News

The American Scientific Affiliation

VOL 3 NUMBER 1          8 February 1961



ANDERSON ELECTED TO EXECUTIVE COUNCIL

The Nominating Committee composed of John R. Howitt, chairman, Lawrence hStarkey and Peter Stoner, recently made their recommend to the Executive Counc1l. The names of Dr. V. Elving Anderson and Dr. Paul M. Wright were suggested for the ballot to fill the current vacancy left by the retirement of Dr. H. Harold Hartzler at the close of 1960. The results of the election have just been determined and the winner.......Dr. V. Elving Anderson!

Dr. Anderson, Chairman of the Department of Biology, Bethel College, is at present Visiting Scientist at the National Institute of Health, Bethesda, Md. He has been actively interested in the work of the ASA for many years., being the author of the chapter., "The Distribution of Animals", in Evolution and Christian Thought Today. Our warmest congratulations to him for this election.

WASHINGTON DC MEETING

One of our finest ASA sectional meetings was held at Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory midway between Washington and Baltimore on Saturday, 4 February. let's put it this way; it was one of the best planned meetings. They had one of the finest programs lined up, but then came some WASHINGTON WEATHER. On Friday and Friday night they had the worst storm of the winter which piled 8 inches of snow on top of the unmelted snow from two previous storms. One speaker was unable to come because of illness, another was unable to get there, but they still had enough talent on the slate to do an excellent job with 82 in attendance and about 55 paid registrants.

Mr. Dean Walter of the Analytical Chemistry Branch.9 Naval Research Laboratory., acted as Master of Ceremonies. Commenting that he had heard of someone who said, "A Sputnik has come between me and my God". Dean offered this bit of verse from his own ball-point:

Then God looked down from His great sky
And cast a sharp creative eye 
Down arches of the Milky Way 
On courses where the comets play, 
And asked from out the great abyss, 
"Whose funny little moon is this?"

"Can the Scientist Bring World Peace?" Dr. Robert Me Page Director of Research, Naval Research Laboratory, Because of illness P Dr. Page was unable to attend. In place of his address) the Moody Institute of Science film "The Mystery of Three Clocks" was shown.

"Science and Roligion: Is There a Real Conflict?" Dr  Holger Lindsjo, Social Science Department, Washington Missionary College

Dr  Lindsjo emphasized that while science covers that which is within man's reach, religion starts there and searches beyond. Religion formerly had a geographical content (the Jews looking to Jerusalem as the locus of their faith), now we have moved beyond this. Religion is an attitude and a search. It is a poor testimony when our religion doesn't grow as does science. Religion tends to preserve and conserve) science looks ahead.
"The Problem of Basic Terminology and Definition in the Mind-Soul-Body Relationship"? Dr James L. Road Staff Psychiatrist Ste Elizabeth's Hospital Washington2 D.C. 

Dr Read wishes to minimize emphasis on the di- or trichotomy of man, and stress that the whole man is saved. There are superficial or artificial concepts based on adopting philosophical or pagan ideas into our Christianity. We make a legal (criminological) and social distinction between mental illness and a sick gall bladder. This is a dichotomy that doesn't work psychiatrically. Dr. Read does grant, of course, that there is a dichotomy between body and spirit when one is in the grave and the other with the Lord. To emphasize that man is a unity, an entity, Dr, Read cites Scriptural use of the word "heart" as the single focus or center of our nature and inner life - the seat of the emotions, will, wisdom, words...also the seat of sin.

"The Ministry of Science to Evangelical Christianity." Dr. Donald C, Irwin) Pastor. Wallace Memorial United Presbyterian Church, Hyattsville, MD. Dr. Irwin beautifully summarized the historic Christian faith and pointed out that, especially with the high place of science today pastors and layman need the help of Christian men of science to explain and interpret. However, scientists cannot ignore moral issues and evangelical Christianity has a right to challenge scientific positions it fools are incorrect.

"New Thoughts on an old Controversy", Professor Wayne Frair, Zoology Department, King's College. Now on leave of absence with a NSF Research Fellowship at Rutgers University. Professor Frair was unable to reach the meeting because of the weather.

Dr. V. Elving Anderson, Bethel College and University of Minnesota, introduced the invited papers and moderated the discussion. During the course of this activity, Dr. Anderson noted that we may draw non-Christian issues from our culture and build them into our religion; perhaps issues no longer actually current. He pointed out that the papers all pointed up an awareness of things which need to be done, and that the ASA is able to be of service in helping to meet the problems.

