Signs of the Times

with contributions from T. A. B. Smyth

From a Navy News Release Headquarters Third Naval District New York, New York

One of the things that gives the United States Navy its "esprit de corps" is its emphasis on spiritual guidance. The Bible, which is carried aboard all Navy ships, is as vital in a spiritual sense to the smooth and safe operation of a vessel as is the ship's compass in a more material sense.

A typical example of some of the effects of the Navy's character education program, which is based primarily on the moral standards set forth in the Bible, was seen ... in a ceremony aboard the aircraft carrier U.S.S. "Bennington." The ceremony was in observance of National Bible Week ... and consisted of the presentation of two Bibles to the carrier by the Laymen's National Committee of New York City. ...

The books consisted of a large pulpit-sized Bible for the ship's crew and a smaller Bible for the commanding officer of the ship. ...

In the words of ... the Chaplain ... who delivered the benediction at the presentation ceremony, "As the compass holds the ship to her course and brings her safely to port, the Bible can keep a man on his course and guide him away from the reefs and shoals of life to peace of mind and peace of heart."

T. A. B. Smyth, B.A., in a sermon in the Christian World Pulpit London, England

The man who is bored must create artificial pleasures to put in the time. The happy man finds his enjoyment in the simple things. The great poets and essayists have delighted us by showing us the significance of the simple—daffodils by the lake, a lark soaring until it becomes a sightless song in the blue of the sky, a child playing with its toys—these are the themes of some of our great literature. And the radiance of the religion of Jesus came from simple trust in a God whom he knew to be a Father. ...

In the New Testament we find a happy religion because it is a book of surprises. Jesus likened anyone who entered the kingdom to a man unearthing hidden treasure as he ploughed his field or to a merchant finding the pearl of great price. A pagan king in ancient Ireland once asked a saint of the Celtic Church what he would find if he became a follower of Jesus. The saint replied: "If you become his man you will find wonder upon wonder, and every wonder true." Paul has put the same thing in a memorable sentence: "If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."

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