Jesus Presses Are Rolling

In its heyday the Oracle, an arty psychedelic monthly spawned in Haight-Ashbury, was one of the better-known underground newspapers and had an international circulation of 100,000. Its pages featured sex, drugs, anarchy, Eastern religion—and eye-poppingly explicit photos. The changing scene brought hard times more than a year ago. This month the Oracle resumes publication—to headline the message of Jesus.

The big switch was set up last fall when editor-publisher David Abraham received Christ on Haight Street in San Francisco. He transferred all rights to the Jesus people who live at Harvest House, a Christian commune in Haight-Ashbury headed by Golden Gate Baptist Seminary graduate Oliver Heath.

Chris D’Alessandro, a former junkie and heroin dealer who led Abraham to Christ, is the new editor. He says the converted Oracle will have an initial press run of 20,000.

“The Oracle has always been dedicated to a search for truth,” said Abraham. Now, he affirmed, it will proclaim the truth.

The Oracle is the latest addition to dozens of underground-type newspapers published by street Christians in the United States and Canada.They include: Hawaii Free Paper, Box 8141, Waikiki Beach, Hawaii 96815; Hollywood Free Press, Box 1891, Hollywood, Ca. 90028; Maranatha Free Press, P.O. Box 40, Station A, Vancouver, B.C.; Right On, Box 4309, Berkeley, Ca. 94704; Truth, P.O. Box 3455, Spokane, Wash. 99220. Most are monthlies. Several exceed the 90,000-circulation mark of the Los Angeles Free Press, largest of the hundreds of secular underground papers.

Right On, put out by the Christian World Liberation Front of Berkeley, was the first big Jesus paper, appearing on Telegraph Avenue July 1, 1969. It grew from 20,000 at the outset to more than 100,000 during special campus events and the area’s huge peace marches, and now has a print order of 65,000. It beams its editorials, testimonies, and cartoons primarily to the radical left and those in the drug and occult scenes. Judson Press has just released The Street People, a collection of material from Right On.

In November, 1969, show-business entertainer Duane Pederson launched the Hollywood Free Paper, whose 150,000 circulation makes it the largest underground newspaper in America. Pederson is aiming for one million. The Free Paper is already being reprinted in six large cities.

Financing is the biggest headache for the Jesus publishers. All depend on donations. Pederson stages Christian rock festivals to help raise money. A Christian printer in Los Angeles gives him and Right On discount rates. And a Christian typesetter helps out the 10,000-circulation Maranatha Free Press of Vancouver, British Columbia. In Spokane, Carl Parks (see January 29 issue, page 34) lets his street-Christian vendors keep 10 per cent of donations people offer for copies of Truth, and nets about $2,000 to publish the next issue (100,000 copies currently).

Truth is probably the noisiest and best-illustrated Jesus paper. It features many testimonies, letters, and news of the spread of the Jesus movement elsewhere. It is read by subscribers in thirty-six states and several foreign countries. A high schooler in Philadelphia orders 100 copies to distribute to school mates. Last month they saw on the back page a large photo of the patched and broken face of Truth staffer Rush Greenslade. The caption described how another youth, angry at mention of God’s love, viciously beat him.

Virtually all the staffers of the Jesus papers have little or no newspaper background. But lack of experience is apparently offset by dedication, compassion, and an intimate knowledge of the scene to which they communicate.

Some editors report that letters arrive from people in other states who have prayed to receive Christ after reading Jesus papers.

Right On featured the testimony of Michael Selby, who turned from Krishna Consciousness to Christ. Howard Rose, another Krishna follower and a friend of Selby, picked up a copy of that issue, and he too accepted Christ.

Jesus News Service International was recently organized in Berkeley to link the papers together.

One leader in the Jesus movement has some reservations about the papers, though. Most seem to be little more than gospel tracts in disguise, he complains. He thinks more news and features ought to appear with the Gospel, with such how-to pieces as how to handle a friend who is on a bad drug trip or how to hitchhike safely.

At least one editor says he’s ready to do just that but needs more talented staff and money. EDWARD E. PLOWMAN

Catholics And Evangelicals: One In The Spirit

One of Canada’s best-known Catholic shrines, St. Joseph’s Oratory in Montreal, was the site last month of a five-day “Mass Rally for Christ” that was the ultimate in ecumenical abandonment. An otherwise unlikely assortment of Protestants and Catholics were drawn together mainly by their common tie to the charismatic (Pentecostal) experience.

Despite Montreal’s worst blizzard in history, more than 1,000 persons gathered at the shrine on opening night. Following an address by an Oblate priest from Rome, the Reverend Valerien Gaudet, Pentecostal minister David DuPlessis stood before the thirty-foot crucifix and gave an invitation to receive Christ or the “baptism of the Spirit.” Dozens responded.

Reformed Church evangelist Eugene Boyer of France preached at the second night’s service, held at Alexis Nihon Plaza, Montreal’s largest indoor shopping mart. Some fundamentalists, ired at Roman Catholic participation, entered the plaza and voiced their objections while participants were giving testimonies.

Rally organizers hired the 20,000-seat Forum, Montreal’s ice-hockey arena, for the closing meetings, but the largest crowd numbered only 4,000. More than half appeared to be under 25 years old.

A major part of day-time witnessing in both French and English centered at the plaza. There were short services of testimony and preaching. Moody Institute of Science films and Billy Graham evangelistic movies were shown daily in two portable theaters. More than 150 personal workers circulated among the throngs of shoppers. Hundreds, mostly Catholics, reportedly received Christ.

Co-chairmen for the event were charismatics John Paul Regimbal, a Roman Catholic priest, and Keith Dickerson, an Anglican minister. Other speakers included Spanish Dominican priest Roman Carter, and Dr. Donald Leidman, converted Jewish psychiatrist from California.

Non-charismatic Brethren leader Keith Price, head of the Christian Direction organization, cooperated at the outset. But midway through the crusade he wrote sponsors that he was backing out from “that part of the program … which I consider to be unscriptural.” He cited DuPlessis’ emphasis on Spirit-baptism, his public endorsement of the ecumenical movement, and a celebration of mass in a counseling room. Price added, however, in a note to Regimbal, “I rejoice with you, dear brother, in the many aspects of the whole rally which magnify and extol my Saviour.”

Catholic Archbishop Paul Gregoire of Montreal passed along word that his church was not officially involved, but said the faithful should feel free to attend if they wished. (Eleven large Catholic parishes in Montreal have sprouted Pentecostal cells in the past year.)

LESLIE K. TARR

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