The Optimist (Abilene, Tex.), Vol. 33, No. 14, Ed. 1, Friday, January 11, 1946 Page: 2 of 4
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Pago 2
THE OPTIMIST
Friday January 11 104G
fir
Christian
Growth
BY DON HARDAGE
Growth is God's gift to the human
race. As we observe our surround-
ings wc must necessarily come to
the conclusion that everything ma-
terial is the product of development.
Even in the creation of the world
God spoke the universe into exis-
tence by means of closely related
steps of progress. Since that time
the human family has continued to
grow but unfortunately it has often
neglected its spiritual opportunities.
In order to ascend the intellectual
heights man has always been com-
pelled to exert sincere and humble
efforts. Likewise to grow in Grace
and Truth we must sacrifice and we
must endeavor to follow Jesus all
the way.
Jesus Grew In Wisdom
In Luke the second chapter and
the fifty-second verse we find the
folowing passage: "And Jesus ad-
vanced in wisdom and stature and
in favor with God and men." Our
attention is first called to the fact
Jesus advanced in wisdom. Wisdom
always has been and always shall
be one of the characteristics which
God expects His disciples to possess.
The man who lacks wisdom will al-
so lack heaven as the eternal home
of the soul. Solomon said "Wisdom
is the principal thing; therefore get
wisdom." In James 1:5 wc arc told
the manner in which one may re-
vive wisdom; it says: "But if any
of you lacketh wisdom let him ask
f God who giveth to all liberally
inH uphraidcth not; and it shall be
.liven him." In our search for wis-
dom let us ignore forever the wis-
iom of this world which amounts to
noth ng. "Where is the wise? Where
is the scribe? Where is the disputer
if this world? Hath not God made
roolish the wisdom of the world?"
lames assured us that God's wisdom
is pure peaceable gentle easy to be
entreated full of mercy and good
fruits without doubtfulness with-
out hypocrisy.
Jesus Grow In Stature
Jesus also increased in stature
or age. It is not man's physical or
chonological maturity which reveals
an enriched life but the experiences
to which he is exposed during his
period of expansion determine his
destiny and mold his character. In
Paul's epistle to the Corinthians we
learn that our bodies are the temples
of God. We are warned of an ulti-
mate destruction if we defile these
dwelling places of divinity. The
great apostle to the Gentiles also
said: "I beseech you therefore
brethren by the mercies of God to
present your bodies a living sacri-
fice holy acceptable to God which
is your spiritual service." Unques-
tionably it is the obligation of the
Christian to glorify God in his body
as well as in his spirit.
Jesus Grew Spiritually and Socially
"For when by reason of the time
ve ought to be teachers ye have
need again that someone teach you
the rudiments of the first principles
of the oracles of God; and are be-
come such' as have need of milk and
not of solid food. For everyone that
partaketh of milk is without exper-
ience of the word of righteousness
rir he is a babe. But solid food is for
full grown men even those who by
-rnson of use have their senses ex-
ercised to discern good and evil."
aieb 5:12-14). From these verses
wo conclude that sincere disciples
if Christ cannot remain spiritual
babes Wc cannot help realizing that
many have been nominal members
of the church for years; yet they
have not prepared themselves to
If a'l ctl ers to th' thrcne of God. In-
deed there i-? wort- in the kingdom
that we all can do and that we nil
must Jo if we inherit eternal life.
Jesus grew in favor with man;
th"t is. he developed His social life.
Ce'tninly the Christian should be a
lpn'pr and an example in the social
order in community life. Admirable
societv can have nothing in it in
The Optimist
EDITORIAL
Kathryn Honks
Eugonia Scott -
REPORTERS: Delbort Matthews Betty Jean May. Mary Loulso
Mackoy Clairo Stewart Muriol Cox Icy Thomas Ouita Roberts
Nova Rue Conner and Jack Fogarty.
BUSINESS
Dot Luck
Mario Milstead
Anita Booth and Both Priestley...
Published weekly except during summer vacations by the students of
Abilene Christian College Entered as second class matter June 29 1920 at
the post ofifee of Abilene Texas under Act of August 24 1912.
SXecvi Mam
It's just like you said everyone and everything are just the
same as they were before the holidays even though I was afraid
they wouldn't be.
I had so much fun while I was at home that it was plenty hard
to make myself come back but deep down Mom I don't guess you
could drive me away from this place. After the first day almost all
the kids were back and everyone has talked at the same time about
home and what they did during Christmas.
