Evening star., 1918-07-28

There lies before me a letter sent
by the Red Cross to thousands of the
clergy asking them to form commit
tees in their parishes and to see to it
that each member of the same be
provided with Red Cross literature!
This letter has the usual garnishing
of names which we find upon official
letter paper of the kind. They are
mainly drawn from political life. but
other interests are well represented.
Religion alone is excepted, 1t fur
nishes not single name. The omis-
sion. remarkable in any case. becomes
positively astounding as We read
over the lists of names and see what
manner of men the societies which
owe so much to the clergy and so lit
tie to any other class delight to
honor.
Also before me lies an appeal from
the Committee of mercy for the
women and children made destitute
by the world war" 1t expresses graft
tude for support, sends leaflets and
asks their distribution. Although the
object of this committee is SO pecu-
liarly bound up with the work of the
clergy there is on its boards and COM
mittees not single clergyman to
represent that religion. which is its
sole inspiration for the work the
committee is trying to do.
The american hospital and ambu-
lance in Russia. cooperating with
Russian war relief committee" has
two committees in keeping with its
double-barreled character, but their
joint circular presents the same
monotonous features. Not a clergy
man on the board.
( The boycott which prevails so ef-
fectively in our political and philan-
thropic worlds is just as effective in
the social world. For some reasons
the hospitalities and social courtesies
commonly extended to prominent men
are rarely extended to the clergy.
ofacialdom Getting Wise.
But we are wiser now and signs are
happily multiplying that even Off
cialdom is beginning to understand
that in trying to do without the CO.
operation of the representatives of
religion it has been guilty Of folly.
Public servants are turningl to the
clergy for help as never before.
There is a complete summersault in
opinion and practice. From one ex-
treme men are rushing to the other.
In May and June there were sent out
to the clergy Of Washington as many
as thirteen appeals for their help by
officials of the administration alone
That things are thus changing for
the better is simply due to the fact
| that men are realizing that from
public standpoint a boycott of the
commemorative most influential cit
, izens is suicidal. The stress of the
| times has taught them this much.
Very proper, very timely is their con-
version. When men have a job on
hand, such as Mr.. Hoover has. the
changing over night of the wasteful
habits of a hundred million people.
they naturally cast around for assis-
tance, and. whether they be states
men, philanthropists or public serv-
ants Of any other kind, where can
they go with greater hopes of success
than to the clergy?
| : What the church's power is when
thoroughly marshaled no man can say
| 1t is an army of many millions strong.
with more than a hundred thousand
commissioned officers. This army is
dedicated to the accomplishment of the
inoblest work and to the achievement OF
lthe highest ideals which this world
| knows anything about. Its officers
are in daily close personal relation
ship with the enlisted men and women
whom day by day and hour by hour
1T seeks to Undue with the 1ofttest
ianbitions of usefulness and service
In such ways the church has an in
tfuence which no legislator can ever
dream OF possessing.