The energies invested in this miniature convention were very great. They had 1500 copies of a nicely printed, 4-page program and a definite plan of action to use the momentum of this meeting to help organize a formal local section and to go after those showing an interest who should be members of the ASA. They plan to send copies of this issue of the NEWS to interested local prospects as part of this plan,

Arrangements for the meeting wore made by Samuel Elder and Glenn Kirkland of APL/JHU and George Fielding and Doan Walter of APL/JHU. We are grateful to these men for pointing the way to other local ASA groups wanting to got started on a worthwhile program.
NORTH CENTRAL SECTION MEETS

Reports on the North Central meeting on December 3rd, 1960, arrived just a hair too late to catch the last issue of the NEWS. The meeting place was Coffman Memorial Union Building on the campus of the University of Minnesota at Minneapolis. The program included the following:

"Cultural Relativity and Christian Faith" David O. Moberg.

Discussant: George Jennings) Ph.D. candidate at University of Minnesota and Asst., Prof. of Anthropology and Geography, Northwestern College.

"Christian Theology and Natural Science" Review and critical analysis of this book by E. L. Mascall (NY, Ronald Press Co, 1957)

Robert L. Bohon, PhD, Research Chemist, Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Co.

Willis A, Olson, M.S., Head of Biology Dept, Minnehaha Academy.

"The Evolution of Evangelical Thought About Science in the Last Two Decades"

H. Harold Hartzlor, PhD, Professor of Physics, Manketo State College and President of the American Scientific Affiliation., 1954-60.

Forty were in attendance at this meeting in spite of the closeness of the holiday season. Executive Committee members elected for two-year terms are:

 Robert L. Bohon, H. Harold Hartzler, F. Wilmer Larson,  Willis A. Olson

Continuing members of the executive committee are:

Charlos Hatfield, Lawrence Johnston, Lawrence H. Starkey.

Officers for 1961 are:

President. David O. Moberg 
Vice-President. Robert L. Bohon 
Secretary. F. Wilmer Larson 
Treasurer. Willis Olson


Incidentally, a special plea from North Central Section to all ASA members. If anyone plans to be in the Twin Cities in either the spring or the fall who would be willing to read a paper at one of those meetings, every effort will be made to warp the date of the meeting to coincide with such visit, Please contact Dr David O. Moberg at Bethel College, St. Paul, Minnesota.

The North Central Section has submitted their report of activities for 1960 and are therefore eligible for some financial support for the local treasury ...32 members, 32 frogskins. This report listed the officers, local members, financial statement and meetings held.

DR. PAUL MOVES

Dr. William W. Paul, formerly at Shelton College, Ringwood, NJ has recently accepted a position as Head of the Philosophy Department at Central College, Pella, Iowa. The best wishes of the ASA to Dr. Paul in this new spot. Already he is making plans to "ASA-ize" the community by trying to make arrangements for Dr. Walter R. Hearn) as a campus speaker.

LITERATURE OF INTEREST

Dr. Paul recently authored an article in the Bulletin of the Evangelical Theological Society entitled., "Has There Been a Shift in the Presuppositions of Criticism?" (Volume 3 No. 4, 82-6, Fall, 1960),

Which brings to mind another significant paper on this general subject which appeared in the November 22, 1959 issue of Christianity Today, "Higher Critics and Forbidden Fruit" by Cyrus H. Gordon, Professor of Near Eastern Studies, Brandis University. Highly recommended as an assessment of the present situation in higher criticism.

DR. PAUL WRIGHT HONORED

Dr. Paul M, Wright, Chairman of the Chemistry Dopartment, Wheaton College, has been honorod.a8 alumnus of the year with a distinguished service award for service to Wheaton College, his alma mater, Active in building the chemistry department) in planning now buildings for the campus, in support of the Black Hills Science Station, ASA members are also indebted to Paul for his work in the ASA.

VAN DER ZIEL AUTHORS BOOK

 Dr. Aldert van der Ziel was recently honored at an autograph party marking the publication of his new book "The Natural Sciences and the Christian Message", This party was held at the University Lutheran Student Center of the University of Minnesota where Dr. van der Ziel is Professor of Electrical Engineering. The book, published by The Denison Co. 259 pps. $4.5O, is the first volume to be sponsored by the group of scholars serving the university community who incorporated themselves as 111utheran Students", The research for the book was in part subsidized by Lutheran Brotherhood, fraternal life insurance society. A review of the book by Dr. Edward John Cornell of Fuller Theological Seminary appeared in the 18 July 1960 issue of Christianity Today,

MORRIS ALSO AUTHORS A BOOK

Dr. Henry M& Morris$ Professor and Head, Dept. of Civil Engineering, Virginia Polytechnic Institute) Blacksburg, Virginia  has written a book  "The Genesis Flood". in collaboration with Dr. John C. Whitcomb, Jr., Professor of Old Testament) Grace Theological Seminary, Winona Lake,, Indiana. This book, subtitled, "The Biblical Record and its Scientific Implications," proposes "a Biblically-based system of creationism and catastrophism"$ as stated in a pro-publication announcement recently circulated to ASA members by the Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing Company, Box 1853 Nutley, Now Jersey (525 pp. 28 figs.  $4.95).

