Current Events

Vol 5:5 (May 1959)


Current Events


VENICE: When Cardinal Sarto left Venice for Rome 56 years ago, he promised that he would return, but, being himself elected Pope Pius X, he had to remain at the Vatican. The promise to return is to be fulfilled, for Pope John XXIII has decided that by special train his remains will go to Venice accompanied by great ceremony and pomp. His body in a glass coffin will lie for a month before a special altar in the bascilica.


The Lord Jesus Christ said, “If I go away, I will come again.” He, likewise, died, but rose from among the dead in order to fulfil His promise.


The angels said to His disciples, “Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven.”


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LONDON, ENGLAND: Churchgoers throughout Britain are growing used to having a middle-aged pastor with military decorations. In Britain today, the ministry is recorded as the favoured career of senior officers retiring from the armed services.


There is a great difference between fighting battles and pronouncing peace and benedictions. Of course, the change frequently has been made by the regenerative influence of the Holy Spirit. Only such divine power can make the change permanent and effective.


The pastors among the Apostles of the Lord were appointed from among fishermen. Christ first converted the industrious fisherman, Peter, into a fisher of men, and then ordained him to be a shepherd, saying, “Feed My Sheep.”


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TIBET: Red China’s crime against Tibet has opened the eyes of many even in Asia. From Japan to Ceylon the vain words of Red China’s Premier Cou En-lai at the Bandung conference in 1955 are recalled. Then he specifically promised to respect “the rights of all people of all countries to choose freely a way of life as well as political and economic systems.”


Tibet can expect little from Western intervention. We are told that Tibet patriots can only put their trust, as did their ancestors before them, in the three precious jewels of Tibetan Buddhism, the Buddha, the Doctrine, and the Community. What a vain hope! What a delusion!


Israel, when beset by enemies could say with confidence: “Wherefore should the heathen say, Where is now their God? . . Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men’s hands . . O Israel, trust thou in the Lord; He is their help and their shield. O house of Aaron, trust in the Lord; He is their help and their shield. Ye that fear the Lord, trust in the Lord: He is their help and their shield” (Psa. 115).


An early Christian wrote, “We should not trust in ourselves, but in God” (11 Cor. 1:9).