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As Christmas draws near, I am taking the
liberty of sharing with you some aspects of my personal and family life.
Although I have a fine family, I have never had the opportunity to introduce
them to the great majority of our Crusade members and supporters.
On the front page is a
recent family photograph. Seated next to me is my wife Lillian, holding our
first grandchild, Katherine Gae Schwarz. Next to Lillian is Katherine’s
mother and our daugher-in-law, Rosalie.
On my right is our
daughter Rosemary, while standing are Dr. John Whitehall and our sons, John
and David. Rosemary is a fifth-year medical student at the University of New
South Wales in Sydney, Australia. The medical course in Australia requires 6
years so she has another two years of study before she graduates as a
doctor. Our oldest son John is a pharmacist while David has completed high
school and plans to study law. Dr. John Whitehall has been an honorary
member of our family since he was five years old. He graduated as a medical
doctor 12 months ago and is presently in residence at Sydney Hospital.
No man has ever enjoyed
greater loyalty and cooperation from his family. My wife Lillian has been a
true partner in every sense of the word. Without complaint she has been
mother and father to our children while I traveled the world in the fight
against communism. I have never had one minute of worry concerning the care
our children would receive. I have known that all their problems would be
understood, all their pains would be felt and their joys shared. I have
never needed to hesitate about undertaking any journey or task for fear that
my wife would not understand.
I remember visiting
Manila in the Philippines to attend a conference in 1951. At that time I was
still engaged in active medical practice, and I arranged for another doctor
to care for my patients during my expected absence. While in Manila, I
received an invitation to go to Japan to speak and work there. Feeling I
should accept this invitation, I sent my wife a cable as follows:
"Going on to Japan. Don’t know when I will be home. Arrange for the
practice. Love, Fred." When I finally arrived home many weeks later, my
welcome was unmarred by any trace of complaint.
When I made my first
trip to America in 1950, David was a baby. He is now a young man. Only once
have I been able to be home to celebrate his birthday.
I have often been
questioned regarding my motivation for fighting communism. I have replied
that one strong motivating force has been my love for my family. Communist
doctrine divides people into two classes–the proletariat and the
bourgeoisie. Communist doctrine teaches that the bourgeoisie is evil and
must be destroyed. My family are members of the bourgeoisie, and I have felt
a responsibility to preserve them from the destruction that would follow
communist victory.
Another question that
has been asked frequently is, "Why do you fight communism in the United
States instead of remaining in Australia to fight it there?"
The answer is clear to
anyone who understands the reality of the forces existing in the world.
Australia has a population of 11 million. When Japan attacked Australia, the
United States had to come to our defense. Today we are more than ever
dependent upon the United States for our very life. If the United States
became either unable or unwilling to protect Australia, our position would
be desperate indeed.
The security of the
free world depends upon the United States. Any contribution to understanding
communism that I have been able to make in the United States has been more
effective for the defense of Australia than any contribution I could have
made within Australia itself.
Another question that
has perplexed many is, "Why don’t you bring your family to live in
the United States?"
This is not as simple
as it appears. America has immigration laws, and these have made it
difficult, if not impossible, for the family to come as immigrants. We also
conduct anti-communist work in Australia, and my wife is the secretary of
the Christian Anti-Communist Crusade of Australia. In addition, there has
been the question of disrupting the education of the children. We also love
Australia and are proud to be Australians.
Physical family
separation has been unavoidable. This has been associated with a remarkable
family unity of mind and spirit. My wife and I have written to each other
every day. When I have been able to go home, the family fellowship has been
unmarred by the long absences.
Our Lord promised,
"There is no man that has left house of brethren or sisters of father
of mother of wife or children or lands for My sake and the Gospel’s, but
he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses and brethren and
sisters and mothers and children and lands with persecutions; and in the
world to come, eternal life." Mark 10:29-30
I have certainly
experienced the part of the promise that refers to this life, and I
confidently anticipate the future. I have been showered with friendship and
love and welcomed into the homes and treated as one of the family by so many
fine Americans. My heart is warm within me when I consider what so many have
done.
On the other hand, I
have had my share of persecution. This has usually taken the form of libel
and slander. When the guilty ones are the communists, this is not hard to
bear, but when people in responsible positions join in the campaign and tell
outrageous lies, it is sometimes difficult to avoid feeling a little
bitterness. One example is the slanderous statement made by Stanley Mosk in
1962 when he was Attorney General of the State of California. These slanders
are still repeated as illustrated in "Look" magazine of November
1, 1966, "At times, he shared platform dates with Dr. Fred Schwarz,
whose Christian anti-Communism ‘school’ has been discredited by
California’s attorney general."
Of course, I have a
strong desire to return home to my family. It would be unnatural if this
were not so. At times this desire becomes almost overpowering. However, I
intend to continue in the fight within the United States as long as I feel
that my services are needed and fruitful. The need for a continuing exposure
of changing communist tactics is obvious.
The Crusade family is
now very large. We support thousands in more than 21 countries throughout
the world. It would be a cruel thing to forsake them at this time.
The manner in which our
needs are supplied is a never-ending miracle. We need $50,000 each month and
our pledged support is less than $4,000. We have our periods of anxiety, but
we have always been able to pay our bills and to undertake new programs.
We are presently
challenged by new and important projects. These are:
1) Schools of anti-communism for
university and college students.
2) An anti-communism educational program in Thailand.
Many of you
share our concern about the Marxism, Socialism, Anarchy, and degeneracy so
prevalent on many college campuses. We wish to train at least 1,000 students
to fight effectively for individual freedom, free enterprise, civic
responsibility, and moral integrity on the campuses. We will need to provide
selected students with scholarships for transportation, lodging, food, and
tuition.
Dr. Sluis is planning
to go to Thailand to launch our educational program in January, 1967. We
hope his visit can be as fruitful as his work was in British Guiana. If we
inform the Thai people now of the true doctrines and objectives of
communism, we may save much blood and treasure later.
Many of you are not
called upon to leave your families and to travel to distant lands. You can
help provide the support which is absolutely essential for these programs.
We need an additional $80,000. Will you make a loving gift this Christmas
season?
May I take this
opportunity to thank you for the hospitality, kindness, generosity and love
which you have shown me in such abundance. I would be ungrateful indeed if I
could not say with sincerity, "I love America and Americans," and
pray, "God bless America."
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