News

The American Scientific Affiliation
VOL 3 NUMBER 4                 4 September 1961




HOUGHTON CONVENTION REPORT

The 16th annual convention at Houghton College., Houghton, N.Y., is now history and as usual, only one in every ten ASA members was
able to attend. While the Journal will eventually bring the content of the papers and discussions, the burden of NEWS is to bring immediately, a brief report spiced with notes that would never make the Journal, like subtle references to Norvell Peterson's magenta rompers on the field trip, or the thrill of riding in Willard Smith's  red jeep, or the fascination in watching three flies in persistent orbit about Frank Cassel's head during a profound discussion. Let the Journal have the solid bricks of data, statistics and philosophical conclusions; NEWS will help hold them all together (or apart?) with the mortar of Christian fellowship and friendly banter.

HOUGHTON HOSTS

No convention hosts have ever been more thoughtful than our Houghton friends. It was plain to see that Dr Robert Luckey, Director of Public Relations of the College and General Chairman of the convention was THE MAN IN CHARGE. He and his corps of ubiquitous helpers were always ready to throw a kaffee klatsch, mind the children, or lift a convention feet It is even suspected that the rain was Bob Luckey's doing just to concentrate attention on the program, rather than the beautiful countryside of Western N. Y. state.

EXPLODING POPULATIONS

This was certainly a different ASA convention. With the exception of two papers everything as on a single theme, the exploding population of the world. This impending problem is another child of scientific advance as infant mortality has been reduced and life expectancy increased. Under such conditions., even a constant birth rate poses problems. Controlling family size seems to be one way out.

Several authorities outside of the ASA were brought in to brief us on the extent of the problem and what is being done about it. Mr W Parker Mauldin,) Associate Demographic Director of The Population Council of NY. analyzed population trends. He places this population problem alongside nuclear power as the two greatest problems confronting mankind. Dr Adrian C Kanaar of the University of Buffalo School of Medicine discussed the. various methods of birth control and their relative dependability. Dr Richard Fagley of the Commission on International Affairs of the World Council of Churches discussed the Christian's response to the population explosion. The author of a book on this subject, Dr. Fagley outlined his view of the emerging Protestant consensus:

1. The keystone of the marriage relationship is the "one-flesh union" of Genesis and Ephesians. As God is the Author of the relationship, marriage is lifted into the realm of the spirit. Parenthood thus becomes a free ethical decision.

2. There is an essential goodness in sex and marriage, Abuse does not change the fact that these are good gifts of God.

3. Responsible parenthood demands family planning to take into account factors of health, social effects, etc. ("Subdue the earth doesn't mean to overfill it.")

4. In the means of birth control no hierarchy is recognized. If the manner rather than the purpose and intent is emphasized, it degenerates into materialism.

HOME TALENT

The wealth of impressive factual information brought by the outside spoakers was supplemented by papers by Dr, Marlin Kreider (Physiological Changes, With Population Increases), Dr Kenton K.  Brubaker (The Balance of Food and Population), Dr Brian P Sutherland, Dr. Walter Butcher and Dr Wallace E. Ogg (Dr Hearn read the Butcher-Ogg paper).

As the general theme emphasized the Christian's responsibility, the excellent paper,, "Ethics and Birth Control," presented by Dr. Robert D. Knudsen of Westminister Theological Seminary, set the tone of subsequent discussions. 
Dr. Knudsen analyzed the scriptural basis of the marriage relationship and pointed out that the earthly union is analagous to the believer's union with Christ. The essential union of one man and one woman should be the motivation of sensual desire; regulation of the sexual urge to a peripheral area of life is dangerous stated Dr. Knudsen. Conclusions: marriage has other functions than procreation and while the Bible offers no direct guidance in the matter of birth control there is strong scriptural inference in its favor.

SMALLEY ADDRESS 

Another highlight was the evening address by Dr William A Smalley of the American Bible Society. In a sense it
was a home coming for Smalley as he had spent four undergraduate years at
Houghton College. In a frank., off-the-shoulder style Dr. Smalley voiced some stern warnings concerning the Christian witness. The amount of energy going into modern evangelism is fantastic but the impact of the gospel is, by and large, very small because of-ineffectual communication. Further, the message is greatly distorted, not so much in orthodoxy, but in expressing the gospel in western terms. ''The indigenous church must truly be in the very life of the culture before it can be effective. Every culture, every church needs a prophet to speak the voice of God to that generation - this is the only way to fulfill Christ's command."

