Religion: Tractors for China

The 185,000-member Church of the Brethren (Conservative Dunkers) strives simply and literally to practice the Christianity that it preaches: 1) the brother hood of man; 2) peace with all men-3) the Good Life (“the spirit of Christ is in the soul”).

During the war, most of the younger Brethren went into public service camps as conscientious objectors. Oldsters raised heifers for nations whose herds had been scourged by war (TIME, July 24, 1944), to date have sent 2,300 to seven countries’ Now the Brethren have another project under way to cement the brotherhood of man.

Last week, under Brethren sponsorship 17 men of various religious beliefs and ranging in age from 18 to 56, began training for work in China. Purpose: to teach Chinese how to operate and repair tractors in the newly reclaimed Yellow River Valley. Later, 33 more, also trained at U.S. tractor factories (Ford, Harry Ferguson, Inc., International Harvester) will be sent to China. Candidates sign up for a minimum of 18 months. Pay: board room and $25 a month ($15 from the Chinese Government, which is cooperating in the plan through UNRRA; $10 from the Brethren, who put it in a “provident fund” for them in the U.S.).

Bedbugs & Clothespins. Recruits all read a Brethren Service Committee bulletin before signing up. Excerpts : “Are you annoyed by flies . . . bedbugs . . . human pests? There is an abundance of all these including your immediate supervisors and your fellow tractor operators. … Do you worship the flush toilet? If you do, you better pay your final respects. . . ! And if you can’t stand smells, you will be-wearing a clothespin on your nose from the day you land in China. It stinks, but so do you to the Chinese. . . .”

Despite this kind of buildup, 31 men have already been recruited. Said Stephen Blickenstaff, BSC-UNRRA liaison officer: “Most of the recruits just heard about it. We don’t know how. The idea of doing something to help reconstruct a world that’s been torn to pieces seems to be enough inducement.”

Christians & Agnostics. None of the recruits is required to join the Church of the Brethren; in fact, he does not even have to believe in God. (The only real requirement: “an interest in relief work and a desire to help the Chinese farmer.”) Among the 17 recruits were: six Brethren, three Methodists, a Presbyterian, a Roman Catholic, a Quaker and two agnostics.

To the Church of the Brethren, Christianity is of little use unless applied practically. Its heifer and tractor relief projects, the Church believes, demonstrate practical Christianity. Said BSC Executive Secretary Robert Zigler last week: “This is a new way for the layman to express himself; he can do so through his own skill. Ordinarily, churches send missionaries or ministers. This way the layman can serve.”