’s use of the Greek word di·aʹko·nos. At times it is used in a general sense of one of either sex “serving” or “ministering to” others. It is apparently in this manner that Paul speaks of “Phoebe our sister, who is a minister [servant, AV].” (Rom. 16:1; Luke 8:1-3) In many passages, however, the word obviously refers to an appointed office in the congregation​—a ministerial assistant.

The list of qualifications for this official position includes: “Let ministerial servants be husbands of one wife.” The same is said of those having spiritual oversight, called “elders” or “overseers.” A congregational elder must be “a man presiding over his own household in a fine manner.” (1 Tim. 3:2-4, 8, 12) So baptized males are to take both positions of leadership (elder and ministerial servant) in the congregation.

The Christian Greek Scriptures are very clear on this matter. Paul writes: “I do not permit a woman to teach [the congregation], or to exercise authority over a man.” (1 Tim. 2:11, 12) Yet he also speaks of women as having teaching ability, for he exhorts mature women to be “teachers of what is good” to the “young women.” (Titus 2:3-5) Why is it that women can teach those outside the congregation but are not allowed to take the lead inside it? Was the apostle Paul “antiwoman,” as some claim?

Such reasoning ignores a fundamental Bible teaching: headship. Paul was in harmony with Peter and other Bible writers when he wrote: “But I want you to know that the head of every man is the Christ; in turn the head of a woman is the man; in turn the head of the Christ is God.”​—1 Cor. 11:3; 1 Pet. 3:1.

God alone has no head over him; all others do. Of course, in view of the way many men have abused their headship, it is little wonder that some women bitterly cry for equality. Yet, in truth, God provided this headship arrangement for the good of all. How so?

Jehovah designed the family arrangement for life’s most intimate relationships. To assure the happiness and security of all, stability and unity would be essential. Obviously, one member would need to give direction. Jehovah gave this responsibility to the man. He also commanded the husband to “love his wife as he does himself”​—cherishing and honoring her.​—Eph. 5:28-33.

Therefore, if the woman is to seek her husband’s direction in the home, how could she take headship over men and women in the congregation? What would happen if an elder and “eldress” were married to each other?

Those who argue for women “in the pulpit” would have us believe that only because of prevailing social custom did Jesus not have female apostles among the twelve. But Jesus acted in accord with God’s original purpose. In Eden, Adam was Eve’s head, even before their fall into sin.​—Gen. 2:18, 22, 24; 1 Cor. 11:7-9.

Now, is this divine pattern “stunting” to women, making them “second-class Christians,” as some claim? Today the word “submission” is often linked to “inferiority.” But the Bible and Christian living teach us that only by submitting to Jehovah’s will​—seeking our place in his arrangement—​can we find happiness.

Further, the apostle Paul is often misrepresented concerning women. Besides writing at length as to how women should be loved and respected, he repeatedly greeted and commended by name individual sisters. (Rom. 16:3, 4, 6, 12) And it was this same apostle who wrote the verse most quoted by advocates of women “priests.” It states: “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor freeman, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one person in union with Christ Jesus.”​—Gal. 3:28.

This scripture, studied in context, reveals a profound truth. The heavenly class is not restricted to men but includes women. Surely, above all else, this proclaims God’s favorable view of women​—a view faithfully reflected by Christ and Paul.

So, while the churches go in many directions on this issue, Christian women do well to hold to the Biblical teaching. In doing this they are not being “repressed.” They find true happiness in offering up “spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God.” And, most important, they gain God’s blessing.​—1 Pet. 2:5.

Watching the World

China Quake Described

◆ Recently, the Chinese acknowledged that the July 28, 1976, earthquakes at Tangshan, some 100 miles (160 kilometers) southeast of Peking, were the most death dealing in over four centuries. While not denying the estimates of at least 655,000 deaths, the Chinese have not revealed the actual toll. According to the New York Times, officials in China have said that the quakes “threw some residents of Tangshan City six feet [2 meters] in the air and carved a swath of devastation four miles wide and five miles long [6 x 8 kilometers] through the heart of that heavily populated metropolis.” Just prior to the first quake, multicolored lights lit up the sky over the city “like daylight.” The Times also reports: “Half a mile from the fault line . . . one field of corn the size of an airport was knocked over, in the same direction, as though by some giant wind. Leaves on many nearby trees were burned to a crisp and growing vegetables were scorched on one side as if by a fireball.” Moreover, it is said that “people clinging to trees or posts were swung around by the swaying earth.”

Noses at Work

◆ When 2,840 complaints about poor air quality were lodged with environmental officers in Japan, the government appointed six persons to put their noses to work. “Their job,” says Parade magazine, “is to poke their noses into the air and judge the degree of air pollution in areas near industrial plants.”

Soviet Union and Religion

◆ A new draft constitution was published recently in the Soviet Union. In Article 52 it states: “Freedom of conscience, that is, the right to profess any religion and perform religious rites or not to profess any religion, and to conduct atheistic propaganda, shall be recognized by all citizens. Incitement of hostility and hatred on religious grounds shall be prohibited.” The recently published draft constitution was scheduled for consideration by the Supreme Soviet this autumn.

