July 8

Page Two

5 Are You a Friend of the Unborn

Most people recognize that when pregnant women have serious health problems, such as drug addiction or venereal disease, their unborn children can be harmed. But did you realize that many other things you may take for granted can also be dangerous? What can an expectant mother do to protect her unborn child?

Have You Ever Wondered—

Do We Really Need God?

MANY persons will immediately answer, ‘No, God is not necessary in this modern scientific age.’ They point to the great accomplishments of science in recent years. Thus, many have concluded that science, the product of higher education, is what is important and that we really do not need God in our daily lives. However, . . .

HAS SCIENCE SOLVED LIFE’S PROBLEMS?

Higher education and scientific studies have obviously brought many conveniences into our homes. The homes of people in many lands bulge with appliances to entertain us or make our housework easier. But have these advances created happier families? The shocking rise of divorce, child abuse, battered wives and husbands and domestic murder give the sad answer.

Because of highly developed communication systems and rapid transportation networks, in a matter of hours we are made aware of what is happening on the other side of the globe. But is the world more united because of these scientific achievements?

On the other hand, are not some scientific advances the source of real fear for the existence of humankind? For instance, consider the awesome nuclear arms race. Think, too, of the pollution some scientific developments have produced that has poisoned much of our air, land and water. So with all the achievements of science, is the human society better off physically, mentally, spiritually and morally?

True, some may say that common sense is needed to guide how these advances of science are used. But how reliable is man’s ability to use common sense? One writer referred to the two world wars and said that these came about because men “tired of common sense and civilization.” No, man’s common sense cannot guarantee the right direction. It is just as the Bible says: “It does not belong to man who is walking even to direct his step.”​—Jer. 10:23.

HOW CAN GOD HELP US?

The order and design in our universe argue for the existence of a Great Designer. It is also apparent that our bodies were designed not merely to exist but to enjoy life. Our eyes see in color, not just black and white. Hence, we enjoy the color of flowers, a sunset or a rainbow. Our senses of taste and smell add delight. So our original Life-Giver wanted us to get the best out of life. But what is needed to realize such lasting happiness?

Suppose someone gave you an expensive camera without any instructions for its use. Now, the camera is capable of taking excellent pictures. However, even if you could put the film in without instructions, you may spoil the entire roll because of not knowing how to use the camera. You need instructions from the maker of the camera.

It is similar with our need for God’s direction and instructions. We need to know how to direct our lives, how to make wise decisions so that we can get real satisfaction from the life we have received from God. Trying the trial-and-error method ends up in many emotional scars and wounds​—and often in a wasted life.

But where are such instructions from God to be found? By an investigation, many persons become thoroughly convinced that such information is contained in the world’s best-seller​—the Bible. The material contained therein was produced by inspiration of God and contains his thoughts.​—2 Tim. 3:16.

DOES GOD’S HELP REALLY WORK?

Earth wide, many thousands of persons who have sincerely followed Bible guidance answer, ‘Yes, it does!’

One place where guidance and help are especially needed is in family life. The famous writer Goethe stated: “He is the happiest, be he king or peasant, who finds peace in his home.” If a person’s homelife is not peaceful, he is usually miserable, regardless of his wealth or station in life.

This was the case with a young American woman who had already had one disastrous marriage and was having serious difficulties with her second one. When approached by Jehovah’s Witnesses, who urged her to use the Bible, her attitude was: “I don’t need the Bible. Show me why I should have any confidence in it.”

The Witnesses showed her the Bible principles that can create a happy marriage. They encouraged her to put these principles to the test by following them. She agreed and began following them.

Her homelife immediately began to improve! This built up her confidence in the Bible. Soon, she began applying the Bible’s counsel to be an industrious housewife, not partaking of “the bread of laziness.” (Prov. 31:27) She began disciplining and training her children. (Prov. 22:6, 15) The whole family beamed with love and warmth. The woman was convinced. Now she and her husband have a rich family life. God’s help was needed, and it worked.

There are many other personal problems that God has an answer for. He provides needed help to cope with any problem a person may face. But how can you show that you value such help?

HOW CAN YOU SHOW YOU NEED GOD?

First, by taking time to study his book of instructions​—the Bible. Second, by complying with what you learn to be God’s requirements. Jehovah’s Witnesses will help you, free of charge, to get acquainted with Jehovah and his Word. As you try hard to follow God’s directions, he will bless your efforts and guide your steps so that you will enjoy your life to the full.

Are You a Friend of the Unborn?

DO YOU like to entertain? Most people do. Often they are willing to make special arrangements for the comfort and happiness of their guests, perhaps by cooking a special meal, or by arranging a sight-seeing trip.

If you are a pregnant woman, you have inside your body a helpless “guest” with very special needs. Like any guest, the embryo, or fetus, inside you deserves special attention. Indeed, a thoughtless lack of proper “hospitality” for the unborn can have permanent, tragic consequences. On the other hand, proper care for your little “guest” before birth can lead to a fine start in life.

What are some dangers pregnant women should be alert to? There are many, perhaps more than you ever realized. And new threats to the unborn are constantly being discovered. Here are some things to watch out for:

CAFFEINE found in coffee, tea, colas, and chocolate. Caffeine has been shown to cause birth defects, such as missing toes, in animals. “If the usual safety precautions respecting drugs were adopted with respect to caffeine, bags of coffee would be required to bear a label warning pregnant women to consume no more than a small fraction of a cup each day.”​—Addiction Research Foundation, Toronto, Canada.

In a study of 1,529 pregnant women, researchers from the University of Washington found that high caffeine use was “tied to a significantly higher incidence of breech births as well as to greater numbers of miscarriages or fetal deaths in the mothers’ previous pregnancies.”​—Medical World News.

“Hundreds of thousands of pregnant women are consuming enough caffeine from coffee and tea to cause thousands of congenitally deformed children to be born each year.”​—Center for Science in the Public Interest.

ASPIRIN (ASA). “Whatever headaches accompany the last months of pregnancy, it’s best to forgo aspirin.” (Medical World News) What’s wrong with aspirin? In one study, when mothers took aspirin late in pregnancy and then had premature births, 70 percent of those babies suffered from bleeding inside the skull (intracranial hemorrhage), a much higher figure than for women not taking aspirin.

“I’d say flatly aspirin is contraindicated,” during the last three months of pregnancy.​—Dr. Carol M. Rumack, professor of radiology and pediatrics.

TRANQUILIZERS Valium, Miltown, Librium and others. Here is what the makers of Valium tell doctors in their literature: “Use of minor tranquilizers during the first trimester should almost always be avoided because of increased risk of congenital malformations, as suggested in several studies.” In other words, taking tranquilizers during pregnancy can cause birth defects. Don’t do it if you are concerned about the future happiness of your little “guest.”

How serious is the risk? A study of 20,000 women by researchers at the University of California concluded that babies born to women taking Librium or Miltown early in pregnancy suffered six times as many birth defects as did the offspring of women taking no medication.

BARBITURATES may also cause birth defects. These include drugs like Seconal, Nembutal, Amytal, Luminal and Tuinal. “Studies suggest an association between the use of certain sedative hypnotic drugs during pregnancy and various congenital defects in the offspring of users.”​—Addiction Research Foundation, Toronto, Canada.

MEDICAL TREATMENT during and even before pregnancy can have unwanted side effects on your baby. For example, it is well known that rubella (measles) can damage the fetus if the mother catches the disease early in her pregnancy. Some women choose to be vaccinated against measles about the time they become pregnant. But this can also be dangerous to the fetus.

“Rubella vaccine is contraindicated for pregnant women, and women of childbearing age should take measures to prevent pregnancy for two months after rubella vaccination.”​—New England Journal of Medicine.