DISCUSSION GROUPS

At several critical points during the convention the larger group was broken down into four smaller groups for intensive discussion. The groups were organized as follows:

I Walter R Hearn       Irving A. Cowperthwaite

II. Frank Cassel       Glen Miller

III. Norvell Peterson  Brian Sutherland

IV. John A, McIntyre   George Fielding


This really loosened things up and resulted in everyone participating, On Thursday afternoon the reporters summarized the conclusions of their respective groups as to what action if any Christian's should take in the light of the population explosion. Summary of the summaries by Henry Weaver:

l. A problem of exploding population really exists.

2. There is also a definite problem of resources (although considerable uncertainty in degree).

3. Our Christian duty is to develop a biblical position of responsible parenthood.

4. We should take specific action in

Publication of special issue of Journal giving comprehensive treatment of the subjects

Contribute articles on responsible Christian parenthood to popular Christian press.

Participate in education at grass-roots level.

Work with foreign students.

PRESIDENTIAL UNBURDENING

ASA president Dr
J Frank Cassel was the after-dinner speaker at the banquet Wednesday evening. He urged us to stop apologizing for our Christian presuppositions. It is the method of science to start with some presuppositions and we should be objective by recognizing what our frame of reference is* He urged all ASA members toward more scholarly productivity and to challenge our scientific colleagues with a living demonstration of faith in God.

THE DOWN HILL SIDE

The Friday morning "tail-end-Charlie" session usually fares badly with respect to attendance. Not so this year. Dr, Irving A Cowperthwaite gave a concise and interesting resume of the history of ASA on its 2Oth anniversary. It was a lovely sight, the ancient fossils of the ASA sitting together in "paleontology row", nodding gray heads approvingly at Irving's slick phraseology and even slicker Boston inflection. Everyone hopes the future of the ASA will be as rosy as the past was made to appear,

A paper on a possible mechanism of Noah's flood was presented by A. James Wagner, a graduate student in meteorology at MIT and a new ASA member. Several new elements have been injected in flood discussions by Wagner, one of which is his interest in maintaining logical rigor in his theorizing. While he is firming up some of the soft spots in his theory others might like to exchange ideas with him. His address is
15
Langdon Street, Cambridge 38, MA

Congratulations to Henry Weaver, Program Chairman., and to his committee: David F Busby., Alfred C. Eckert, Jr., G. Douglas Young, Charles Hummel, and Robert B. Fischer.

WHAT I MISSED AT HOUGHTON

Old faces like Joe Maxwell, Ed Monsma, Martin Karsten, William Tinkle, Philip Marquart and some 800 others.


Arguements on evolution.


No geologists there.


Missed the rest of Walt Hearn's red board, Too civilized now; out of keeping.


Missed a daylight view of roommate Elving Anderson. What does the Executive Council do at such long meeetings?)


COUNCIL MEMBERS

The nominating committee (Wilbur L. Bullock, Chairman, George Fielding, John Sinclair) reported their selection as nominees for the spot on the Council to be vacated by Wilbur Bullock at the end of 1961. Both nominees have declined. The committee will make their report to the Executive Council at an early date.

PETERSON ACTIVE, IN PSYCHOLOGY

Dr. Norvell L. Peterson has been invited to speak at the fall conference Q October 61) of the American Academy of General Practice on the subject of how the general practitioner can be of help in domestic problems through counseling or group therapy. Mrs Peterson, a psychiatric nurse, therapist and a member of American Society of Group Psychotherapy and Psychodrama, has been actively associated with him in this work. Last year Dr Peterson spoke at the annual meeting of the Maine Chapter of the AGPA. He is a pioneer in the techniques of group psychotherapy in which about
5 couples met together once per week for 1.5 hours. By hearing others talk out their problems, the husband and wife are helped in finding a common frame of reference. Remarkable success has been reported for the method.

