CAPT. S. M. SHELTON, USN
Commanding Officer
CDR. E. L. CRANCE, USN
Executive Officer
Published each Monday for all personnel
on Adak by Special Services# Provisions
for NavExos P-35 (Rev# July 58) complied
with. Mimeographed at NavSta Adak. Funds
furnished from non-appropriated sources
at no cost to the government. Articles
contained herein are not to be construed
as representing the official opinion of
the Commanding Officer or the Navy Dep
artment, inasmuch as the Adak Sun is not
an official publication.
EDITORt H. T. DAVIS, YN1 055-J or 365
CrJA?LAjj\ta LOKNE'A
IS THIS YOUR DAY
by Chaplain Francis Fay
"The first of April some do say
Is set apart for All Fools Day.
But why the people call it so
•T Nor I, nor they themselves do know"
(Poor Richard's Almanac)
There has been a lot of progress
since the days of Ben Franklin, but
the reason 1 April is set aside for
All Fools Day is still not definitely
known. Most historians think that the
origin . is connected withthe adoption
of Gregorian Caldnd'ar'. Prior to 1564
when the new calendar was adopted in
France 1 April was' Mew Years Day. The
French, even then a nation which app
reciated a good time, celebrated for
more than a week from March 21 to
April 1. Some of them were so pleased
with the celebration that they refused
to recognize any necessity for change
when the new calendar came into effect
they continued to celebrate their ten
day New Year.
To show their scorn (and, possibly,
envy) more conventional Frenchment re
sorted to ridicule. They called the
revellers - poissons du Avrll. Liter
ally translated it means April fish;
freely translated - April Foo.l.
(Continued next column)
By the time the original poissons
had died off, Frenchmen were in the
habit of ridiculing someone on April
1, so they picked on one another. Such
a delightful custom was bound to
spread. By the 18th century it was
common in the English-speaking countries•
Since it occurred in the saddest
part of Holy Week this year, April
rools' Day was a fizzle. It did not
go unmissed. Even this day with its
folly has a religious lesson and conn
otation.
Biblically the worst thing a person
can be is a fool. It was considered
so terrible that Christ warned anyone
who in earnest called someone a fool
that he was in danger of Hell-fire.
Paul indicated that one of the great
hardships of the early Christians wa^B
that they were considered fools. That
hardship was a blessing, because they
were fools for the sake of Christ.
Psalm 14 identifies the fool as one who
says in his heart, "There is no God."
If thereis anyone on Adak who fails
to pray daily to thank God for His
plenitude of blessings; if there.is one
who does not cherish God's law as the
ideal of his life; if there is anyone
who prefers sleep to the worship of
God, he is saying in effect, "There is
no God." As far as the Bible is con
cerned, as far as any thinking is con
cerned, as far as I am concerned tha-^*
man is a fool.
Belatedly, let us all wish him a
happy feast day.
-usn
MOTJCE
The Protestant Women’s Group will *
have a Family Pot Luck Social April 14
S PM at the R E Bldg. Menu will bes
Baked Ham Potato Salad
Peas & Corn Hot Rols
Green or Congealed Salad
Pie, Cake, Coffee and Tea
For Information concerning what to
3ring please call Mrs. Bard at Ext. 536.
The Protestant Women's Group will
neet April 11, 8 P.M. R E Building.