Smallpox vaccine has caused a small number of fetal deaths and “should be given to pregnant women only in an epidemic, something which should now be a thing of the past.”​—Australian Family Physician.

Do you have an infection? Watch out for tetracycline if you are pregnant! “Tetracyclines can damage teeth at any state of in utero [in the womb] life, and they have no place in the treatment of pregnant women.”​—Australian Family Physician.

X rays are not a good idea for your unborn child either!

“There is no more certain way of producing a malformed fetus than by exposing it to radiation with X-rays, particularly during the early part of embryogenesis . . . No one except for very good clinical reasons would subject a woman in early pregnancy to radiology.”​—New Zealand Medical Journal.

Of course, this does not mean that every pregnant woman who has an X ray is likely to have a deformed child. But why subject your little “guest” to any more danger than necessary? If you suspect you are pregnant, advise your doctor before having any X rays.

If you have had an X ray that could affect your ovaries, or if you have received a radioactive drug, then it might be wise to wait a couple of months before becoming pregnant.

Forced labor is sometimes required for medical reasons, but often it is induced simply for the convenience of the mother or the doctor. Here are some results of a careful study by British doctors, comparing babies born by forced and natural labor:

“Healthy women, with no medical or obstetric abnormalities, who are allowed to come into labor spontaneously, will nearly all experience an uncomplicated labour and delivery . . . Women in the induced group, who also had no medical or obstetric complications, not only received more intervention during labour, but were also more likely to have a forceps delivery or a Caesarean section . . . The babies born after an induced labour appeared to be in rather worse condition than those born after spontaneous onset, in that considerably more of them needed resuscitation by intubation.”​—British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology.

Should you subject yourself and your baby to these risks for the sake of convenience?

DIET during pregnancy can affect your unborn child in ways you may not suspect.

“Many hyperactive children can be noted to be hyperactive even before birth. The mother eats a certain food and the child gets hyperactive. It could be just plain old sugar in the diet, but it is apt to be an empty calorie, ultra-refined food that is eaten by the mother in large quantities.”​—Dr. Ray Wunderlich, pediatrician.

Children malnourished at birth may take a long time to catch up with other children, or may not catch up at all.

“For every two pounds of difference in birthweight lower than normal, there is a 6-month lag in reading ability at age seven, a difference roughly comparable to 10 points in I.Q.”​—Dr. Nevil Butler, Bristol University, England, director of a massive study on the effects of fetal malnutrition.

Proper nutrition is a special problem when the expecting mother is a teenager whose growing body is competing with her baby for nourishment. “The pregnant adolescent is well recognized as being medically, nutritionally, and socially at risk . . . The diets of most students were found to provide less than two-thirds of the Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDAs) for pregnant adolescents in one or more major nutrients . . . nearly one-third of the pregnancies were complicated by iron deficiency anemia.”​—Journal of the American Dietetic Association.

ALCOHOL even in moderate amounts may be dangerous to the fetus. “Heavy drinking, and perhaps even moderate drinking, by pregnant women can endanger their unborn children. The fetal alcohol syndrome, characterized by mental retardation and other abnormalities, has been identified among some children of alcoholic women. Birth defects have also been observed in the offspring of some women who drank only two ounces of alcohol daily during pregnancy. Decreased birth weight (often associated with increased risk to the newborn) has also been observed among the children of some women who drink two drinks per day during pregnancy, and in one study there was evidence of an association between two drinks a week and miscarriages.”​—Science News.

If drinking during pregnancy is so dangerous, how is it that nobody said so before? Scientists are asking the same question. “All reports suggest fetal alcohol syndrome is exceedingly common,” writes Harvard University pediatrics professor Mary Ellen Avery. “It is incredible that we missed it so long when it’s such an important problem.”

“We are not talking about skid row alcoholics,” observes a Seattle, Washington, researcher. “We’re talking about ordinary women.”

“As fetal-alcohol research continued, it became evident that no amount of alcohol could be called safe during a woman’s pregnancy.”​—Dr. Ruth Little, Director, Pregnancy and Health Program, University of Washington School of Medicine.

The message is clear. If you are pregnant and want to play it safe, don’t drink. If you invited someone for dinner, and he declined to drink, saying that alcohol was bad for his health, would you force him? Why force the “guest” in your womb to drink when it could damage him for life?

SMOKING is dangerous to your baby for a number of reasons.

Smoking before pregnancy increases the risk of placenta praevia, a condition in which the placenta is attached abnormally low in the womb, causing dangerous complications during labor and birth, according to a recent study of 50,000 pregnancies.

Smoking during pregnancy increases the risk of crib death by 52 percent, independently of all other factors, according to the same study.

“Babies born to mothers who smoke during pregnancy weigh less than those of non-smoking mothers. The extent of lower birth rate is directly related to the number of cigarettes smoked.”​—Lancet.

What causes this? “Lack of oxygen is believed to be the chief reason,” says Dr. James Wright of Australia. When you smoke, some of the hemoglobin in your blood is “fooled” into carrying carbon monoxide, which is a poisonous gas, instead of oxygen. According to a Wales study, women who quit smoking even 48 hours before giving birth increased available oxygen in their blood by 8 percent.

Most people realize that serious health problems, such as venereal disease or drug addiction, are bad for their unborn children. But did you realize that things you may take for granted​—coffee, aspirin, tranquilizers, junk food, many common drugs, alcohol and smoking—​can also be dangerous?

BE A REAL FRIEND

Giving up these things, at least for the duration of your pregnancy, may require self-control, but isn’t it worth it? If you wait until your baby is born to show that you love it, that could be too late. Why not start showing that self-sacrificing love as soon as the decision is made to have a baby?

All in a Day’s News

HOW do you feel about all the crime and violence reported in the news? Is it just an exaggeration, or are things really so serious that, in some localities, people live in constant fear of being harmed or mugged? Let’s look at just one day’s news in New York city.

“Brutal killing at a stoplight​—victim was shot 5 times in the head.” “Shotgun blows off man’s head in B’way barroom.” “Killers drown woman after forcing her to see spouse die.” “Slasher may be on ‘Death Wish’ binge.”

Those were just a few of the headlines appearing on almost two full pages of nothing but reports of the most gruesome murders​—all in one day’s news in the New York “Post” last December 30. Similar things are happening in many parts of the world.

Apparently distressed by this sort of news, the editors ran an item the next day entitled “Murder on the march: we need more police.” After summarizing the previous day’s reports, the editorial asked: “What is happening to this society? What is in the minds of young killers who fire not one shot into a man’s head at point-blank range but five?” It pointed out that the situation is becoming “increasingly insecure” and that we are in a “descent into lawlessness.”

As bad as that was, just two days later the same paper carried this front-page headline in two-inch-tall letters: “10 Murders, violent start for new year.” The article started out by saying: “The City’s New Year began violently​—with at least 10 murders counted in the first 24 hours of 1981.”

Throughout the reports were expressions such as “absolutely senseless,” “for no reason,” “with no warning” and “most brutal ever.” Is it any wonder that many people’s lives are filled with fear?

All of this clearly echoes what the Bible says about a time marked by “increasing of lawlessness,” a time “hard to deal with” when men would be uncontrolled and violent and would “advance from bad to worse.” Every day’s news adds to the proof that we are living in that time​—the “last days” of this system of things.​—Matt. 24:12; 2 Tim. 3:1-5, 13.

‘We Keep Our Homes Clean Despite the Neighborhood!’

“SOME of them just don’t care,” sighed the discouraged social worker. “They complain that nobody’s going to make the neighborhood any better, yet some won’t even try to help themselves and at least keep their own homes clean.”