MODERN SC1ENCE AND CHRISTIAN FA1TH IN GREEK

The first volume published in 1950 by the ASA was "Modern Science and Christian Faith." The NEWS editor recently came by a Greek edition of this book through Mr. Spiros Mediates of The American Mission to Greeks. It is neatly done with stiff paper covers. It is encouraging to see the international influence of the ASA.

CHRISTMAS IN VIET-NAM

Although it was a Christmas letter., it was written in October, It is good to hear from Dr. and Mrs. Stuart Harverson (Co-Doc Truyen-Giao Hoi, BA-TO, Quang-Ngai., Viet-Nam), Sickness and pr ation common to the average missionary would seem mighty tough to us state-side softies. Dr. Harverson tells of death and violence due to Communist activity on the one hand, and open doors of opportunity on the other.

CHRISTMAS IN GHANA

You will remember that Willis Kaufman left his job as a research chemist for Shell in Bellaire, Texas, to teach in Ghana. Walt Hearn passes on a Christmas letter from the Kaufmans full of recent news. The Kaufmans are running a boarding school with an enrollment of 435 students. Willis teaches physics., math and chemistry and is a housefather to 45 boys in one dormitory, Mrs. Kaufman teaches Bible and Domestic Science, attends to a Leper Settlement in her spare time.' This work is sponsored by The Board of International Missions.9 Evangelical and Reformed Church.

GISH HELPS UNRAVEL TMV FROTEIN STRUCTURE

Dr. Duane T. Gish, a new member of the ASA$ has been one of the people working with Fraenkel-Conrat and C.A. Knight at the University of California, Virus Laboratory in establishing the sequence of amino acids in tobacco mosaic virus. Dr. Frederick Sanger established the sequence of the 51 amino acids in insulin during the early fifties. A few years later the sequence of 124 residues in ribonuclease was determined. Now the California group has found the pattern of the 158 residues in TW protein. Strong evidence for the validity of the results exists in confirming work done at Max Planck Institute ;4 Virusforachung at 7dbingen., Germany. 9 Gish has recently left the University of California and taken a position in the Research Division of the Upjohn Company, Kalamazoo, Michigan. A recent paper on this work is., "Studies on the Amino Acid Sequence of Tobacco Mosaic Virus Protein", III. The Amino Acid Sequence of a Pantadecapeptide from a Tryptic Digest" by Duane To Gish, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 82, 6329 (1960).

NORTH CENTRAL NEETING COMING

Nothing official yet., but the little bird says that tentative plans are being laid for an ASA meeting in the Minneapolis area for April 22nd. Remember they are looking for talent,

WEAVER CHAIRS ACS SECTION
Dr. Henry D. Weaver., Associate Professor of Chemistry at Goshen College is chairman of the St. Joseph Valley Section of American Chemical Society for 1961. Dr, Weaver was treasurer of the Section in 1959a Serving with him will be Dr. Arthur Smucker, Secretary., also an ASA member.

 FREED STUDIES PIANT METABOLISM

The January 16, 1961 issue of Chemical and Engineering News carries a very nice article on the work being done by Dr. Virgil H. Freed and co-workers at Oregon State College, Corvallis, Oregon. They have shown why some crop plants and woods are resistant to triazine herbicides. Speaking to the Now York meeting of the Northwestern Weed Control Conference, Dr. Freed stated how they tagged simazine and Atrazino with C-14 and found readily detectable amounts of radio activity in the plant. By collecting C1402 they had an indication that the plant oxidized the herbicide completely to carbon dioxide and other end products.

FISCHER IN NSF PROGRAM

The National Science Foundation will sponsor 30 institutes during the summer of 1961 for the purpose of helping chemistry teachers strengthen their subject-matter knowledge. Dr, Robert B. Fischer of the Department of Chemistry, Indiana University, Bloomington) will conduct courses in Principles of Chemistry for High School Teachers.

CALL FOR S. CAROLINA-GEORGIA ASA SECTION

A recent letter to Secretary Hearn from Dr. Fred W. Beebel indicates interest in forming an ASA section in the general area of Clemson, S. Carolina. Dr. Beebel has surveyed the situation and points out that University of Georgia, University of South Carolina, Bob Jones University3 Furman University and Greenville Junior College are all within 100 miles and should provide ample talent for maintaining a local ASA organization. Dr. Boebel is Associate Professor of poultry pathology at Clemson College and was in graduate school at the University of Delaware last year. Now if our business manager could supply him with the names and addresses of present ASA members in this area, and if Dr. Beebal would refer to the specific suggestions of Dr. Hearn on page 4 of the NEWS of 28 November 1960, there seems to be nothing to do but jump in!