Expense of Driving

◆ The American Automobile Association recently reported that in the United States the cost of driving an automobile is 10.3 percent higher in 1977 than it was in 1975. This is true even though many new cars get better gas mileage. Driving an eight-cylinder American auto of intermediate size 10,000 miles (16,000 kilometers) now costs an average of 20.2 cents per mile, compared with 18.3 cents a mile two years ago. Stated otherwise, the cost has risen from $1,831 to $2,019 a year.

Car-Moose Collisions

◆ This year the Swedish Commission for Road Safety intends to spend $230,000 to save the lives of people and moose. During 1976, 18 persons and 2,500 moose met death as a result of auto accidents involving these animals. The car-moose accident tally had risen because of a greater moose population, reports United Press International.

Auto-Crash Survival

◆ Driving speed is directly related to auto-accident survival. According to the National Safety Council, one’s chances of surviving an accident are just 50-50 if driving 71 miles (114 kilometers) per hour or more. They are 7 to 1 when going 61 to 70 mph. (98 to 112 kph.), 31 to 1 if traveling between 51 to 60 (82 to 96) and 88 to 1 when driving 41 to 50 (66 to 80).

Tire Inflation

◆ The Tire Industry Safety Council suggests that before going on a trip a car driver should increase the tire air pressure to four pounds above the auto maker’s recommendation. “That will lessen heat build-up and cut stretching of the tire, yielding longer tread life and better gas mileage,” says U.S. News & World Report. But one should be careful not to exceed the maximum air pressure indicated on the sidewalls of the tires.

Sibling Strife

◆ According to a study undertaken by the University of Delaware and the University of Rhode Island, 38 percent of the children surveyed during a recent year had kicked, bitten or punched a sister or brother. Moreover, the researchers found that 14 percent “had beaten up a sibling,” reports the Medical Tribune.

World’s Smallest Diesel Engine

◆ A West German firm is producing the world’s smallest diesel engine for industrial uses. Although it weighs just three kilograms (6.6 pounds), the engine has sufficient power to operate “rollers, concrete mixers, pumps, generators, lifts and small refrigeration units for delivery vehicles,” reports the journal To the Point International.

Fighting the Fruit Fly

◆ Mexico and the United States, in cooperation with Guatemala, are waging a battle against the Mediterranean fruit fly, which came from North Africa and has been spreading northward from South America. This insect attacks over 200 types of vegetables and fruits. The larvae hatching from its eggs feed on these crops. If the Mediterranean fruit fly continues moving to the north, Mexico’s chief vegetable- and fruit-growing regions of Sinaloa and Sonora will be imperiled, and the fly may reach the U.S. The program of eradication calls for establishment of a “sterile barrier” across Guatemala and for insecticide spraying north of the barrier. Setting up this strip would be accomplished by sterilizing flies by the thousands and then releasing them in the affected area, where they would mate with fertile insects. Since sterile eggs thus would result, the fruit fly population would drop steadily.

Tiny Bible

◆ The entire King James Version of the Bible has been reproduced on a small glass square only five eighths of an inch (1.6 centimeters) on each side. Micrometrology Laboratories of Dallas, Texas, recently presented the tiny Bible to the Smithsonian Institution. “The project was undertaken as an attempt to see how far the limits of photo-optical technology could be pushed,” reported Science Digest. “The work took more than six years at a $65,000 cost.” To read this Bible, a 300-power microscope is required.

Cocaine Dangers

◆ Cocaine is a substance derived from coca leaves, and it is used by many as a narcotic. While opinions of researchers vary, Dr. David Smith of the Haight-Ashbury Free Medical Clinic in San Francisco, California, holds that use of up to 2,000 milligrams daily “can cause depression and paranoid delusions,” reports Newsweek magazine. Snorting cocaine, as some do, may inflame nasal tissue, destroy it, or even result in perforation of the septum dividing the user’s nostrils. The journal also points out: “Researchers agree that a massive dose can paralyze the respiratory centers of the brain, causing death. Injection of the drug​—more common among heavy users—​may also lead to hepatitis and other infections from a contaminated syringe.”

Unemployed Youths

◆ The International Labor Organization (ILO) recently reported that over seven million youths now lack employment in the 23 industrialized lands of the West belonging to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. However, Parade magazine says that this figure is too low because many youths “have become fed up with job-hunting and are no longer counted as unemployed.” It also states: “The reasons for youth unemployment, says the ILO, are the failure of the educational system to adequately prepare young people for the job market, the hesitation of employers to give them a chance, and the indifference of society.”

A Rabies First

◆ Dr. Jerome Androulis, a U.S. bacteriologist, is thought to be the first individual to have contracted rabies after being completely immunized. He underwent immunization some eight years ago and has received boosters regularly. Dr. Androulis was doing research in an effort to produce an oral vaccine against rabies. Since he had no scratches or cuts and wore protective garments while handling the dangerous virus, the journal New Scientist suggests that “he may have been infected by airborne rabies virus, adding yet another riddle to his case.”