This woman had just spent several months visiting her neighbors as part of an organized effort to clean up the neighborhood. The effort failed. The area is still peppered with vacant lots cluttered with loose bricks and shattered glass, boarded-up apartment houses​—empty and burned out—​and debris-lined streets.

Yet despite this, a few homes in the neighborhood are delightfully clean. Those who live in them have met the challenge of the dust, the grime, the bugs and the mice. What made the difference?

The Need to Care

“Although I’m living in a poor neighborhood and don’t have many of the things I would like,” stated one mother of seven, “I was taught by my mother that whatever you have, keep it clean. At that time we didn’t have much furniture, but the floor was spotless.” This woman cares, and her home reflects that concern.

Another homemaker, who lives nearby, agreed. She said: “You don’t need plenty of money to make a home look nice. Even something very modest, if clean, looks nice.” Then, reflecting on her childhood, she continued: “When I was growing up, my aunt, who raised us, used to get the empty fertilizer bags and make our sheets and pillowcases out of these. These big sacks were a yellow white, but she would boil them until they were milk white. Then we would sew them together and embroider the pillowcases. They were so pretty, and we would wash them often enough that they always stayed clean and white.”

Regardless of how little they had, these persons took pride in their possessions. “There’s a lot of pride in keeping things clean,” reported one housewife who has been cleaning for 40 years. “For me it’s a challenge to go into a room and look for dirt and clean it out. You see, I like to see things sparkle.”

Why do some care? Sometimes it’s because they have appreciatively taken notice of the evidence of a Creator who cares and who is clean. “When I was younger I would watch the clouds,” admitted one homemaker. “I saw how clean they appeared. I thought, ‘Well, God made those puffy clouds so white. Surely, then, he must like things clean.’ Therefore, I wanted to keep my clothing and my home just as neat and clean.” She did, and her immaculate home now stands in stark contrast to the neighborhood.

The world around us does give evidence of a Designer who is conscious of cleanliness. The natural cycles are so arranged that no waste remains untreated. Just think, trees are never for long covered by a layer of dust. Rain and wind see to that. Plant residue does not keep building up because billions of tiny organisms turn it back into fertile soil. Orderliness is evident in both the large and the small things in the universe. The Creator’s example has moved some housewives to show similar care.​—Rom. 1:20; 1 Cor. 14:33.

But it takes more than simply caring to have a clean house.

“Without a Schedule My Whole Day Is Backward”

“I find that working without a schedule, I don’t get a thing done. Without a schedule my whole day is backward,” confessed a housewife whose home, despite the neighborhood, sparkles. Some women dislike the thought of a schedule, for it involves self-discipline. Regardless of what you call it​—a routine, schedule, plan or guide, its purpose is to give you an idea of what to do and when. You may not accomplish everything on the schedule, but it will help.

“I know of no job, whether it’s running a factory or bathing a baby,” reports the British journalist Shirley Conran, “that isn’t easier, quicker, and more enjoyable if you think about it logically in advance​—and that’s all that efficient organization is.” Other experts and housewives with much experience heartily agree.

Some women write the schedule down and others keep it in their head. They list the tasks to be done daily, weekly, monthly or seasonally. They may determine how much time they have (or want to spend) for cleaning and then organize a routine. Interruptions are bound to occur, but at least they have a general “battle plan,” and once a reasonable routine is established the results are amazing.

Facing It Day After Day

Of course, the best plan is a flop unless it is followed. Even all the proper tools ​—dust rags, mop, broom, feather duster, sponges, vacuum cleaner and soaps—​will not clean the house by themselves. Frankly, cleaning is hard work! And if there are certain chores that you don’t like, real effort is going to be needed to get them done.

“My hardest problem in keeping the house clean was disciplining myself,” acknowledged a mother of three who also works full time outside the home. “I really have to work continually on disciplining myself.”

The box showing “Daily Incentives” contains some things that several longtime homemakers listed that have helped them to cope with the day-by-day grind of cleaning a house.

Not all persons are motivated by the same thing. However, by your keeping a positive attitude toward housework not only will your house stay clean but you will grow to enjoy the work more. Those who do enjoy caring for their homes are also usually alert to ways in which to lighten the load.

Make It Easier for Yourself

Children who are properly trained can make it easier for a homemaker by helping to keep the house clean and tidy. Such training requires firmness on the parent’s part, but it results in good for both the parent and the child. As the Bible states: “If one is pampering one’s servant from youth on, in his later life he will even become a thankless one.”​—Prov. 29:21.

The type of material you select to cover your walls, floors and furniture can also lighten your work, making cleaning easier. Semigloss paint can easily be washed and will still look nice. Floors that do not require constant waxing may also save work. “But dark velvets on furniture seem to reach out and grab lint!” declared one housekeeper. She would choose in-between colors, preferably speckled, that will not show dirt so easily. Before buying furniture, it is always good to check on the serviceability of the fabric. A few more dollars spent initially may result in obtaining something that will be easier to clean and will hold up to normal wear much longer.

Something else that can make your work easier is orderliness. “That old saying, ‘a place for everything and everything in its place’ sounds trite, but it’s Survival Rule No. 1 if you want to get your house under control,” states the book How to Run Your House. Clutter can be harder to deal with than mud! Usually, if unneeded items are discarded and the house is regularly straightened up, it will have a clean appearance​—even if it has not been thoroughly scrubbed for some time.

In neighborhoods with many abandoned buildings, mice may present a problem for you. “We tried traps and all kinds of poisons,” bemoaned one woman, “but nothing really stopped them. It was so bad I felt I would have to leave. Then I got rid of the poisons and got a cat, and now I haven’t seen a mouse or a rat in three months.” The cat surely made it easier and brought a lot of fun as well. What about roaches? They can be a problem. Yet, if you keep your home free of food crumbs and clutter and exterminate regularly, they, too, can be controlled. A sense of humor will also help, because an occasional one or two may still venture out to greet your guests.

Naturally, circumstances vary considerably from one home to another. What might make things easier for one person would burden another. But look for ways to lighten your load. Every little bit helps!

From Sloppy to Spotless​—“I Made the Change”

“When I was growing up, our house was a mess!” stated a mother of three. “Though I loved my mother dearly, she just was not a housekeeper. So we never learned to make our beds, straighten up our room or clean the house.” Such an upbringing affected this woman’s adult life. As she explained: “After marriage, I watched my house become dirtier and dirtier, but I thought to myself, ‘There’s so much to do. Let me rest today. I’ll get around to it sometime.”’ But “sometime” rarely came and this caused real marital problems.

“My husband is really a neat person. He would complain about the condition of the house,” she admitted. “One word would lead to another till we had a real argument going, and then he would walk out.”

Finally, something changed this woman’s life. She began to study the Bible with Jehovah’s Witnesses and associate with them. Most people realize the truthfulness of this press report that followed one of the big international conventions of Jehovah’s Witnesses: “Their cleanliness is now almost legendary. A week ago a corp of volunteer Witnesses washed down every seat in the Yankee Stadium. When they leave on Sunday night, the ball park will be spotless.” Such good habits began to rub off on this woman. In addition, she said: “The more I learned about Jehovah God, the more I wanted to please him. At the large conventions there were talks, even skits acted out, to help us see the need of keeping our homes clean. Though improved, my house was still far from really clean.”

Then came the turning point. While helping to clean a stadium in preparation for a large convention, she overheard someone ask: “Why clean up before the assembly?” The answer she overheard deeply impressed her: “We want the spirit of the holy God to be here; so the place has to be clean!” (Compare Deuteronomy 23:13, 14.) She then reflected on her own untidy home and got busy. Now, with the help of her husband and three young children, it is spotless.

