The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-02-22

the First Lutheran church here to- morrow.
 Spiritual democracy for Europe today, is the slogan of the United Lutheran church in America-and to make that gift is our progra mme. So says the Rev. Albert Massey, who is here to preach at Christ English Lutheran church tomorrow morning, and to investigate Birmingham from the American Lutheran standpoint by request of his national church-extenson board
 pr. Massey is from Tulsa, the Magic City of the West" and capital of the mid-continent oil and gas fields. There he is pastor of the First Lutheran church and also executive member for Oklahoma of the National Lutheran council. He has just completed speaking trip through the southwest in the interest of the Lutherans' reconstruction serv- ice' campaign, in which $1,0000OO is being raised for relief work overseas, as this years budget.
 The National Lutheran council is the agency entrusted with the solution of problems arising out of the war" said pr. Massey. ''as they touch Lutherans. It's constituency embraces 1,500,000 Ameri- cans. Organized last September, it suc- ceeded the national Lutheran commission for soldiers and sailors welfare-an or ganization that won the admiration of military leaders by the religious care given to the 225,000 Lutheran boys in the American army and navy. With the close of the war it was planned by the new organization to raise $500,000 to aid the Lutheran churches of France and Russia. But upon hearing the report of American Lutheran commissioners who returned last month from survey of conditions overseas, the $500,000 pro- gramme was made $1 100000 by the cam paign executives.
 'In Europe for long time past the true principles enunciated by the first mod ern democrat-Martin Luther-have not had full, free opportunity to develop, as respects church organization. The petty princelings in many states have constitu- ted themselves autocrats over churches Inasmuch as an established or state church is abhorrent in the sight of Luth- eranism, it may be said that in recent times Dr. Luther's most faithful fol- lowers have been in America, and here has been maintained in full the demo- cratic and popular hurch-government which was prominent part of his teach ings.
 The end of the war has settled Tn Europe the question of the separation of state and church-settled it suddenly and drastcally, and without giving time to the state-controlled churches to adjust themselves to emancipation. Unrest and disorder are rife in many lands abroad and Christian bodies there must be aided by their co-religionists of the great re- public. In religious as in political mat ters Americans should offer themselves as tutors in democracy.
 'In the affected countries (exclusive of Germany there are 6,000,000 Lutherans in need of help today. If they can be as- sisted to do what they desire to do Tor their Nhomelands, temporarily thrown out of balance socially, industrially and po- litically-the strong Protestant churches will soon offer one of the safest bulwarks against reaction, on the one hand. and bOlshevism on the other. And because of the Lutherans' numerical strength there they can as citizens largely con- trol the situation if they will stand to- gether on programme of orderly lib- erty and conservative progress
 For the reason it is that leading pub lie men of the United States are endors- ing and commenting the American Luth- erans' campaign for international re- construction service. They see it's pos sib.ites. and the similarity between it's great programme and that of the Amerl- can government The latter would offer political democracy to disturbed Europe the other is offering spiritual democracy
 Pastor Massey vii! preach at the Il o'clock service Sunday morning at Christ church, Seventh avenue and Twenty third street, north. and is inviting the presence of all Birmingham Lutherans
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