As with radio, so television has come into being at a time when vast, earth-shaking events are occurring in our world. Naturally there are certain valid skepticisms concerning this new medium of communication.
We had to grow into radio. As a result of our development of new techniques, undreamed of accomplishments have taken place through the medium of the radio. Today the Voice of Prophecy has taken its place as one of the world's largest religious programs. We believe it is the world's finest. This conviction is shared by other organizations outside of our ranks.
By a process of education our people have. learned what radio programs are appropriate for Seventh-day Adventists. Their spiritual development has taught them when to turn the dial, and where to draw the line between acceptable and unacceptable programs.
What Is Our Place in Television?
We are now starting this same process all over again with television. As with radio, so television in its infancy is not giving its maxi mum contribution to the upbuilding of our fellow men. Cheap programs, low-level comedy, old motion-picture films, dubious sports, dance orchestras—all contribute to a low-level television schedule. On the other hand, educational programs, current-events transmissions, news coverages, historic meetings, religious programs, and fine musical programs such as con certs and symphonies tend to lift the level in which television can contribute to a commend able degree. The industry itself is striving to lift the level of its transmissions. Again, like radio, television is growing. Again, the spiritual condition of our people will govern the programs to which they will listen and which they will view. What is our place in television? Only time and experience will answer this.
Brethren Tucker, Libby, and Fagal have been pioneering our initial S.D.A. television programs. Others are contemplated. While in Atlanta conducting an evangelistic campaign in 1949 and 1950, I had a bit of experience in using this medium for transmitting the message, and have just completed a special series of telecasts in Baltimore dealing with the sanctuary question. Baltimore is a stronghold of Catholicism and Judaism. The sanctuary subject lent itself well to both elements. The Protestant audience was likewise impressed with the New Testament gospel story as pictured in the Old Testament. Thus all three major elements comprising America's religious life were interested in these telecasts.
TECHNIQUE.—R. L. Libby, director of the Bible Heralds television program, generously cooperated in making this special series possible. We put on the robe of a common priest, set up the model sanctuary, and began a complete series of studies on the gospel lessons in the sanctuary story. Several of the General Conference office family teamed together in these programs. After a general discussion of the whole sanctuary question we then began a systematic study of the various articles of furniture. What a thrilling series it was! There was the altar of burnt offerings. Indeed, it lent itself beautifully for a discussion of the offering of our blessed Lord. And the laver—a symbol of the cleansing of the priest—a beautiful lesson for all.
One night was devoted to an impressive discussion of the seven golden candlesticks. As the seven lights flickered in the background we could appeal effectively for acceptance of the Light of the world! What more impressive de vice could we use to illustrate the illuminating of man's pathway by the Holy Spirit, of which the oil was a symbol?
Then followed a study of the table of shewbread, and the fifth night was devoted to an appraisal of the altar of incense. As the incense rose from the altar and the censor, the televiewers could really sense the efficacy of prayer.
The high light of the series came with an analysis of the holy of holies—God's mercy seat, His mercy and law blending in a perfect plan for man's salvation. Finally the series concluded with an earnest appeal based on the day of atonement—God's great judgment day. Here indeed is the newest and most modern way of proclaiming effectively the glorious, saving third angel's message. No, television is no longer an experiment!
RESULTS.—And what are the results? Statistics showed that the requests for the Bible correspondence course, prayer list, et cetera, far outnumbered a comparable radio program, as much as seven to one. August is usually a "slow" month as far as response is concerned, but during this time the mail surpassed that for any previous month. In thirty telecasts more than 3,500 mail and telephone contacts were made. Fifty per cent of these contacts were for prayer or Bible school enrollments. A high percentage of these are now being given Bible studies. About fifty lay workers are teaming up two and two, going from door to door, assisting the limited number of conference teams, endeavoring to discover the degree of interest.
