More than 10 years have passed since a Bedouin shepherd stumbled over the first cave hiding place of the Dead Sea Scrolls, considered by biblical archeologists as the find of the century. Since their discovery, many of the 2000-year old leather and copper documents have been thoroughly examined by scholars and technologists. These scholars have tried to answer tentatively the absorbing question of whether the scrolls actually shed any new light on Christianity. Archaeologist Frank Moore Cross, Jr., and Old Testament scholar and author of the recently-published book on the scrolls, “The Ancient Library of Qumran,” gives a qualified affirmative answer. Cross, who is the first to concede that his book is incomplete, says the light is not exactly shed, but rather is case by reflection. Most scholars agree that the scrolls were not the work of the early Christians, but rather a Jewish sect known as Essenes. This sect inhabited the Qumran community shortly before and shortly after the birth of Christ. Cross points out that the importance of the scrolls lies in the fact that the Essenes were an apocalyptic sect, or believers in the imminent triumph of righteousness on the ashes of the evil world. The primitive Christian church was also apocalyptic.
———
Some question has been raised as to whether Samuel Cardinal Stritch will keep his American citizenship while serving in a high office in the Vatican. The cardinal, who has headed the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago for 18 years, is en route to the Vatican to become pro-prefect of the Church’s congregation for the propagation of the faith. The citizenship issue was raised by the National Association of Evangelicals, an association of 41 small denominations. It refers to itself as the Conservative Protestant Wing. At its annual convention, held in Chicago, the group said an American loses citizenship by accepting office in a foreign state. Delegates approved a resolution calling for an investigation to determine whether Cardinal Stritch is affected.
_______
A revision of the traditional church policy at Harvard University is being sought by a group of faculty members. A spokesman for the group explained that its petition to Harvard President Nathan Pusey was tempered, but otherwise declined to say what kind of revision is desired. At issue is whether Memorial Church in Harvard Yard should be used for services of faiths other than Christian. The controversy stems from a lengthy article which appeared recently in the undergraduate daily newspaper, The Harvard Crimson. The article charged that the university preacher refused to allow a Jewish student to be married in the church. Several letters were received as a result and an unidentified Harvard official said the Jewish student had not been denied the right. The spokesman noted, however, that the student was encouraged to be married by a Protestant minister with a rabbi present, and that the ceremony was performed in that manner. Harvard President Pusey takes the stand that the university’s historic tradition has been a Christian one. He says that while Memorial Church is not regarded as affiliated with any one denomination, it has always been thought of as a house of Christian worship.
———
This reporter habitually avoids movies in order to avoid disappointment, but so much has been said and written that it seems pertinent to pass on to you an evaluation of the “Bridge Over the River Kwai,” prepared by Dr. Harold Scott of Salt Lake City. He says, “We saw a preview of the film, ‘The Bridge Over the River Kawi.’ We recommend you see the showing. It was strange to see Alec Guinness in a serious role but he was adequate. This is a serious picture showing (1) the irrationality of war, (2) the futility of principles held to be absolute in the face of pragmatic propositions, and (3) the violence done human personality by the slave code of the military whereby a man must obey another man instead of his own intelligence and conscience.”
_______
In Washington, the White House confirmed that President and Mrs. Eisenhower had contributed $1,000 toward a mural that was dedicated Easter Sunday in a Washington Negro church. Mrs. Eisenhower made the gift by check to Elder Solomon Lightfoot Michaux, a Negro evangelist whose congregation recently dedicated a $350,000 building called the Temple of Freedom Under God.
———
The National Catholic Educational Association, meeting in Philadelphia, urged greater lay participation in the operation of Catholic schools. One resolution adopted at the meeting asked Catholic educators to explore the possibility of increased use of the laity for advisory boards, on citizen’s committees, and individually in the areas of special knowledge. The resolution suggested enlistment of lay volunteers as teacher aides, library assistants, and study hall supervisors. This, the Catholic educators said, would help relieve teaching loads and teacher shortages. (Parenthetically, it might be observed that it is also likely to relieve the quality of work that goes on in the school.)
———
At Miami Beach, Florida, the Methodist Council of Bishops declared an amendment to the constitution of the Methodist Church adopted and in full effect. The amendment is the one voted by the Methodist General Conference in 1957 to set up a procedure for gradual dissolution of the denomination’s all-Negro central jurisdiction. It provides a system of permitting Negro churches voluntarily to transfer into the five white geographical jurisdictions. The bishops said the amendment has been approved by nearly all of the 127 annual conferences that have voted on it so far. Membership in the Methodist Church was reported at an all-time high of 9,566,000, an increase of nearly 150,000 over 1957.