Rewards That Are Worth the Effort

Cleanliness can save time, money and needless aggravation. Furniture and floor coverings last longer. When one cannot find things or does not have clean clothing, tensions can build and tempers can flare. Yet, a clean, orderly home is a haven where one can find comfort.

“It makes life more enjoyable.” “You don’t have a guilty conscience.” “If anyone rings my bell, regardless of the time, I can always let him in and not feel embarrassed.” “My family can relax.” These too are rewards mentioned by housewives who struggle against the neighborhood environment to keep their homes clean.

In the face of neglect and indifference on the part of many of their neighbors and the relentless surrounding dirt, these diligent homemakers, by the example of their own immaculate homes, forcefully say: ‘It’s really possible to keep your home clean despite the neighborhood!’

[Box on page 14]

DAILY INCENTIVES

REWARD YOURSELF AFTER FINISHING A TASK. Perhaps sit down and relax a few minutes or have a snack. You can do this after a prescribed step is completed during your cleaning routine, rather than when the whole job is finished.

SET DEADLINES. Determine how long a job or each step should take and try to time yourself.

DO THE HARDEST JOB, either first thing, or at a time when you are at peak energy.

NEVER FORGET WHY. It is a means to an end, not the end in itself. You want to show love for your family by making their living conditions as pleasant as possible.

[Chart on page 13]

A WRITTEN SCHEDULE MAY HELP KEEP TASKS IN ORDER

Each Day Weekly Monthly or Occasionally

Monday January

February

Tuesday March

Wednesday April

The Two-Day “Miracles”

THESE KINGDOM HALLS ARE NOT PREFABRICATED. THEY ARE BUILT TO 90% OF COMPLETION FROM MATERIALS BROUGHT TO A PREPOURED CONCRETE SLAB

AS HE drove by a neighboring field, Bill hardly noticed the cluster of people surrounding a bare wood-and-block foundation. It was early morning. Little did he realize the shock he would face on his return trip.

Four hours later, as Bill neared the same field, he saw it. His mouth dropped open. There, on top of that foundation, stood a building! Though it was not completely finished, it had in place a shingled roof, siding and windows. The shock caused him to lose control of his truck as he turned, and it pitched off the road. Only his quick response kept it out of a ditch.

Bill saw the beginning stages of a two-day “miracle.” A Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses was being built by a swarm of eager workers who would almost complete it​—inside and out—​in just two days. Soon the whole town of Grafton, North Dakota, knew about this feat. “They moved in a building during the night!” said one person. “Impossible,” declared another. “No, they actually built it!”

One man in Memphis, Tennessee, who read of another of these projects, said that the report provided “a ray of hope for the human condition.” Why so? Certainly when you look at the human condition today it is not a pretty picture. Why would a construction project have such far-reaching implications? You will see.

Just One of Many

One of the organizers, Stanley Peck, estimates that over 60 “instant” Kingdom Halls have been built, starting with a hall 10 years ago at Webb City, Missouri. There in two days a crew of 50 put up the walls and roof of a hall. “It seemed then that if we really organized things properly we might do the whole job in a weekend,” reflected Peck. “That’s where the idea started.” Each additional hall was brought a little closer to completion within the two days. “During the last 20 or so halls we got it to 90 percent of completion,” stated another organizer, John Langan.

“Ninety percent” usually includes a bricked, fully insulated, air-conditioned building, and occasionally a landscaped lot. Often it is painted, wallpapered and decorated with a striking handpainted wall mural, which blends beautifully with the colors of a new carpet. They are not prefabricated, nor simply “thrown up.” Some have been as large as 60 feeta by 70 feet and able to seat 250. Each has its own design, with multiple rooms, including rest rooms, a library and an auditorium. They are also fully wired for sound amplification. One in Oklahoma even has a fireplace! Usually, they are appraised at three times their original cost or more.

“I Don’t Believe It!”

When one watches the operation​—and there are plenty of onlookers from the neighborhood—​the coordination is amazing. Work starts at seven Saturday morning. After an hour the walls are up! The frames for the roof then follow. Women begin bringing sheeting to cover the outside of the walls and this is nailed into place. The electricians begin running wire. Within three hours the first brick is laid. Those with air conditioning and heating equipment wait to begin installation. Everything just falls in place. “I see it,” said one of the workers, “but I don’t believe it.” Yet, something else makes it an even greater “miracle.”

“Not a dime has been paid for their labor of love,” wrote a Tulsa, Oklahoma newspaper reporter. People working this hard, yet not receiving a cent in wages, is nothing short of a “miracle.”

Doubtful about the quality of the work, several people in Guymon, Oklahoma, called the city inspector. “I told them that if they wanted to see something done right, they ought to visit the hall!” said the inspector. “You people are even doing correctly what will be hidden and not seen!”

Yet many of the workers are not professional builders. These are given on-the-job training. Among the nonbuilders at one project were a pharmacist, a college instructor, a professional photographer, two doctors and a gardener. However, to ensure the safety of all, a Witness acquainted with building safety patrols the site looking for any potential dangers.

But do things always go as smoothly?

‘We Felt Defeated’

A critical part of the operation is the finishing off of the ceiling and inside walls. A crew works on this all Saturday night. Suddenly, while these men were rushing to finish the sheetrocking at Elk City, Oklahoma, about 3 a.m. there was a loud bang. All the lights went out. Soon another explosion touched off a huge fireball, completely devastating the transformer on the public electricity pole outside the hall. City electricians said: “No lights till morning!” Time was ticking by. If they did not finish before morning the whole project would be crippled.

“It was really disheartening,” said one of these sheetrockers. “We just felt totally defeated when the lights went out.” But one of the men remembered his recreational vehicle parked next to the hall. It had its own power generator! Within minutes a light was connected. It was all they needed to finish on time.

“Occasionally, not all the material we need will be there right at the start,” mentioned Harold Cheek, another organizer. “Sometimes it seems to come right down to the wire before we get it, but we have never had to stop or cancel a project.”

Working with Self-sacrificing Love

“I don’t know much about this type of work, but I’ll do whatever you want,” explained the owner of a large welding business, who flew to the location in a private plane. Others feel the same way. He ended up with the messy job of mixing and carrying mortar. Whole families worked together. A legally blind worker was busily wiring the sound system​—mostly by touch. Several helpers served as his “eyes.” Children kept the floor clean of scrap materials and also passed out refreshments.

“There is no way we would have worked today for money​—no way!” exclaimed one of those at Vinita, Oklahoma, when the temperature and wind made it feel like −14° F (−26° C)! Some had icicles on their mustaches as they worked! On the other hand, with the temperature soaring over 115° F (46° C), the same basic crew built the hall in Purcell, Oklahoma. At times rain will pour down for the whole two-day period, as it did at Monmouth, Illinois. “Not a single brother left the site,” said Harold Cheek. “They just worked right on through.”

Yet, why do all of these do it time after time? One observant teenager pinpointed the reason. Though not a Witness, she said to the family with whom she traveled to the site: “Something just dawned on me. We don’t know any of these people. We’re never going to their hall. Yet we’re doing all this hard work. Hey, we’re really sacrificing for somebody else. This is something good!”

Yes, they are moved by self-sacrificing love. It is this type of love that Jesus said would identify his genuine followers, for they were to love one another ‘as he loved them.’ Jesus put their interests ahead of his own. He even died for them.​—John 13:34, 35.

Self-sacrifice is reflected in the distances some travel. “We try to keep within five or six hundred milesb from our homes in Oklahoma, for this usually is a day’s drive,” stated Cheek. However, one family traveled over 1,600 miles round trip. Another, 920 miles just to get there! On one project workers came from 10 states. Normally, those who come are not reimbursed for travel expenses. To prevent any being overburdened, John Langan keeps a file of the names and addresses of over 800 volunteers and thereby can give consideration to those who live closest to the upcoming project.