SUTHERLAND FROM NORTHERLAND

The annual convention presents opportunity to dispel the mysterious shadows hovering over some of our prominent members such as'Dr Brian P Sutherland, Administrative Assistant in the Consolidated Mining & Smalling Company. On the surface, title and all seem to be the same as when he was in Trail, BC, but one must remember that Montreal, his present location, is the financial, policy and sales headquarters of the company as well as the roosting place of the President and Executive VP to whom he personally metes out technical advice. Brian's 30 years of company experience is too valuable to be far away from the nerve center, It would seem to innocent bystanders that there may be a trace of grooming going on, too. With the tremendous overproduction of Pb and Zn, one of his chief headaches, Dr. Sutherland had understandable difficulty getting into the feel of the convention topic of world shortages. Incidentally, Mrs Sutherland, their daughter Ann, and her friend very materially raised the charm level of the convention.

LOS ANGELES SECTION GAINS NEW MEMBERS

The westward migration is bringing some now blood to the Los Angeles areas. Dr. J Lawrence Johnston, formerly Associate Professor of Physics at the University of Minnesota has recently taken a position with Aerospace Corporation in Los Angeles. He will be deeply involved in plasma research (the atomic kind, not blood),

Thomas H. Leith, formerly of Gordon College has moved to 23906 Bessimer Street, Woodland Hills, California. He is serving as a technical consultant to an investment firm.

BRIMSTONE BARNES BUSY

A recent visit with the editor served to clarify some of the mysteries surrounding Dr. Marion D. Barnes who recently left Monsanto to become Director of Industrial Research of the newly organized Sulphur Institute of Washington D. C. This activity is sponsored by the sulphur industry of the world and Marion is engaged in fundamental, exploratory and applied research on a worldwide scale. He supervises projects at Heidelberg University, University of Munich, Batelle Institute in Frankfort, Laboratory of Ponts and Chaussees in Paris, University of Dublin., Road Research Laboratory in Houndsworth., England, McGill University in Montreal Princeton University, Southwest Research Institute of San Antonio, Stanford Research Institute., Grace Chemical Company, Monsanto Chemical and the Highway Department of Edmonton, Alberta, He makes about two European trips per year and will soon be going to the Far East to start work in the underdeveloped countries of the world. The main idea is to increase the use of the copious quantities of sulphur available even to such extent as developing a sulphur "concrete" for use of the moon!

DILWORTH TO PRINCETON

Dr Robert P Dilworth, Professor of Mathematics at California Institute of Technology, will spend the 1961-62 year at Princeton University. He will be associated with the Institute For Defense Analyses, Communications Division an organization set up for general research for the Department of Defense. He will then spend the summer of 1962 in England before returning to Caltech.

LATEST ON VOLCANOES

Dr Wayne U. Ault is with the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory of the USGS. While prognostication has never been a strong point with vulcanologists, Wayne cautiously offers the following in a recent letter:

We had another little eruption herb 10-17 July and the way Kilauea is still swelling up we'll have some more-Probably before too long. The tumesence of Kiluaea is greater now than before this last small event which damped 11 million cu. yards of lava into Halemaumau and left the bottom covered with a pond about 104 acres on the surface and 200 ft.. deep in the center ... Another eruption in the Halemaumau pit isn't likely to last too long because of the fluid lava in it already...a flank, (rift/zone) eruption is more likely to last-longer.

AUSTIN COLLEGE LOOKINIG FOR BIOCHEMIST

Because of an untimely death, Austin College needs a teacher of biochemistry and organic chemistry for the academic year 1961-62. Candidates should have some teaching experience and the PhDs although those with less academic preparation may be considered for an interim appointment. Depending upon qualifications., the position would be fcr Assistant or Associate Professor rank (salary range $4,500 - $8,000 ).

Austin College is located in Shermany Texas, sixty-five miles north of Dallas and is affiliated with the Presbyterian Church, USA. It is a four-year liberal arts college with a student body of about 700. Address inquiries to Leo Lo Nussbaum, Dean of the College. We are sorry that this information arrived too late for the last issue.

DEVELOPMENTAL ANATOMISTS NEEDED

President Cassel announces that there is an opening in the Zoology Department of North Dakota State University for a Ph.D. interested in both teaching and research for the fall of 1962. Subjects to be taught (but not all in the same quarter) are Vertebrate Zoology, Comparative Anatomy., Embryology, Histology and Micro technique. Some opportunity will be given to develop work along the lines of the special interests of the now person. The rank of Assistant Professor is contemplated with salary competitive. The appointment would be for nine months with some support available for summer work, Correspondence from interested scholars will be welcomed.

