South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1921-06-01
Other Editors Than Ours
BISHOP WILLIAMS DEFTEs DOLLAR DONNA
TIONr
Detroit Tlmes.)

Detroit Timesl
"Tt doesn't right that the convictions
of should shut off from the churches.
hospitals and educational institutions OF the
diocese a large measure of their support. SO
I have rendered my resignation, TO take effect
whenever if ever the diocese sees fit"
Thus the Right Rev Charles D. williams, Epis
,opal bishop in the diocese of Michigan explains
he reason for his momentous steL. He adds:
Recent happenings had convinced me that
my recent message the relation OF the
church TO industry would meet with denuncia-
ton, suppression and withdrawal Of support.
I'm the first place there the action Of the
Pittsburg Employers association in withdraw
ing support from the Y. w. c. A. on account
of it's investigation OF industrial conditions.
Then there the threat, made by the
employers association, that support
would be withdrawn from the Federal Council
of Churches unless it abandoned its social
creed of the churches
Everywhere there is evidence of a fatal and
futile ATTEMPT at repression and suppression
of ideae of blind denial of freedom Of thought
and liberty OF conscience.
at is a day of hysteria and panic fear.
Nerves edge everywhere. Men normally
cool sane and balanced in judgment, are
ing red and are afraid OF their own shadows.
Men turn IN wrath on all and prophets,
and sometimes stone and cruelty them.
I'm England. now It's different. Thereu be
revolution over there, in spite of the alarm
lists shouting.
Il took my wife down TO Hyde park in Lon
don. On one soapbox chap shrieking
atheism. few yards from him was the
bishop of London. delivering a sermon. Fur
Their a bolshevist orator, and beyond
him half dozen radical speakers of varying
convictions. each with his little audience
And up and down the line marched the
London boobies as unconcerned as If at a
picnic
There's no danger there. That Is the safety
valve 1t is in the suppression of ideas that
we find in America that danger lies
"A group OF US. educators, churchmen, social
workers and Y NJ. c. A. men. are going over
TO England in July TO study conditions. We
are arranging conferences with financial lead
ers such as Roundtree, head OF the chocolate
trust and labor leaders, such as Henderson
and Smillie. Wen confer also with churchmen
and social workers.
The only purpose of our study Will be for
our own education. No organization is ar
ranging the trip"
The cure Bishop Williams has for the ills Of tn
world is gentle thing when heard from his owl
lips:
The world long ago abolished selfish greed
in family life. Why, women to be
nothing but brood mares, in the old polyga-
nous family. and were nothing but
many laborers. The whole family was used by
its head TO advance his own private aims.
We've got away from that, and without any
revolution. We've substituted cooperation in
common service for competition in private
greed.
And we all know that the minute an artist
devotes himself entirely to the pursuit of
money. his art is commercialized. He pro-
duces only pot-boilers. not masterpieces.
And If physician deserts his quest of scien-
tifc truth and his mission of aleviating suf-
fering TO follow the lure of gold he is a fail
ure. With the teacher and preacher it Is the
same.
The principle underlying all this is applicable
TO the Industrial world. In fact the time has
come for US TO attack this last stronghold OF
the COnFnercialized spirit-the spirit which
breeds dishonesty and corruption. breaks mems
lives and produces the greater part Of the mis-
fortunes and troubles Of cur day.
The work Of the church is merely 20 enun-
cate this principle, and to prepare mems minds
for the change by preaching Christian ideals.
Then wei leave il TO the technicians 10
work out the details OF the new order.
Money is necessary for carrying bust
ness, but IN the new order. which will come
just surely the new family order has
come. service. not money. will be the para
And because hold these views am shouted
at as a bolshevist. red insidious person
who seeks 20 wreck society"
The bishop believes the church. is at the cross
roads He says;
The challenge is Ilain. Either the church
must abandon the well-considered, and
fair message IL has formulated, suppress her
proclamation OF IT. thing unthnkable for any
who have a conscience and convictions. or
'She must enlarge and democratize the basis
or her support 50 as not 10 De dependent upon
or subservient TO any class high or low. or
she must be content with more meager sup
port and restricted operation.
Her Master was poor and prosecuted. but
free and IL may be that He is now calling HIS
church 20 follow in His footsteps
The bishop IS confident that the church b,
set free from dollar domination.
The host OF communications have received
from men IN all states OF lne," he says. lead
me believe that Il would be easy 10 obtain
many smaller subscriptions 20 churches
10 make up for the few larger seem
destined 10 sacrifice BY adherence 10 our con-
vicuonA'