But is this two-day “miracle” just the result of devoted people and skillful organization?

“God’s Hand at Work”

In Dumas, Texas, a couple asked to see the interior of the new hall. “As I look around,” said the woman, “I can see the effect of God’s hand at work.” A couple who observed the work at Elk City, Oklahoma, agreed. “This is like nothing we have ever seen! Of course, we’re not Jehovah’s Witnesses, but we know these workers are motivated by God’s spirit. How else could they accomplish so much?”

Yes, instead of the workers proudly boasting of their “almost impossible” task, talk among the group was of “the evident demonstration of Jehovah’s blessing on our efforts.”

Was It Worth It?

At one new hall on Sunday evening all paused to enjoy the first meeting. Just a few years ago, one of the local elders had been the only Witness in the area. He had seen things progress to the point of their now having a brand-new “instant” Kingdom Hall. Already much interest had been stirred up in the community by its construction. This elder was asked to offer prayer at the conclusion of the meeting. During the prayer he broke down and cried. He was overwhelmed with thankfulness. This hall would be such an asset as that small congregation spreads the good news of God’s kingdom. (Matt. 24:14) The brevity of the construction time saved many hours that could now be spent in the preaching work.

Usually, there is an increased zeal on the part of those attending meetings at the hall. As one Witness said after their hall was completed: “Now we have to get busy and talk to others and fill it up!” Fine Bible discussions have resulted from neighbors’ observing these two-day “miracles.”

But what caused the previously mentioned observer to say that these projects provide “a ray of hope for the human condition”?

“A Ray of Hope”

It was because he had read that in an all-black neighborhood in Memphis, Tennessee, “black and white, young and old” were working together like one large family. After observing the hall construction, one well-known businessman in Grafton, North Dakota, said: “This was really completely different. I could see unity, brotherly love. I thought in my heart, ‘That’s the way people really should be.’” He was so impressed that he began taking steps to become one of Jehovah’s Witnesses.

Yes, “the way people really should be.” For instance, among the workers is an American Indian who previously hated whites. “If a white man bumped into me, I’d knock him cold,” stated this hefty six-foot man. Now he has worked close to many whites on several halls​—giving and receiving love. How much better our world would be if all had such unity!

“If I got a hundred different craftsmen together,” said one non-Witness contractor, “in 30 minutes they’d all be cussing and fighting with one another.” He was impressed to see carpenters, bricklayers, sheetrockers and electricians all working side by side.

Instead of showing cold efficiency, one organizer took the time from his demanding schedule to care for a totally paralyzed woman who wanted to see for herself the building of the Kingdom Hall. He would carry her from the car, move her, or make her more comfortable. Such kindness will never be forgotten, for she watched with tears streaming down her face.

Teaches a “Much Larger Lesson”

“Thank you for this small story of humble people working together for good and the much larger lesson it teaches for all of us who live in a world that needs all the help it can get,” concluded the Memphis, Tennessee, man in his letter to the newspaper. The example of people working together in real peace “teaches” much.

“Today people are tired of so much talk. So many nice-sounding theories just don’t work. People want to see something,” commented one Witness who has been to scores of these projects. “Well, when you see 200 persons, no matter what their race or background, working their hearts out, despite being cold or uncomfortable, and everyone caring for the other, this shows something. It’s something that’s tangible, visible evidence that ‘Hey, the Bible really works!”’

One man who came to help was not a Witness, though he was quite familiar with their teachings. “For some years I had heard about the Truth, but now for the first time I saw it!” said this man, who now has become an active Witness.

Such cooperation is also a foregleam of something else. The Bible teaches that soon God will correct today’s “human condition” by removing wickedness and enabling “meek ones” who obey the Bible to live on earth in peace. (Ps. 37:10, 11, 34) Whatever building work is needed in that new order of righteousness will reflect worldwide the same loving cooperation as that seen in these Kingdom Hall projects. “It warms your heart,” said one worker, “to think that this is the way we’ll work together in the new system.” Yes, the loving teamwork so evident makes that hope all the more realistic.​—2 Pet. 3:13.

One young man had truly been moved by what he saw during the two days. After loading his car for the long ride home, he took one last look around. Unable to express his feelings with words, he threw his hat into the air, did two cartwheels and then jumped into the car where his laughing family waited. Driving off, he left behind a brand-new 2,800-square-foot Kingdom Hall that took the dedication and love of 150 men, women and children​—and two days to build it.

[Footnotes]

[Box on page 19]

COMMENTS FROM OFFICIALS

“May I . . . express to you the sincere admiration of the Citizens of Purcell for the beautiful Kingdom Hall and the manner in which it was built.”​—City Manager, Purcell, Oklahoma.

“I found the electrical system was very neatly and adequately wired with the best of electrical material.”​—Electrical Inspector, Lake Charles, Louisiana.

“Having worked on and seen first hand the construction of several buildings by these people, I can say that the construction will meet and exceed most Building Codes.”​—Director of Public Works, Borger, Texas.

“I feel you had some real craftsmen working on the job and it shows in the quality of your building.”​—Chief Building Inspector, Craig, Colorado.

[Pictures on page 17]

7:00 A.M. SAT.

10:00 A.M. SAT.

6:00 P.M. SUN.

[Picture on page 18]

THE NEWS MEDIA TAKE NOTE OF THESE “INSTANT” HALLS. IN MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE, FILM CREWS FROM TWO TV STATIONS COVERED THE CONSTRUCTION. IN TULSA, OKLAHOMA, A NEWSPAPER REPORTER SPENT TWO DAYS WORKING WITH AND OBSERVING THE PROJECT

[Picture on page 20]

WITNESSES OF DIFFERENT RACES WORK SIDE BY SIDE IN A LABOR OF LOVE

[Pictures on page 21]

MEN AND WOMEN​—YOUNG AND OLD—​WORKING ON AN “INSTANT” HALL. NOT ONE RECEIVED A PENNY IN WAGES

Do You Recognize the Meaning of What You See?

“MONEY by the right means if you can; if not, by any means, money.” So wrote the celebrated Roman poet Horace. His words aptly describe, now better than then, the attitude of a great number of people all over the world.

Do you not agree that there is little some people would not be willing to do for money? Let some recent events serve to illustrate. “Love of money” can cause people to engage in such conduct as the following:

LYING AND CHEATING.

“A number of teachers at schools in North Rhine-Westphalia [Germany] will most probably be called upon shortly to answer to charges of fraud . . . For years they have collected sizeable sums for overtime work not performed . . . also for work done on nonexistent dates, such as on February 30 or June 31 . . . for work performed while on sick leave.”​—Frankenpost, June 11, 1979.

ACCEPTING BRIBES.

“The president of the Milan [Italy] soccer squad, the national champions, and 13 players from several teams were jailed on charges of taking bribes to fix games . . . The complaint charged that the athletes accepted payments of up to $12,000 apiece to lose games.”​—Time, April 7, 1980.

EXPLOITING OTHERS.

“Cuban Americans with relatives on the island converged on Key West from Ohio, California and New York, only to find that their thousands of dollars in cash were still not enough to meet the exorbitant prices. Skippers demanded $1,000 or more to ferry each refugee; charter fees for shrimp boats went as high as $50,000.”​—Time, May 12, 1980.

DESTROYING PROPERTY.

In the United States “deliberately started fires now exceed 100,000 a year, up 400% since 1967 . . . An estimated 40% of arson nation-wide is economically motivated.”​—Time, October 31, 1977.

STEALING.