ASA AUTHORS

Dr. Richard A. Hendry, Assistant Professor of Chemistry at Westminister College, New 6jilminEton, Penna., is co-author of a paper based on his year of post-doctoral research at the University of Illinois.

Dr Donald S, Robertson, Associate Professor of Genetics at Iowa State University, Ames, is author of "Linkage Studies of Mutants in Maize with Pigment Deficiencies in Undosperm and Seedling," Genetics 46, 649 (June, 1961)

HOWARD TO MIAMI

Leland L. Howard, business manager of the World Radio Missionary Fellowship Radio Station HCJB ("The Voice of the Andes") has recently moved to 227 NW. 119th Street, Miami 50. The North American headquarters office has been moved to Miami better to serve the mission. Incidentally, Mr. Howard was recently ordained into the Christian ministry by the Evangelical Free Church of America.

FILM REVIEW COMMITTEE MEETS

Dr Robert P Dilworth is the permanent chairman of the ASA Film Review Committee with the freedom to select members to serve with him who can best meet the need of the current assignment. Dr. Dilworth asked Dr. Kenneth Allen of the Zoology Department., UCLA, and Dr, Martin Hoover of the Physics Department, USC, to help in re
viewing the latest Moody Institute of Science Film., "The Professor and the Prophets." This film features Prof. Peter Stoner in applying probability theory to the fulfilled prophecies concerning Jerusalem, Babylon, Tyre and Petra. The film will be available at 80 Christian film rental outlets across the US after September 15, 1961.

L.A. SECTION HOLDS ELECTION

According to the new By-Laws recently adopted by the Los Angeles Section of the ASA (reproduced in Vol
3, No. 1 of the NEWS, 8
Feb. 61) an Executive Board of eight members was voted in August 15th.

Two-Year Term

Paul 0, Davis, PhD, Dean., Los Angeles Pacific College, Professor of Psychology


Robert C Frost, PhD, Chairman of
the Division of
Natural Sciences., Westmont College.

Robert R. Sanders, MS, Life Science Instructors Valley Junior College,

David F. Siemens, Moody Institute of Science


One-Year Term

John L Abernethy, PhD, Department of Chemistry, Westmont Men's College

George H Blount, MS, Assistant Professor of Pbysics, Westmont College

Kermit Ratzlaff, MA, Research in
Physiology UCLA
Medical Center

Oliver G Titrud, MS Assoc. Professor of Biology, Los Angeles Pacific College.

WEISS TO BECOME OAKIE

Dr. A. Kurt, Weiss, recently of the Department of Physiology, University of Miami, accepted a position as Professor and Head of the Department of Biology, Oklahoma City University, 2501 North Blackwelder Avenue, Oklahoma City, OK. Congratulations on
the boost upstairs.

PLEA FOR HELP FROM ISOTOPES INC.

A very nice letter from Dr. Donald R. Carr of Isotopes, Incorporated, states the need. clearly we need a number of technically competent people for work at Isotopes, Inc. and our subsidiary, Transnuclear Corporation. Several of those people would be employed in what might be called sales engineering. I am well aware Of the opinion that most people have of sales. There seems to be a widespread belief that principles of honesty and integrity have to be compromised to be successful at Sales Isotopes, Inc. as a company, and of course I person
ally, reject this view. Therefore, we will insist that those that represent us
share our views. I believe that my worry on this point would be eliminated or at least greatly reduced if the people we employed were members Of the ASA and subscribed to the standards of our organization...We need:

(1)A person to organize and head up an applications engineering group. This group would concern itself with the application of nuclear instrumentation and techniques to medical,, industrial and environmental problems, etc.

(2) A person to organize and head up a product sales group. This group would be concerned with the sale of products of Isotopes., Inc, and Transnuclear Corp. including instruments and equipment for the detection and measurement of radioactivity,.

(3) A person to handle advertising, public relations and more particularly technical writing.