Panda Pair Mate at Last

◆ After normalizing relations in 1972, China gave Japan two giant pandas, Kang Kang and his “lady friend” Lan Lan. Although being coaxed for years, however, they did not mate. Finally the pandas mated recently at Tokyo’s Ueno Zoo, and Lan Lan could bear offspring this October. The prospective young one would be the very first giant panda to be born in captivity outside China itself. The Chinese had given pandas to the U.S., but there had been no success in mating them.

Smoking Tally

◆ The National Clearinghouse for Smoking and Health has reported that the percentage of smoking adults has dropped from 42 to 34 percent since the U.S. Surgeon General’s report on smoking and health was issued in the mid-1960’s. But due to the population growth since then, the number of adult smokers has risen somewhat and now stands at nearly 54,000,000 in the U.S.

Church Attendance

◆ A Gallup Poll has indicated a slight rise in the percentage of persons attending churches and synagogues in the United States. Whereas attendance had been decreasing since 1958 and the figure stood at 40 percent for the years 1972 to 1975, it rose to 42 percent during a typical week in 1976. In a report on the Gallup findings, the magazine Changing Times also states: “The proportion of persons who believe religion is increasing its influence on American life jumped from 14% in 1970 to 44% in 1976.”

Pregnant Women and Alcohol

◆ Women who are pregnant or who expect to be should not have over two drinks of liquor, wine or beer in one day. This is the advice of Dr. Ernest P. Noble, who is the director of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. Abnormalities may develop in the baby if the woman is a heavy user of alcoholic beverages. For example, the child may be born with brain damage or an undersized head. In its report on the matter, the Medical Tribune quotes Dr. Noble as cautioning against “binge drinking” and saying: “A mother-to-be taking just one big, big slug of alcohol early in pregnancy could also risk serious fetal abnormality.”

Pests Versus Pest Researchers

◆ Britain’s Centre for Overseas Pest Research (COPR) has had experience with Indian beetles, Nigerian grasshoppers and the like. But when the Centre’s offices in London were besieged by common domestic mice, what was done? To get rid of the infestation, it was necessary for COPR to engage the services of a commercial pest-control agency.

Insulation Danger

◆ Various kinds of insulation material are on the market, but not all are safe. Citing an example, The U.S. News Washington Letter mentions a type “made of shredded paper, treated with formaldehyde,” and warns: “It could be a fire hazard in five years or so, as the retardant leaches away.”

“They Drink Too Much”

◆ According to a United Press International dispatch, Max Cleland, who heads the Veterans Administration in the United States, says that a fourth of that agency’s hospital patients “are there because they drink too much.” Reportedly, from 1970 to 1973, the ratio of problem drinkers and alcoholics to other V. A. hospital patients rose from 1 in 5 to 1 in 4. Of the estimated 10 million alcoholics in the U.S., Cleland says that veterans number 3 million. He is quoted as stating: “Alcohol is the No. 1 drug abuse problem in our society. It is a major priority for this management.”

“It Should Be in the Hands of Every Parent”

One reader writes: “Never have I read a book so perfectly written for the help of parents! It should be in the hands of every parent, and especially persons who are either reluctant or not equal to guiding young people properly today.”

Get a copy of Your Youth​—Getting the Best out of It. Only 25 cents (U.S.), postpaid.

Please send the hardbound book Your Youth​—Getting the Best out of It. I enclose 25c (U.S.).

[Picture on page 31]

Your Youth​—Getting the Best out of It

The Churches and War

Did you know that the churches were so deeply involved in war?

Their record is clear. In times of peace they praise peace. Yet they have consistently supported wars waged by the government of their country.

Is this proper? Do the churches really represent God?

The churches and war is a matter examined in the 192-page hardbound book True Peace and Security​—From What Source? Get your copy. Only 25 cents (U.S.), postpaid.

Please send True Peace and Security​—From What Source? I enclose 25c (U.S.).

[Picture on page 32]

BAN THE BOMB?

THE CHURCH SAYS “NO!”

FORWARD, May 31, 1947

THE WASHINGTON POST Sunday, July 4, 1965

Catholics and Viet-Nam

Ramparts Magazine Says Cardinal Spellman And Others Helped Push U.S. Into Viet-Nam

Adventist Youth Prepared for War Front Service

ADVERTISER, February 15, 1951

TIME, JULY 13, 1970

NORTHERN IRELAND

Panama American

Another ‘Guerrilla’ Priest

March 5, 1970

Nazi Army Praised

German Catholic Bishops Loyal

NEW YORK POST, 1940

METHODISTS INDORSE WAR WITH GERMANY

NEW YORK TIMES, 1917

Lutherans Promise Support, Even to War, Of U.S. Steps in Crisis

STAR, 1950