“Parents, friends, neighbors and acquaintances considered all five to be ‘polite, intelligent and obliging young men.’ . . . Yet for several days now, not only the entire German police force, but also Interpol, has been searching for four of them. The reason: They are suspected of having committed five armed robberies of supermarkets . . . and made off with checks and cash worth 2.4 million D-marks [$1.3 million, U.S.] . . . The motive . . . according to police investigations was plain, unadulterated greed.”​—Wiesbadener Kurier, July 19/20, 1980.

KIDNAPPING.

“As recently as in the 1950’s Ernst Seelig, criminologist and penologist, wrote in his Lehrbuch der Kriminologie [Criminology Manual]: ‘Kidnapping​—abduction of humans for the purpose of extorting ransom money, a rather common, almost sportlike gangster method used in the United States, something scarcely conceivable here in Europe.’ But by 1958 this crime with the foreign name ‘kidnapping’ had made its German debut . . . In the five years since the abduction of the supermarket millionaire Theo Albrecht [1971] there have been 15 cases of kidnapping in the Federal Republic, 6 in 1976 alone. The criminals demanded a total of 40,412,000 D-marks [$22.5 million, U.S.] in ransom.”​—Stern, January 6, 1977.

MURDERING.

“After three days of deliberations a jury in Krems, Lower Austria, has found [a 31-year-old man] guilty of strangling his wife and mother-in-law to death . . . The district attorney claimed that the defendant acted in cold blood and out of financial greed, expecting to inherit the victims’ possessions after the double murder.”​—Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, June 27, 1980.

Exceptional cases? You can find similar items in your newspaper.

On the Increase​—Why?

Greed has been with us a long time, as the Roman poet’s words show. But today it has taken on new dimensions. Never before has a generation of people had such an abundance of material possessions and comforts. Never before have advertisers been so successful in convincing people that these things are “absolute necessities” for happiness. Money, a requirement for buying, increasingly has become a yardstick for measuring happiness.

Of course, not everyone who works just to make money is a “lover of money.” (Compare 1 Timothy 3:2, 3.) But many persons are. Some love money for the things it can buy, including, they hope, happiness. But other persons’ infatuation with money is more fervent. In fact, the author of the book The Paper Economy claims that for “most of us . . . it is not a means to an end, . . . it is a passion.” Perhaps this helps to explain why crimes motivated by greed continue to increase, why the popularity of television give-away shows remains unabated, and why, even in the face of inflation and unemployment, untold sums of money are squandered daily in private and state-run lotteries and gambling halls.

The Bible warned that “in the last days” people would be “lovers of money” or, literally translated from the Greek, “fond of silver.” (2 Tim. 3:1, 2) But fondness for something other than silver will be necessary if we are to survive the “last days” of this present wicked society. Proverbs 3:13-18 explains: “Happy is the man that has found wisdom, and the man that gets discernment, for having it as gain is better than having silver as gain and having it as produce than gold itself. . . . It is a tree of life to those taking hold of it.”

Keep your eyes open and you will see evidence daily that “love of money” is at an all-time high. (Compare 1 Timothy 6:9, 10.) Obtain at the same time divine wisdom and discernment through a study of the Bible and you will recognize what this evidence really means: that an overly materialistic, money-oriented society in its “last days” will soon be replaced by God’s new system. There love of God and love of neighbor will forever supplant “love of money.”

[Picture on page 23]

LOVERS OF MONEY . . . . . . A SIGN OF THE “LAST DAYS”

Acrostic Puzzle

Directions: Guess the words defined and write them over their numbered dashes. (As an additional clue, each cited scripture contains the word to be guessed or one similar to it.) Then transfer each letter to the correspondingly numbered square in the pattern. The filled pattern will contain a quotation reading from left to right. The first letters of the guessed words will form the name of the book from which the quotation was taken.

4. 50 10 5 9 24 14 4. Empty inside (Jer. 52:21)

5. 28 11 16 23 5. Solely (1 Cor. 7:39)

9. 46 21 49 25 51 47 48 9. Coming forth (Gen. 2:10)

11. 60 36 39 64 42 29 61 11. A watchman (Isa. 21:6)

ACROSTIC SOLUTIONS PAGE 27

ACROSTIC SOLUTIONS

CLUE WORDS: (1) try; (2) hoofs; (3) Egypt; (4) hollow; (5) only; (6) lily; (7) yearly; (8) bulwark; (9) issuing; (10) beast; (11) lookout; (12) Elihu.

When filled in, the grid contains a quotation from the Bible, Psalm 145:10, 11, “New World Translation.”

The Church of England​—An “Endangered Species”?

IN RECENT years so many churches have closed in England that a newspaper headline declared them to be an “endangered species.” About 1,000 unused churches and chapels have been demolished in the past 15 years. Now, reports the Associated Press, “an average of 85 Anglican churches a year” are declared “redundant,” that is, in excess of what is needed.

Why this steep decline in the Church of England? From London, Kansas City Star correspondent Brian Dunning answers: “The reason is sadly simple: There are not enough Christians to go around. Many churches that used to be full are now empty.”

Less than 10 percent of baptized Anglicans go to church even during such peak seasons as Easter. Why so few? Dunning observes: “One answer lies in the peculiar history of ‘official’ Christianity in England. Ever since King Henry VIII broke with Rome, the Church of England has been the state or ‘established’ faith.”

How has this contributed to its decline? Church of England clergyman Ronald Michaels states: “Many people today find this alliance between church and state suffocating.” He notes that even the archbishop of Canterbury “admits that his church is trapped by history.”

What is the history that has played its part in the Church of England becoming an “endangered species”? A look into the past will help to explain.

Church’s Roots

The roots of the Church of England go back nearly five centuries, to the time of King Henry VII, a Roman Catholic. Henry’s elder son, Arthur, was married to Spain’s Catherine of Aragon. But then Arthur died. Seeking to keep the royal tie with Spain, King Henry VII determined to have Catherine marry his second son, Henry, who later became Henry VIII.

However, according to the law of the Catholic Church, it was illegal to marry young Henry to his dead brother’s wife. Yet King Henry VII was on very good terms with the then pope, Julius II, and asked him for a special dispensation. Seeking to please the British king, the pope granted it, paving the way for the marriage.

After his father’s death in 1509, young Henry inherited the throne, becoming, as mentioned, Henry VIII. Soon afterward, he married Catherine and had several children by her. Only one, Mary (later to be known in history as ‘Bloody Mary’), lived beyond early childhood. Desperate for a male heir, Henry wondered how he could legally rid himself of Catherine and marry a younger wife who could give him a son.

In 1527 Henry appealed to the new pope, Clement VII, asking that his marriage to Catherine be set aside on the premise that it had been illegal in the first place. Clement had no desire to offend Henry, who was a loyal Catholic. Likely, he would gladly have annulled the marriage.

But just at the crucial time of Henry’s request, Clement VII was a virtual prisoner of the German emperor, Charles V, who had sacked Rome and had the pope in his power. To make matters worse, the German emperor was the nephew of Catherine, Henry’s wife! Catherine knew that she could count on her nephew’s support to maintain the marriage, and the pope knew it too. So it was very difficult for the pope to meet Henry’s demands, as reprisals from the German emperor could have been disastrous for both the pope and the papal possessions.

Henry’s Unilateral Action

The course the pope took was to play for time, hoping that his political situation might change. But Henry’s patience was becoming exhausted. He already had his future queen in view, an attractive lady of his court named Anne Boleyn.

Henry felt that it was intolerable for the English throne to be put at risk by two foreign powers​—the German emperor and the pope. So he decided to take drastic steps to resolve his matrimonial problem. He stripped Catholic Cardinal Wolsey of all authority, and then called on all the clergy to support him, Henry VIII, as the head of the Church and clergy in England.