Anyone interested in these positions should communicate with Dr, Carr at Isotopes, Inc., 123 Woodland Avenue., New Jersey,

HARRISON ACTIVE IN ATENNAS

Dr Charles W. Harrison Jr. of the AEC Sandia Laboratory, Albuquerque, Now Mexico, is author or co-author of eight papers which have recently appeared in the Journal of Research of the National Bureau of Standards (Section D. Radio Propagation), or the Transactions of the Institute of Radio Engineers on Antennas and Propagation. 

Dr Harrison is currently working on an AEC-sponsored book., "Topics in Electromagnetic Radiation." Co-Author is Dr. Ronald U.P. King, Professor of Physics at Harvard University. Publications form an important part of the professional development of each ASA member and provide a foundation of positive contributions upon which an effective testimony may be based, Thanks to Dr. Harrison for leading the way.

CALL FOR CONVENTION PHOTOS

It is the desire of the Historical Committee of the ASA to maintain a complete pictorial history of ASA activities in addition to its other functions. Members are asked to offer prints or transparencies they have taken at national conventions, local section meetings, or other ASA conclaves. The negatives would be greatly appreciated so that quality prints could be made. If you have pictures of this kind which you would be willing to donate) please send them ine If you have such pictures but are reluctant to part with the negatives or original transparencies., state your case to Dr Irving A. Cowperwaite, 10 Willoughby Road., Milton 87, Mass.

ASA-ETS MEETING

The Fourth Biennial Joint Meeting of the Evangelical Theological Society and the ASA was hold at Goshen College, Goshen, Indiana, June 14-16., 1961. The theme was "The Future of Theology and Science," Dr Vernon C, Grounds., President of Denver Conservative Baptist Theological Seminary spoke on, "The Necessity For the Forward Look in Theology" and Dr. Robert Fischer,, Analytic Chemist, University of Indiana spoke on "The Necessity For the Forward Look in Science." Present trends in science and theology were examined by Dr John Huizenga, Argonne National Laboratory, and Dr, George A Turner of Asbury Theological Seminary. At a public meeting on the topic, "The Future of Human Relations." Dr Henry D Weaver, Jr. VP of ASA was chairman and Dr. William 0. Hoaglund, Dentist) and Dr David 0. Moberg, sociologist, read enlightening and stimulating papers.

"The Relevance of Scientific Thought to Scriptural Interpretation" was presented by Dr G Douglas Young of Trinity Seminary; "The Relevance of Scriptural Interpretation to Scientific Thought" by Dr. James A. Bales, Christian Evidences., Harding College.. Arkansas. Dr, Edwin Y. Monsma, Organic Science Of Calvin College and Dr, John C. Whitcomb of Grace Seminary formed the critique panel for this subject, Dr. Allan A. MacRae of Faith Seminary and Dr. Harold M. Spinka, Dermatologist, of Chicago were also involved in panel discussions.

Dr J Frank Cassel, ASA President, chaired a session on "Science Looks Into the Future," Wallace Erickson, Manufacturing Chemist., covered the physical sciences, Dr. Paul Peachey -the social sciences and Dr Ralph Lowell the biological sciences. Another colloquium on secular and Christian education was led by Dr, 1~foodrow Goodman, President of Marion College. Dr. John S. Hyde, a practicing physician of Oak Park., Illinois, closed the conference on a high devotional plane with his inspired "Admonitions of an MOD."

INDIANA SECTION MEETS

The Indiana Section of the ASA met on the morning of June 14th, just before the opening of the ASA-ETS meeting at 1:30 p.m. The Chairman, Dr. William J Tinkle, opened the session. After devotions by Dr, Anderson, President of Northern Baptist Seminary and a welcome by C.F. Bishop., Thomas Key reviewed the book., "Implications of Evolution." a 1960 book by the English biologist G. A. Kerkut, alleging on scientific grounds that evolution is not proved. After a discussion the meeting was adjourned and members attended the joint meeting.