———
In Chicago this week the religious press was chided for failing to speak out forcefully on social issues and for not assuming a prophetic role in Christian journalism. The criticism came from Dr. Edwin T. Dahlberg, president of the National Council of Churches, and Milburn P. Akers, editor of the Chicago Sun-Times. They addressed U.S. and Canadian editors attending the annual meeting of the Associated Church Press. The organization is made up of Protestant and Orthodox publications. Mr. Akers expressed disappointment that many church publications avoided comment on great social issues. Dr. Dahlberg agreed, saying it is a great mistake to make church papers into mere program publications. The greatest opportunity of the religious press, he said, is that of adopting a prophetic role in society. Dr. Dahlberg said the religious press must deliberately educate and strengthen the conscience of the nation and be the voice of that conscience.
———
Membership in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints increased by more than 70,000 last year. There are now close to 1.5 million Mormons. The figures were reported at the denomination’s annual conference at Salt Lake City. The report showed the Mormons have almost 13,000 missionaries, roughly half of them full-time. President David O. McKay told 8,000 delegates at the Salt Lake City conference that civilization is threatened by man’s failure to match progress in science and invention with progress in character and spirituality.
———
After a long boom period, church construction is beginning to fall off, apparently because of the business recession. In Washington, the Departments of Commerce and Labor estimated new church starts in March totaled $61 million. That is $3 million less than the February level and $2 million below March of a year ago. Normally, March brings an increase in all kinds of construction.
———
In Rome, the Vatican art gallery disclosed it is starting a new department dedicated exclusively to modern art. Up to now, the gallery has had nothing more recent than a painting of King George IV of England, done between 1820 and 1830. A number of works already have been donated to the new department.
_______
Newspapers reaching Hong Kong from the mainland indicate that communist leaders in China have started a witch-hunt for so-called rightists in the Chinese Protestant churches. One newspaper reported that the Red leaders had convened a meeting of Protestants from all parts of Kwangtung Province. According to the communist account, the meeting was used to unmask nine Protestant pastors. The clergymen were accused of collaborating with imperialists and engaging in activities aimed at overthrowing the Communist Party. Another paper described a similar unmasking of two Protestant leaders in Kansu Province. The papers did not say what happened to the accused men.
———
Some details of the constitution for the New United Church of Christ were disclosed at Cleveland this week. The co-chairmen of a special commission drafting the chapter said it will guarantee the freedom of local congregations to own and manage property. The congregation also will be guaranteed the right to call ministers and choose their own form of worship and standards of membership. Ministers will be free to accept or reject calls to churches. The United Church was formed last June by merger of the general council of the Congregational Christian Churches and the Evangelical Reformed Church. It is being governed by a basis of union until the constitution is approved. The charter will define the organization and work of the new church’s general synod and describe the relationships between the synod and its local churches and agencies.
Meanwhile, the new denomination made an offer of what it called inter-communion, recognition, and fellowship to all Christian bodies who accept Christ. It asked other Christian bodies to adopt the practice of serving Holy Communion to all church members who proclaim their commitment to Him.
———
The ethical standards of the TV industry’s advertising are about on the level of a con man. Many of the commercials are clearly fraudulent. The industry dresses up studio dopes in white jackets to impersonate a physician, then prescribes drugs wholesale without examination or diagnosis. It makes claims for tobacco, soap, toothpaste, and cosmetics that cannot be substantiated. It is highly doubtful if any TV company insists on a clearance from the American Medical Association. Better Business Bureaus are overwhelmed and the Federal Trade Commission is given too little money to police crooked business. Most Americans don’t seem to mind, but the claims of TV advertising have become incredulous and ridiculous.
———
9,245 scientists of 44 countries have signed a petition to stop testing nuclear bombs by international agreement and that petition has been presented to the United Nations. The petition bears the names of 36 Nobel Prize winners, 101 of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States, 35 fellows of the Royal Society of London, 216 members and correspondents of the Academy of Sciences of the U.S.S.R., and leading scientists of other countries. The press of the U.S. has ignored this, but the wire services bring plenty of statements from Dr. Teller, the military and its captive, the Pentagon, assuring us there is no danger from nuclear testing and that preparation for collective homicide brings peace. How illogical, irrational, and stupid can we get?
It should be apparent to all that admirable as is the statement of the scientists, that the answer to the problem of war lies not in the scientific laboratory but in the political arena. As long as scientists of each country are trying to outdo all others in death-dealing weapons, with no international control over the use to which their discoveries will be put, we rush madly to collective suicide. But if the Russians have a Sputnik in the skies, we must have one too.
———
Immanuel Baptist Church in Lexington, Kentucky, has borrowed some biblical language to solve a current problem. The problem was how to keep the curb in front of the church free of parked cars. A sign was erected that proved very effective. It read, “Thou shalt not park.”