In addition to this, hundreds of names have been passed on to other district pastors to follow up interests in distant parts of the conference. Like radio, television's results are not immediately apparent, and there are many of the so-called "intangible" results that only heaven can properly evaluate, which according to our norm of reporting go by unnoticed. In a recent university television poll the Bible Heralds received a surprisingly strong commendation.
Firsthand Observations
In conclusion, I should like to present here the observations of the workers in the field, who are actually making these contacts. Let these workers speak for themselves:
Pastor Libby: "On Father's Day I was invited to speak at the Brooklyn Methodist church. As a result of that visit their men's chorus volunteered to sing on our program. Now I am being pressed to return for another speaking engagement. I found many of their members watching our television program, as was the case when I fulfilled a speaking engagement in another Methodist church on the north side of the city.
"We have several definite reports of answered prayer in remarkable ways. One of our workers dropped into a non-Adventist home last Sunday night in the middle of our program. He found the family's attention riveted to the television set, father sitting on the floor, mother on the davenport, and the children beside her. 'Let's not visit till this program is finished,' they begged as they seated their guests."
Pastor V. D. Rees (Baltimore Central church) : "I have found a universal welcome in the homes of the people who watch the Bible Heralds on television. We are greeted in a most friendly spirit in each home visited. Television is the entering wedge for house-to- house work."
Pastor W. H. Barringham (Clifton Park) : "The response of the people to the Bible Heralds' personal workers surpassed my fondest hopes. I believe that 50 per cent of the homes I have visited would gladly take Bible studies in the home."
President C. V. Anderson (Chesapeake Conference) : "To me it is marvelous that people should telephone and write asking for Bible studies in their homes. I have never seen this happen in other evangelistic programs."
Intern Robert Knox: "Hearts' doors have been swept open by the influence of the Bible Heralds. The Bible school enrollees from our contacts have aver aged 75 percent. I believe television has a leading place in God's plan for the culmination of this gospel message."
Intern Carlton Jackson: "It is positively inspiring to find hundreds of people with no prejudice against our faith. A large percentage are ready for Bible studies."
A thrilling experience was reported by Miss Mary Walsh, who assisted in organizing the lay teams and also visited the interested people personally. Here is her story:
"A mother had written in, asking for prayer for a little son, crippled and in great pain. She reported that immediately after the Bible Heralds' prayer period, the pain left the boy and he began to improve. She took him to the doctor who had been treating him. On examination the doctor said, 'What have you been doing to this boy? He is so much better.' She told him it was the prayers of the Bible Heralds. Doctors are writing in for literature. Ministers are taking our Bible courses by mail. Other professional people are in correspondence with us."
I talked with a colporteur Sunday who told me that the Bible Heralds make her contacts and sales so much easier. She reports a large percentage of the homes watching the televi sion program. Other colporteurs who are capi talizing on the Bible Heralds program report similarly. One young colporteur reports that an average of every fourth home he visits is watch ing the Bible Heralds. Miss Lois Lank (Bible instructor) : "Never have I seen people so anxiously searching for truth as are these television contacts. God is surely using television to search out the honest in heart. I arn thrilled with the possibilities of television for Christ."
Miss Lank in three weeks of work in June had arranged for eighteen Bible studies out of thirty-five calls. Some of these dear souls are now studying the Sabbath with her, and are in the crucial testing truths.
Cautions
Television is indeed no longer an experiment. It is a highly developed art. We cannot afford to risk a low-quality program. Proper confer ence guidance and direction should be secured before any television program is launched. The initial financial outlay for television program ing is heavy. The production costs of "props," devices, and so forth, must all be taken into ac count, as well as a reckoning of the time re quired for designing them. Volunteer personnel means crudity in some respects. This requires an arduous program of careful polishing and training.
Music is a very real problem. Not only must the music be above average, but the artists themselves must prove "telegenic." The video as well as the audio must be considered.
The message must be carried to all the world! This judgment-bound world is rushing on apace toward its apocalyptic destiny! God give us self-sacrificing, humble, teachable men to finish this task soon in this amazing twen tieth century.