PUBLICITY

General Secretary Dr He Harold Hartzler is asking that all ASA members be on the alert for anything in print dealing (favorably or unfavorably) with the ASA. Phase send clippings, reviews, etc. to Dr. Hartzler at 414 South Broad Street, Mankato, Minnesota,

EDITORIAL BOARD - PUBLICATIONS BOARD

There may be some confusion between the Editorial and Publications Boards, These two arc distinct groups with distinct responsibilities,

The Editorial Board (Chairman, Dr John A. McIntyre) has one responsibility; ASA Journal policy. The Publications Board (Chairman, Dr. Russell Mixter) has cognizance of everything else the ASA publishes, including this humble rag. Both are vital, functioning bodies whose work will largely shape the public image of the ASA,

EDUCATIONAL TV

A Christian educational television program is looking for a physics teacher to develop a physics course for television presentation. The context of the course, the cost of the project, and the time selected to film the program would be determined by the physics teacher. For example, the work could be arranged to be done. during-the summer academic vacation, Anyone interested in investigating further, please write to Professor John A. McIntyre., Sloane Physics Laboratory., Yale University, Now Haven, Conn.
OPPORTUNITY FOR PHYSICS GRADS

Physics professors with students interested in graduate work may like to know that John McIntyre, one of our ASA mombers, is directing nuclear physics Ph.D. dissertations at Yale University, Professor McIntyre would be happy to send information about the Yale Physics Department to anyone who writes to him at the Sloane Physics Laboratory., Yale University. All graduate physics students at Yale are supported completely by the University.

At present, six graduate students are working with Professor McIntyre. One student is from International Christian University in Tokyo, one has a BD from the Yale Divinity School and is from Carleton College, one is from Allahabad University., India, one from King's College, London, one from Oberlin College and one from Duke University. The research of this group is carried out with the $2 million Heavy Ion Accelerator.

Incidentally, the June issue of HIS magazine carries an article by John McIntyre, "A Physicist Bolieves.11 This is a description of the author's own experience of discovering that a scientific training is an asset in first believing the Christian Gospel.

MIXTER SPEAKS

Ft. Wayne Bible College of Indiana has invited Russell L. Mixter, Professor of Zoology of Wheaton College to lecture on "Creation and Evolution" on October 14th. He also speaks to the Rotary Club the following noon.

STILL LEFT ON THE SCRATCHPAD

In keeping with the topic of population explosion., Henry Weaver recently became the father of twins.

Many of our ASA members know and admire Dr Kenneth Pike and his work with the Summer Institute of Linguistics, Wycliff Bible Translators and University of Michigan. Dr. Pike was recently elected as President of the Linguistic Society of America.

Marie Fetzer (Mrs W D Reyburn) and husband are missionaries in Cameroons.

The September 1961 issue of the Washington Bulletin published by that section of the Institute of Radio Engineers carried a full page tribute to ASA member Dr. Robert M. Page for his pioneering radar experiments as early as 1934, Dr, Page holds 40 patents, most of them in the radar fields

Dean Walters, George Fielding and Glen Kirkland are busy mapping the fall meeting of the Washington DC section. Both George and Glen made the Houghton Convention,

This fall John He Stoll will become the Dean of the Calvary Bible School of Kansas City. His now address is: Box 8426, Kansas City 14, MO.

The Scholastic Honor Society of Wheaton College has selected Dr Donald C. Boardman as president for the coming years,

William As Smalley states that next year he will be
in Thailand

1,Jayno F, Frair is engaged
in what sounds like very interesting research work in connection with his graduate studies at Rutgers. He is making eloctrophorotic comparisons of the sera of reptiles and amphibia.

L962 CONVENTION

Start making plans now for combining your next year's vacation and the 41St annual convention which will be held at Bethel Colleges St. Paul, the week of August 20-25, 1962, The Psychology Commission promises the best conference ever hold by the ASA* Present thinking is not only to tell you what the psychologist and psychiatrist does., but to show how he can help you with child raising, bringing up parents, and marriage and family problems. Topics., papers and speakers and any and all suggestions are welcome. Send to Dr. Paul C. Davis, 625 Coleman Avenue, Los Angeles 420 California.

To impress ASA families with the rich vacation possibilities of Minnesota, the publicity committee is seriously considering adopting as the convention slogan for 1962:

"Manga sjoar ock mycken fisk!" (Many lakes and much fish.)

ASA CENTRAL OFFICE:

Dr  H  Harold Hartzler,
Executive Secretary
414 South Broad Street Mankato, Minnesota

ASA NEWS EDITOR

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