Page 11 - 1946 VES Meteor

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numberless Eskimo villages Md camps thot comprise the extensive parish of this Arctic missionory. To this six- footer no obstacle is too great to overcome in bringing spiritual assist- linea and succor to the native people.
In the few summer months when it is daylight around the clock, weother permitting a n d "bush" plones being available, Mr. Gordon visits as many of his people as he can before the long, dark winter closes in and all flying in that region ceoses. For the remainder of the year he depends upon his dog team Md sled to carry him on his circuit in the months of constant storm and b!iz- zerd.
In February, 1945, when he was moking a trip by sled with an Eskimo helper to Point Lay, o native settle- ment 200 miles north of Point Hope, the temperature was 30 below and a strong wind from t h e north wos blowing in their foces. For two days of the six thot it took to reoch Point Loy a n d its eighty-five inhabitants
the wind and temperature remained unchanged. On the third day the wind stopped, but the temperature skidded down t o 50 below. "Some- how," he reports, "it seemed wermer.''
In two months he has been known to travel 800 miles over the Arctic tableland of ice and snow. As is often the case, upon reoching some of the smaller villages ond camps, he finds that the people have moved to some more advantageous spot for shelter and for the hunting and fishing by
house, o simple two-story green frame structure with white shutters, railings, and eaves, is a landmark that can be seen for miles. And after a long and peri1ous journey, when its slanting roofs first appear above the horizon, it brings promise of a joyful reunion, a warm home-cooked meal, temporary respite from the rigors of the Arctic, and a feeling of thankful- ness to this Arctic missionary that he is home once again ond with his loved ones.
THE WAR
Balance Sheet
Most businesses publish their bal- ance sheets at the beginning of each new year. On the walls of the V. E. S. chapel there are three large, gray plaques, lettered in black and gold and bearing a conste'lation of gold stars. These are a kind of balance sheet, the V. E. S. balance sheet of war. They are not the final. certified public accountant balance sheet-it is too soon after V-J Day for this- but they are sufficiently complete to strike off a profit and loss statement.
On the credit side of such a statement would appear the names of approximately 450 alumni who either have come back or will come back. On the debit side are 28
names beside each of which is a neat gold star. In the business of war this is not an unfavorable statement. The loss amounts to about 6%. Air raids over Germany and Japan were not considered too cosfy if that percentage of planes and men failed
to return. But it would be hard to convince the families and friends of these young men that the price was cheap. It will be hard to convince anyone who sees those gold stars glinting in the V. E. S. chapel.
The present student body sees the honor rolls every time a chapel service is held. Some of the wor- shippers have served in the war, some will be cal'ed to assist in winding up the tangled affairs of that mur- derous business. All can dedicate themselves to the task of seeing that War may never set up business again at the old stand, that the 1945 bal- ance sheet shall be the last.
THE DEAD
Arthur Barlow, '25 Preston Bellamy, 40
W illiam B. Blanchard, '42 Arnold Breckenridge, '33 Elmer I. Carruthers, '20 Churchill Chalkley , '35 Banks C. Clarke, '40
Don F. Cox, '37
James G. Coxetter, '32 Richard P. Dillon, '41 Peyton Fravel. '40 Walter 0. Gibson, '43 Walter T. Green, '38 lzaac H. Hanff, '36 George P. Hutton, '37
James Jarrett, '30
Isham Keith, '25
Benjamin Kearfott, '38 Malcolm M. Lasher, '31
Wil 'iam D. Langhorne, '39
Jack McManus, '41 Brooks Miller, '39
Matt W. Ransom, '40 James R. Shaw, '38 Cleson H. Tenny, Jr., '38 Russell M. Thurmond, '22 Jack W. Weston, '40 Frederick B. Webster, '35
"May their gold stars never tarnish"
SOUTHERN CAB COMP ANY
PHONE
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805 Main Street D. L. RIANHARD, Agent
ART BARBER SHOP
Under Hotel Carroll
V. E. S. WELCOME P..tronize Those Who Patronize You
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Incorporated Prescription Work Our Specialty
which the Eskimo lives. The prospect of on added journey would dis- hearten men of less courage and con- viction but not so this man of God in fulfilling his mission of bringing Chris- tianity to the Eskimos.
He provides for his Eskimo parish- ioners t h e Communion Service, prayer meetings, baptisms, marriages end funeral services. In the larger villages there is usually the govern- ment school building in which these services can be held. In the sma!ler settlements sometimes a native house built of tundra brid: and whale bone, a tent, or even the open tundra it- self serves as a ploce of worship.
During the time that Mr. Gordon is making his many trips to the Eski- mo villages of his extensive Arctic parish, Mrs. Gordon and Penny re- main at the Mission residence. The
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Ma in St r e e t Phone 1143 LYNCHBURG, VIRGINIA