Tárogató, 1946-1947 (9. évfolyam, 7-10. szám)

1947-01-01 / 7. szám

TÁROGATÓ

IS

been our purpose to harmonize this third group with the point of view adopted by the writer of these phrases, “We believe that men are called to live as those who are of the Kingdom of God, and to seek His righteousness both in individual and social life, serving their fellow men in love for Christ’s sake and striving and waiting in prayer for an ordered common life where the will of God for the well being and peace of men shall be done over all the earth.” If we accept this point of view we are under obligation to become citizens in a world in which our first task is the humble acceptance of God’s grace with the frank recognition that it is His will to save mankind but apparently not to do it apart from the consent and fellowship of man.

TOTONTO: ... Great Opportunities for the Church in Africa were set before a meeting of United Church of Canada officials at Wesley Buildings on November 21 by Mrs. H. D. Taylor, Executive Secretary for Overseas Missions of the Woman’s Missionary Society in ^ report on attendance at the West-Central Africa Conference at Leopoldville this summer. These were to be found especially in centres where Africa labourers were concentrated; in training African leadership; preparation and publication of Christian Literature and in the work of health and healing. Africa is a continent full of unrest, the speaker continued, and is asking how the Atlantic Charter applies to them. There is a passionate desire for education. Modern life has replaced the primitive village type of two generations ago; airplanes and automobiles have become common; modern industry is replacing the village crafts. The copper mines of the Congo; railroad shops of Angola; sugar plantations and fisheries of the Angola coast; and the wartime literacy of the troops have brought great changes and new openings for Christian service.

The Angola mission, all stations of which she had visited, had grown rapidly since her visit in 1938 Mrs. Taylor found. It had four pastors then, now thirteen, all fully supported by the indigenous church, which is also opening up new work itself. Village schools were

also being supported locally.

Expressions of profound gratitude to the United Church of Canada had been received everywhere for help given in the establishment and development of the work in Angola and for the missionaries being sent out.

CANADIAN CITIZENSHIP WEEK Tentative Plans

The Canadian Citizenship Act becomes effective, January 1st, 1947. During the week following, from January 5th to January 11th, the Department of the Secretary of State is organizing a “Canadian Citizenship Week” to inaugurate the new citizenship ceremonies, provided for in the Act.

Tentative plans feature ceremonies across Canada from Halifax to Vancouver including Charlottetown, Fredericton, Quebec, Montreal, Toronto, Hamilton, Windsor, Winnipeg, Saskatoon, Regina, Edmonton and Victoria. These ceremonies in the various cities will be organized by local committees working under the direction of the provincial authorities, mayors and other officials.

To launch Canadian Citizenship Week, there will be a national ceremony at Parliament Hill, on Friday, 3rd, where candidates representing the various provinces and the different ethnic groups will be presented with certificates.

While the principal feature of these ceremonies will be the presentation of certificates of Canadian citizenship to new citizens, it is hoped through them to emphasize to all Canadians the implications of the Oath of Allegiance, and the responsibilities which flow from it.

The new Oath of Allegiance reads:

“I swear that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King George the Sixth, his heirs and successors, according to law, and that I will faithfully observe the laws of Canada and fulfill my duties as a Canadian citizen. So help me God.”

It is expected that the churches and the schools in Canada will co-operate by stressing the obligations of citizenship and its moral and spiritual foundations. In those cities where ceremonies are to be held citizens’ committees are being