SCHWEITZER MUCH HONORED AND MUCH BUSY

Last April~ Dr. George K. Schweitzer, Professor of Chemistry, University of Tennossee, was elected as the outstanding faculty member of the campus. As such, he was mace-bearer and faculty representative in the inauguration of their new president last May. In addition he will deliver the 1961 Phi Kappa Phi lecture during April of 1961 and his topic will be, '?The Hebrew-Christian Tradition and the Origins of Modern Science".

Following up his interest in Philosophy of Science (close to another Ph.D. in this subject, NYU) Dr. Schweitzer has boon busy in speaking engagements. He has spoken on campuses of Trinity University3 New Orleans Theological Seminary., Mary Hardin Baylor College, Middle Tennessee State College, Belmont College commencement address3 Ohio State University (Two Chemistry seminars, one talk on philosophy of religion), Tennessee Military Institute and Carson-Newman College, as well as in ten other cities. He spoke to over 300 international students at Gatlinburg Thanksgiving and during last fall quarter he conducted a series of Sunday School Seminars to about 200 university students at his church. The best information we have is that we haven't seen anything, George hasn't even reached his peak productivity yet!

PROPOSED LOS ANGELES BY-LAWS

Although many readers will not be at all interested in model by-laws., there arc many embryonic local section groups who are deeply involved in such things. For the former., please forgive; for the latter, hero is the proposed by-laws of the Los Angeles Section which will probably be voted into legal status before you road this.

PROPOSED BY-LAWS OF THE LOS ANGELES SECTION OF THE AMERICAN SCIENTIFIC AFFILIATION

ARTICLE I - NAME AND OBJECTS

Section...T: The name of this organization shall be the Los Angeles Section of the American Scientific Affiliation.

Section 2a The Constitution of the liwrican Scientific Affiliation., Inc., shall govern the Los Angeles section&

Section 3: The objects of the local section shall be

 To sustain and promote the objects of the American Scientific Affiliation as presented in its Constitution:







    (c)To promote Christian fellowship among the American Scientific Affiliation membership



Section 1: All members in good standing in the American Scientific Affiliation, who reside in the southern California area shall be considered members of the Los Angeles Section.

 Section 1: The Executive Board shall consist of eight Follows or Members of the American Scientific Affiliation elected by mail ballot prior to the annual fall meeting to serve a two-year term with half of the number being elected each year. The retiring chairman shall convene the Board as soon as convenient after the annual fall meeting.

Section 2: The Executive Board shall outline the major activities of the Section each year and shall elect from among its own members the section officers for a one year term,

Section 3: All matters of business of the Section not explicitly stated in the By-Laws shall be entrusted to the Executive Board*

Section 4: The officers shall be Chairman, Vice-Chairman, and Secretary-Treasurer.

Section 5: No person may serve in the same office for three successive years.

 Section 6: Officers shall perform the following duties:







Section 1: Two regular meetings shall be hold annually) in the fall and spring of the year respectively.

Section 2: Additional meetings may be hold when called by the Executive Board.

Section 3: The Executive Board quorum for conducting business shall be three members at a duly announced meeting.

Section 4: The quorum for general Section business meetings shall be ten Members or Follows,

Section 1: The Section shall be supported by contributions, funds from the national organization, registration foes, income from sale of books and such other resources as the Executive Board shall doom advisable.

Section 1: The following standing committees shall be appointed and administered by the Executive Board with Board members as chairmen:

 Section 2: Actions of the Committees shall be under general administration of the Executive Board.


Section 3: - Associate members are eligible for serving on these committees.


ARTICLE VII - AMENDMENTS

Section 1: Amendments to those by-laws may be proposed by the Executive Board or by resolution adopted by majority vote at any meeting.,

Section 2: At least one month's notice must be given members before the final vote on the proposed amendment is taken. The notice may be made at any duly announced meeting of the organization or by mail.

Section 3: An amendment shall be adopted if two-thirds of the votes cast either at a duly announced meeting or in a vote by mail are favorable.

ASA NEWS EDITOR

F. Alton Everest
947 Stanford Street
Santa Monica., California

Executive Council

V. Elving Anderson Ph.D. 209 Granville Drive, Silver Spring, Md.

Wilbur L. Bullock PhD Dept of Zoology University of New Hampshire Durham3 New Hampshire

J. Frank Cassel PhD Dept of Zoology North Dakota State University Fargo, North Dakota

Walter R. Hearn PhD Dept of Biochemistry and Biophysics Iowa State University Ames, Iowa

Henry Henry Jr. Weaver Jr. PhD 215 Carter Avenue Goshen) Indiana