Mom there have been some changes in the Science building
too. You can almost tell what it's going to be now. I can see now
some of the great doctors and scientists who will have studied
there. Guess that leaves me out. I imagine it will be a long time be-
fore it is finished but the way I'm doing in my science this year
I'll probably get to take this same course in the new building.
The greatest and best change on the campus is the big hole in
the ground just east of Zellner which is the girl's new dormitory
or rather will be when it is finished. You know what that means
Mom McDonald will be the boys' again. There are so many pros-
pects for good things to happen next year that I'm already getting
anxious for next September.
Oh Boy! The basketball season got in full swing this past week.
Wish Pop could see some of the games knowing how much he likes
basketball. It was swell seeing all of those pictures of the squad
Dad was in. I know we will have just as good a team this year too.
It looks plenty good seeing our two coaches back and in activities
again.
One of the thing I missed most during the holidays was attend-
ing chapel. It just made me feel good through and through Wednes-
day morning to have that privilege again.
Mom no need to tell you how wonderful it was being with you
and Pop and seeing all the kids again. There's no place like home
but I'm thankful every day that I get to come to school for I be-
lieve we should be happy wherever we are and I have every right
to be Mom. Again my thanks to you and Pop for everything. Be
thinking about me during those finals will you?
Love from your son
9tete
President Don. H. Morris
Speaker For Men's Forum
President Don H. Morris will be
the speaker at evangelistic forum
Friday evening at 6:45. All young
men are encouraged to be there.
Agriculture Boys Work
On Farm During Holidays
Several boys worked on the
school farm during the holidays.
They built sheep sheds pasture
fences and waxed linoleum floors.
They also did some feed grinding.
which the Christian cannot parti-
cipate. Throughout our earthly ex-
istence let us bear in mind the
words of Christ: "Ye are the salt of
the earth ye are the light of the
world."
STAFF
Editor
Associate Editor
STAFF
Business Managor
-Assistant Business Managor
-.Business Stall
Club Meets Monday
Life of Hitler Shown
German club met last Monday in-
stead of their regular meeting per-
iod. Pictures were shown on the
life of Hitler. The public was in-
vited. McDonald
Nemos
A new resident of McDonald hall
is Carolyn McNeal formerly of Zell-
ner. Among the familiar faces back
again wc aie glad to see Margaret
Landreth's. Margaret was ill for
about three weeks before Christ-
mas. Mrs. MacFarland ate too much
fruit cake and has been ill for sev-
eral days but she is well now.
Christian Ideals
Ruled OutBy Nazis
BY JOHN P. (Jack) FOGARTY
From tho Christian Chronicle Do-
combor S 1945
A digest of historical background
of the Germans was presented in
the initial article last week. The
account ended with Adolf Hitler
usurping power over the nation as
head of the National Socialist Work-
ers Party. The name of this party
became shortened in parlance to
NAZI.
In chronologized sequence this
sketch discloses how the German
religion was subordinated by and
made subservient to DEIt FUEHER
to be used as a tool to foster Naz-
ism. This crafty Chancellor first charm-
ed the gullible clergy by pretended
piety in reverent attendance of his
Potsdam church. The German pop-
ulace was lead by pastors and priests
in believing that this devilish dic-
tator was a divine deity. A carica-
ture by an ingenious artist con-
tributed further to the legend.
This idolatrous cartoon venerates
Hitler clothed in ecclestiastical rai-
ment. A luminous halo surrounds
his head accenting his sublimeness.
Clouds give the effect of suspension
between earth and heaven. Beckon-
ing hands are outstretched and the
youth of Germany are being drawn
to his bosom. Psychology reaches
its peak in piopaganda in the cap-
tion beneath the picture: "I will
make of this generation 'gods and
goddesses' like unto me."
Germany's twenty million Prot-
estants and an equal number of
Catholics crowded the churches of
the land. The religious bodies thus
maneuvered "by the tyrannical Hit-
ler lont prestige to the Nazi party
as a righteous cause. Songs such as
Silent Night Holy Night with well
known melodies were reworded to
teach the Nazj creed.
Masses were fooled by guile of
this sort. Led astray even more by
political minded ministers taking
such texts as Matthew 5:5 "Blessed
are the meek; for they shall inherit
the earth" and interpreting "Happy
are those accepting fellowship for
they shall have great possessions of
the earth Heil Hitler!"
Nazism quickly became stronger
than the church of Germany. Hitler
at once began to degrade and de-
stroy the church. It was now simple
to decree that Alios fur Deutschland.
A single unit qf solidarity in opin-
ion and effect must symbolize Ger-
many. The subtle Hitler knew that
Catholic and Protestant creeds pro-
hibited unity in religious doctrine.
