The Pen of a Writer

White Ribbon, Volume 21, Issue 4, 1 May 1949, Page 6

The Pen of a Writer

By Victoria Grigg, M.A,

In a comparatively unnoticed verse in the Book of Judges, Deborah praises those out of Zebulun who “ handle the pen of a writer," and who came to the help of Israel. It is interesting to ponder the meaning of these words. They often come to my mind when I am thinking of the great and solemn responsibilty of those who “handle the pen of the writer.” It has been said that the “pen is mightier than the sword”; and certainly the power of the written word cannot be over-estimated. To consider just a few examples, let us think of: 1. The Bible. The Bible which 90 often performs its work without the aid of preacher or missionary. It is constantly being translated into new languages. 2. The “ Pilgrim’s Progress,” and Christian Hymns. 3. Books, or pamphlets, written to bring about social reforms, examples being Dr. Rusk’s “Effects of Ardent Spirits on the Human Mind and Body,” Dr. Lyman Beecher’s “ Six Sermons on Intemperance,” Mrs. Beecher Stowe’s “Uncle Tom’s Cabin,” Mrs. Browning’s “Cry of the Children.” 4. The tremendous influence which we have seen in our own time of such books as Karl Marx’s “Das Kapital” and Adolf Hitler’s “Men Kampf.” 5. The so-called comic magazines of some countries, particularly America, and cinema magazines. I could go on ad infinitum, but space will not permit. In a world where mankind did everything to the glory of God, and the kind of state which we believe will exist in the millennium, a writer would consider carefully his w'ords when preparing matter for publication, and think, “Will this work of mine be useful to man? Will it add to knowledge ? Above all, will it help to make the world a better place in which to live? ” In New Zealand, we were indeed fortunate that the best of literature was available to us during the war. This thought was brought home to me by an appeal from the French University Women to University Women thoughout the world, to save French classics, as they were being systematically destroyed by the Nazis. We would indeed lament the loss of the works of so great a French w r riter as Victor Hugo, to mention just one. All the best works, including the classics and technical works, were removtd from Polish libraries, this being part of a truly diabolic scheme. The worst books were left deliberately to poison Polish minds. The word “poison” brings to me the thought,

mothers and fathers like to give their children good wholesome food to eat. They would fee! very indignant if they found that food which they bought as pure and fresh was badly adulterated, or if it contained substances poisonous to the lx>dy. Man) of these mothers are criminally careless in their oversight of the food provided for their children’s minds. Surely those writers who provide poisoned food for the mind are worthy of greater punishment than those who adulterate food for the body. I rarely select novels as library books, but, while choosing a book, I ofien glance through novels just to see what is being written, and I feel truly saddened at the tone of so many novels on our library shelves, and in our book shops. If only each author would think before be writes, “ My words will be read by many people of varying ages. My novel may be dramatized over stage and radio, or a film may even be made of it. Therefore I must not write words which will cause wrong thoughts of sex and violence. I must keep reminding myself of the w'ords of the Apostle Paul, ‘ Whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report, if there be any virtue, and if there lie any praise, think on THESE things.’ ” We know that too many writers today just do not sit down and think such thoughts. Their primary consideration is to earn as much money as possible. According to a nev/s----paper, a very well-known writer recently admitted this. He said that so far, be had written to make money, now he hoped to write what he pleased Yet a great piece of literature, poetry or prose, can be the inspiration of a painter or a sculptor, or a musician, to produce other great works of art. How r much poorer the world would be if it lost all the great works of art in all its forms which have been inspired by the Bible. Some of the greatest of English paintings caine from a group of men such as I). G. Rosetti, Holman Hunt, Millais, who formed the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, and who resolved to use their brushes faithfully and to depict nothing unworthy. I have written of the great inspiration which Cc*n be received from good literature, but what is the reverse side of the picture? It is said that in America tie so-called comic books are the greatest success in the history of book publishing. Their circulation is at least ten million copies monthly. The theme of their words and pictnes is, over and , over again, that of

crime and violence; and these have a really bad effect on the minds of their child readers. American psychologists quote case after case from their clinics of children filled with unhealthy thoughts from these same comic papers. A 13-vear-old boy who murdered his playmate told his lawyer tha f be read all the comic hooks he could get hold of. He was sentenced to a very long period in prison, while tlie wretched w’riters and publishers who poisoned his mind continue to do the same to other children. Perhaps it was of such evil people our Lord was thinking when He said, “Whosoever shall offend against one of these little ones who believe in Me, it were better for him that a millstone were hung about his neck and that he were drowned in the depths of the sea." t I would place the Film Magazine as a good second to the comic magazine in its adverse influence. The glamourising of the lives of so many very ordinary people, who earn their living as film stars, their many marriages and other details of their lives, have a poor effect on their readers. Of course there are good people among film stars, hut the facility with which some step out of marriage certainly makes unsavoury reading, and the tone of the magazines concerning them gives the reader an artificial idea of life. I have barely touched the fringe of my subject, but surely, never has the writer had such a tremendous responsibility as today, with the potential enlargement of his work by film and radio; and the solemn word comes to him or her, “Choose ye this day Whom ye will serve.”