A number of acts of Parliament followed, each designed to cut the ties that bound England to Rome. Tax payments to the pope were stopped. Another act prevented anyone from appealing to Rome against a decision of the king. Thus, Catherine was effectively isolated from the pope, and papal power in England was broken.

Henry, still Catholic, secretly married Anne on the assumption that his marriage with Catherine was invalid. On June 1, 1533, Anne was crowned as queen. In July, Henry was excommunicated.

Reformation Takes Shape

During all this time, the Church in England remained basically unchanged. It was still Catholic. It had yet to become the Church of England, with its own doctrines and character.

During the final 14 years of Henry’s reign, the consolidation of the English Catholic Church as a national church became a reality. With the Act of Supremacy, Henry declared himself to be the Supreme Head on earth of the Church of England.

Yet Henry was proud of his Catholic faith, and by an act of Parliament in 1539 he reconfirmed Catholic doctrines. Sincere reformers were bitterly disappointed by this, but their opposition met with no success. They had to wait eight more years until, in 1547, Henry VIII died and was succeeded by his son, Edward VI, a child by Jane Seymour, the third of his six wives.

Reforms Begin

Edward VI had been educated by Protestant teachers. He ruled only six years, but this was long enough to permit Archbishop Thomas Cranmer to press ahead with reforms.

However, with the premature death of Edward VI in 1553, the crown passed to Mary, Henry VIII’s daughter by Catherine of Aragon. Like her mother, Mary was a staunch Catholic and supporter of the pope. Her policy was to return the Church of England to the authority of the pope. Earlier reforms were reversed. Liberal Church leaders of the Reformation were deposed. Nearly 300 Protestants were burned to death, including Archbishop Cranmer.

Since Mary was childless, at her death in 1558 the crown passed to Henry VIII’s other daughter, Elizabeth, born of Anne Boleyn. Catholic in name only, Queen Elizabeth soon repealed all the religious measures taken by Mary, restoring the ones that had been in force at Edward’s death.

But in 1570, Pope Pius V excommunicated Queen Elizabeth. He also absolved her subjects from allegiance to her, and even declared the English throne vacant. Faced with such a conflict of loyalties, many Roman Catholics met untimely deaths. Now there could be no hope of reconciliation.

However, the pope did not give up. As a last resort, the pope turned to the king of Spain, Philip II. With financial inducements from the papacy, Philip prepared a great armada and in 1588 set sail against Elizabeth and her Protestant country. But his fleet met defeat and was later wrecked by storm.

Thus the Reformation was secure. The split from Rome was complete. Now there was a national Church completely separated from papal authority. Such a State-Church relationship, however, progressively alienated sections of the community. The formation of “Free” and “Nonconformist” Church groups over the years is but one evidence of this. As Church of England clergyman Michaels said: “Many people today find this alliance between church and state suffocating. The church must set itself free. It cannot be the church militant if it is looking over its shoulder at the government . . . if it appears to be acting as an agent of government policy.”

The existence today of the Church of England, so strictly controlled by the State that the appointments of its highest dignitaries and even its form of prayer book are determined by Parliament, is something of an anachronism. This situation has proved to be a contributing factor in the unrelenting drift of its members. Is it any wonder that the Church of England is today described as an “endangered species”?

[Picture on page 25]

THE CANTERBURY CATHEDRAL

From Our Readers

FAMILY LIFE

We want to express our appreciation for the wonderful articles regarding parents and children. The many practical suggestions and Scriptural principles will prove a blessing for any who seek to apply them. Thank you for your concern.

G. S., New York

Thank you very much for having spoken out about marriage in such a positive way.

C. H., Germany

INCEST

I just read the article “Incest​—The Hidden Crime.” As a woman who went through that awful experience, I thought no one would understand or be able to help me. Thank you for your insight, understanding and tremendously compassionate handling of such a sensitive problem. The hope that you pointed out has kept me sane and given me hope that Jehovah will eventually remove the scars left behind.

Name withheld, California

I appreciated the “Awake!” article on incest. By the time I was three my father raped both my sister and me. I tried telling my mother but she didn’t believe me. Then we got older and it was turned in to the police. But by that time I didn’t trust anybody. I still have a lot of insecurities, but with time and Jehovah’s love and understanding I know that they will pass.

Name withheld, California

I just want to express my appreciation for the “Awake!” on “Incest​—The Hidden Crime.” This is something I had to cope with when I was a child. This article came out just when I needed it most. You will never know how much this article has helped me to realize what happened to me and how to cope with my problems.

Name withheld, Illinois

My husband and I agreed to discuss the article “Incest​—The Hidden Crime” with our two children. After our study, our eight-year-old daughter told us about an incident involving her uncle. We would never have thought this possible, but here it was right in our own family. The situation was bad, but without this communication with our children it could have been much worse. Who knows how long this could have gone on?

Name withheld, Virginia

SMOKING

Your articles on smoking are marvelously informative and will be a great help to my patients. It is time more was done to help people to understand the disadvantages of smoking and how to overcome the habit. With many thanks for your contribution.

H. D. L., Health Clinic, England

Watching the World

Constitution Not a “Suicide Pact”

◆ Crime has created a “reign of terror in American cities,” declared Chief Justice Warren Burger of the U.S. Supreme Court. Speaking to a recent American Bar Association convention, he asked: “Why do we show such indignation and alarm over alien terrorists and such passive tolerance for the domestic variety? Must we be hostages within the borders of our own self-styled enlightened, civilized country?”

Burger indicated that American justice seems to have been “twisted into an endless quest for technical errors, unrelated to guilt or innocence.” “Is a society redeemed,” he asked, “if it provides massive safeguards for accused persons and yet fails to provide elementary protection for its law-abiding citizens?” Then he reminded the lawyers of what a late Supreme Court Associate Justice had said​—that the “Constitution was not to be construed as a suicide pact.”

“Psychic” Weapons?

◆ According to the science magazine Discover, the United States military is spending some $6 million this year “to investigate military applications of psychic phenomena and develop defenses against ‘psychotronic’ weapons” supposedly being developed by the Soviet Union. “Those in the Pentagon who have authorized the money are motivated by fear: fear that the Soviet Union will develop psychic weapons first and use them to dominate the world,” asserts Discover. Illustrating the military’s seriousness about these seemingly absurd ideas is a feature article titled “The New Mental Battlefield” in the U.S. Army’s professional journal Military Review. It claims that “there are weapons systems that operate on the power of the mind and whose lethal capacity has already been demonstrated.”

Cemetery or “Garbage Disposal”?

◆ According to Japanese tax authorities, a Buddhist priest’s animal cemetery should be “classified as a garbage disposal business and taxed accordingly,” reports Tokyo’s Mainichi Daily News. Presented with a tax bill for 36 million yen ($165,000, U.S.), the outraged priest declared: “These people don’t know the Buddhist laws; humans are in the center of a circle of life that includes dogs, cats, horses and all other kinds of animals. In our past, present or future we may appear in this world in some form other than human. We must respect the souls of departed creatures, even if it’s only a cockroach or a mosquito, because they have a soul. . . . Garbage disposal! Pah! They don’t know what they’re talking about. Even the floor, the tatami [mats], the tables have lives of their own. This is the teaching of the Lord Buddha.”

“Freedom” or Bondage?