The church must be united or go!
was his response to those objecting.
He eluded them with jeers that
they were half-Jew if they believed
the Old Testament because of its
origin. Many arrogant Germans
apostatized rather than be called
non-Aryan.
If the church was mortally wound-
ed by this pressure another death-
dealing blow would finish it thought
Hitler. He then required all chil-
dren to attend Hitler Youth Move-
ment meetings on Sunday. Secret
orders were given the youth never
Httend church again! The teen-age
children carried out "der fuehrer"
to the letter. Daring religious meet-
ings these youth picketed the
churches with large numbers sing-
ing the party song with lusty shouts.
Adult church members were ad-
monished that ruin through boycott
unemployment and certain starva-
tion would be their only rcwaJ for
continued church presence. Tho
Gfstapo photographed all entering
for worship that penalty might be
dealt them. The audience compris-
ed only infants in the arms of the
aged and infirm.
Ministers wailed protect to no
avail. For the most pait these
clergymen were drafted as privates
and sent to die in tho winter cam-
paign of Russia. Only a few like
Martin Meumcller lived through the
concentration camp atrocities of
BY OUITA ROBERTS
The American Library association
has chosen the preliminary list of
outstanding books of 1945. Our li-
brary contains "Collected Poetry"
by Oudor; "Teacher in America" by
Barzun; ' Wc ' Stand United" by
Bcnet; "The Young Jefferson 1743-
1789" by Bowers; "Pleasant Valley"
by Bromfield; "A Texan in Eng-
land" by Dobie; "Color and Democ-
racy" by Du Bois; "A Lion is in the
Streets" by Langley; "Up Front"
by Mauldin; "The Folded Leaf." by
Maxwell; "First Supplement Amer-
ican Language" by Mencken; "An
Intelligent American's Guide to the
Peace" by Welles; "Springfield
Plan" by Wise; and "Black Boy"
by Wright which are of this group
of selected books.
"Grandmother Drives South" by
station wagon through 1G Latin-
American countries. This heart-
warming story of our neighbors was
written by Constance Henley.
William F. Lcggett's "The Story
of Linen" is the first authentic and
concise history of linen to be com-
piled in one book.
"You and Your Job" by William
G. Campbell and James H. Bedford
helps a person to choose a career
by explaining the importance of
this choice. It also goes into detail
about many diffeient types of work.
"Lost Waltz" is the story of the
family of the Archduke Leopold
Salvntor of Austria told by Bertita
Harding in and interesting and
charmingly intimate style.
"Inter-Ameiican Affairs 1942" is
the second volume of these annual
surveys edited by Arthur P. Whita-
ker. Eight men contributed to this
volume two of which wrote home
of the material published in the
first book.
Frank F. Munoz and H. A. Charip-
per explain the construction of "The
Microscope and Its Use" in their
book of that name in easy-to-under-stand
language This scientific tool
must be used and cared for properly
so that it may render its best service.
Students Return
Filled With Cheer
As Holidays End
BY MURIEL COX
After almost two and a half hours
on the afternoon of Friday Decem-
ber 14 our campus was deserted.
Everyone was going home for
Christmas. We were all happy as
larks and cold as the snow which
was tumbling out of the skies as a
Christmas greeting and a holiday
farewell.
Students returned home to all
parts of the country and were again
with their families for a "short"
time.
We all had a wonderful holiday
and then the new year brought us
again back to school. Wednesday
January 2 found many a sleepy
starry-eyed student still dreaming
over our first Christmas of peace in
four years.
1946 brought us many good things
the end of the war our loved ones
home again and then too it helped
bring us to Abilene Christian Col-
lege. We have all prospered by our
stay here at school spiritually ed-
ucationally and socially. Not one of
us can really say he is sorry of hav-
ing come to college.
The gaities of the holidays were
somewhat "dampened" when as-
signments in class were "piled high."
But wo all try to smile when we
think of examinations and study
just a little more. 1945 v.as a good
year but 1946 will be a better one.
Dachau and Buchcnwald to be re-
membered as one crying in the wild-
erness: Mein Kampf (Hitler's book)
is not the sacred Bible; Nor is the
Party a power of salvation; nor is
HUlor our God but rather the works
of tho devil.
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The Optimist (Abilene, Tex.), Vol. 33, No. 14, Ed. 1, Friday, January 11, 1946, newspaper, January 11, 1946; Abilene, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth99118/m1/2/: accessed April 23, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Abilene Christian University Library.