◆ Britain’s respected medical journal The Lancet recently published an article titled “Biological Effects of Sexual Freedom.” It notes: “There are something of the order of 250 million new cases of gonorrhoea and 50 million new cases of syphilis annually. Other sexually communicable conditions may be even more common.” The article laments the fact that “control of the sexually transmitted diseases [STD] seemed at one time to be within our grasp but has eluded us in recent years.” Why in recent years? “Premarital sexual experience is now accepted in Western society,” explains The Lancet. “Television programmes and theatre shows have become more explicit; people now watch films that formerly would have been regarded as pornographic. As a result people have tended to become more daring sexually. . . . The adverse biological effects of sexual freedom on women and their babies are a disappointing development in the second half of the 20th century.”

“Neutrality” Gone

◆ After a Roman Catholic bishop directly mediated between Polish labor unions and the government during the recent crisis there, Lisbon’s daily Diário de Notícias published a generally favorable editorial titled “Intervention and Neutrality.” Yet the Portuguese editor observed: “Temporal power and spiritual power, Church and politics​—the borderline between one another appears to be more tenuous all the time, more and more undefined . . . Whatever happens, in the short or long term, the echo of this intervention by the Church makes it clear the word ‘neutrality’ has disappeared from the vocabulary of the Vatican.”

A Correction

◆ The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) recently had published an article on “Fatalities From Blood Transfusion,” based on cases reported to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). (See Awake! 2/8/81, p. 29.) Apparently the reporting was inadequate. Now, in a letter to JAMA, Jerry Kolins, M.D., of California’s Palomar Memorial Hospital, writes: “According to the data reported to the FDA, approximately one in 1 million transfusions results in a hemolytic reaction and death. This death rate seriously underestimates the true frequency of fatal transfusion reactions. . . . Studies from the Mayo Clinic show a hemolytic reaction for every 6,232 units transfused and one fatality for every 33,500 units transfused. These deaths do not include fatalities secondary to posttransfusion hepatitis. Blood transfusion carries a serious risk to the patient, and these hazards must be carefully considered before each transfusion is done.”

“High” Society

◆ Marijuana use has become so common in even the upper strata of American society that a new book on etiquette offers suggestions on how the correct entertainer should deal with the problem. The Emily Post Institute’s Complete Book of Entertaining suggests that if the telltale odor of the drug should appear at a gathering, the hostess can say that “she’s sorry if she’s being a spoilsport.” Then insist that the cigarette be put out, and distract them with some lively games.

‘Blockade Vatican’?

◆ Columnist I. F. Stone, writing in the Los Angeles Times, reveals how some in government may view the political dabbling of religious organizations. He said that the government faces, “not just an ideological conflict over El Salvador but also a theological one . . . with what the State Department may regard as a reckless and irresponsible godliness.” Stone asserted that two blockades are needed in the Caribbean, one against arms and the other, “a more difficult task, to shut off the flow of subversive moral encouragement from the Vatican. . . . The new Administration is upset at what it regards as the church’s ‘activist’ role in Latin America. Some of the church’s most ardent critics within the Administration are themselves ‘reborn’ graduates of divinity schools.”

Happy Beaus

◆ “Young men looking for brides in Nigeria’s Imo State have been given good reason to smile,” reports the All Africa Press Service. It seems that the state government has slashed traditional bride prices to a fraction of what many parents were demanding for their daughters. Observes newswriter Mola Olaniyan: “The bride price has left many a poor man heartbroken​—stopped from marrying the girl he loves because of a tradition which dictates he pay a large sum to the girl’s parents for the privilege” of marrying their daughter. One result of very high bride prices was “a high rate of immorality and many single girls gave birth to illegitimate babies.”

Used Jet, Anyone?

◆ Early this year there were four times as many used passenger jets on the market​—at least 200—​as there were a year ago, according to Business Week magazine. “Many are simply being parked in used-plane lots in barren desert areas,” it notes. Why the glut? Fuel price jumps have made the old jets very costly to operate and new government restrictions on noise have made them obsolete, even though they have years of useful life remaining. “The iron is piling up,” said one Arizona used-plane lot operator, “and we’ll have a lot more before it’s all over.”

Packing the Inn

◆ Travelers stopping in Osaka, Japan, now have an economical alternative to the traditional hotel for an overnight stay. This hotel stacks its guests two high in sleeping “capsules” about five feet (1.5 m) high by five feet wide and six and a half feet (2 m) long. The capsules “appear at first to be washers or dryers,” observes The Wall Street Journal. But they are filled almost every night with people less concerned about aesthetics than saving half or more on the usual hotel bills. Other capsule establishments reportedly have opened in Nagoya and Tokyo.

Is Snuff Safer?

◆ As recently as last July some doctors in Britain and in the United States had urged “dipping snuff” as a healthier substitute for cigarettes. Now a federal study published in the New England Journal of Medicine reveals that the average snuff user has four times the risk of contracting mouth cancer as a nonuser, and longtime users have 50 times the risk. Dipping snuff involves putting finely cut tobacco inside one’s mouth under the lip or between the cheek and gum. It is especially popular among women in the rural south of the United States. Production of tobacco used for snuff has tripled from 1971 to 1980.

‘Robbing Peter . . .’

◆ There is a growing chain of thefts against Catholic churches in Peru, according to Lima’s El Comercio newspaper. And one Catholic official in Arequipa complained that “it has become a practice on a world-wide scale.” The fact that many churches contain Spanish colonial works of art and jewels for the “saints” and images makes them attractive targets. Thieves broke into the church in the town of Huancavelica in central Peru and cut off the feet of one of the saints. El Comercio noted that it had on a nice pair of “silver shoes.”

Giant Arab Airport

◆ An airport almost twice the size of New York’s Manhattan Island, 40.5 square miles (105 km²), was inaugurated recently by King Khaled of Saudi Arabia. Jidda’s new international airport is said to have cost about $4.5 billion (U.S.). Its 10-story-high main terminal alone reportedly covers one square mile (2.6 km²). The airport also has a desalination plant to purify water from the sea, an irrigation system for 72,000 trees, a hospital and 210 fiberglass tents for housing Moslem pilgrims to Mecca.

Acupuncture Accepted

◆ Though many questions still remain for study about acupuncture, says the Journal of the American Medical Association, “the evidence now available, however, is sufficient to place this age-old Chinese healing art, modernized to US standards, on a solid scientific base.” The Journal concludes a feature on the subject: “In the hands of competent physicians, acupuncture is a method free from discomfort or side effects that can, in many cases, bring some relief from the suffering of chronic pain. When patients ask about acupuncture, the answer can now be, with good justification: ‘It may well be worth a try.”’​—February 20, 1981, p. 769.

Costly Speeding

◆ When caught, South African speeders are cited as guilty of the even worse crime of “squandering gasoline.” The citations read: “The accused did wrongfully or illegally use fuel to exceed the speed limit.” Fines for such waste reportedly range from $120 to as high as $2,400 (U.S.).

Listen!

• Hear the miracle of Pentecost

• Peter’s angelic release from jail

• The stoning of Stephen

• Saul’s conversion

• Conversion of the first uncircumcised Gentile

• Paul’s missionary adventures

Enjoy the complete Bible book of Acts on two cassettes. Listen in your car on the way to work. At home. Or bring the book of Acts to life for those who have dimming eyesight. Playing time, over 3 hours.

Please send the 2 cassettes of Acts of Apostles. I enclose $3 (U.S.).

You Can’t Buy Happiness. Or Can You

Happiness​—How to Find It

Money, sex, crime, poor health, uncertain world conditions. So many problems stand between us and happiness. But this new book, “Happiness​—How to Find It” provides realistic ways around these problems, and gives the lasting solution—​God’s solution revealed in the Bible. So while you can’t buy happiness itself, you can obtain a guide that leads to happiness. Do it now.

Enclosed please find 60c (U.S.) for the 192-page, hardcover book “Happiness​—How to Find It.”