The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1922-04-27
NO CHRIST IN THE PACT.
Christians Protest Chaplain's Peace
Conference Prayer.

Christians Protest Chaplain's Peace
Conference Prayer.
The Rev. w. S. Abernethy, pastor
of Calvary Baptist church, where
President Harding worships, has ad-
mitted in letter to fellow-Baptist.
says a Washington letter, tina, he
was requested to delete the name of
Jesus Christ from his prayer opening
the Arms Conference. Copies OF his
communication and others tEat follow
are now in the hands of five OR six
senators.
"Had l been left to my own initi-
ative, I am yer! sure that / would
have offered the prayer that did in
the name of Christ" declared Mr.. Ab-
ernethy. Il was reminded, however,
that the conference was not Chris
tian body, that there would be Budd-
hists and Confucianists present, and
was told that it was the feeling that
a simple recognition Of the Duty
would fill the requirements. I re-
membered that the prayer that Jesus
taught, and which repeated from
Sunday to Sunday did not contain
his uame, and yet it had the spirit
Of Christ in it, as we all agree"
"Better Than No Prayer"
ssI felt that it would be better to
offer prayer of recognition Of God
Almighty and petition for guidance
than to have no prayer at all. I
therefore offered the petition as it
was published in the papers. I do
not believe I crucified my Lord, as
have been accused Of doing.
"I am sorry that my brother minis
ters have spoken as they have. 1 feel
very sure that if they had known ev-
eTything they would not have judged
me as harshly as they have"
Ever since the opening Of the Arms
conference, preachers and others have
criticised Mr.. Abernethy for leaving
out all reference to Christ. Efforts
have been made to ascertain the truth
about the report that he had been
asked to make no reference to Jesus.
Atweek ago local paper printed an
alleged statement from Mr.. Aber-
nethy saying t.there was absolutely
no censorship of the opening prayer
at the Washington conference on the
Limitation ornaments. No one of
the high officials connected with the
conference attempted to dictate
policy
1t was this statement that started
senators digging for facts. During the
debate of the Versailles treaty one of
the arguments against the pact was
that it nowhere referred to God and
no prayer was offered at the confer
enee that brought it forth. President
Wilson was charged with neglecting
his duty to the Christian church be-
cause he did not insist on prayer at
the opening of the Paris Peace con-
ference.
The spirit of Mr.. Abernethy's pray
er is shown by the beginning and con-
elusion Of it, which are as follows:
Almighty God, we thank thee for
the coming Of this eventful day. We
have seen it from afar and now we re-
joice that it has at last dawned. May
it bring forth untold blessings to
troubled world. 0 thou, Omnipotent
One, today, as in other days, we be-
lieye that thou dost guide in human
affairs. Thou hast made of one blood
all nations that dwell upon the earth,
and though we are Of many races and
many tongues, yet the interests OF the
few are the interests OF the larger
number!
tsMay we walk softly and humbly
before thee this day and throughout
the fateful days in this great confer
enee. May we be intent on knowing
thy will; and knowing it, may we
have the courage to do it. And may
it be that the findings of this confer
ence shall be wise, so far-reaching
and so beneficial that all mankind
may take new hope and fresh cour-
age. And to thee shall be the praise
and the glory forever and ever,
Amen"
The entire correspondence over the
Abernethy prayer has fallen into the
hands Of Democratic and Republican
senators. For week or ten days most
of the talk in the cloak rooms has
been over. the claim for Mr.. Aber-
nethy that his prayer was not cen
sored or dictated and the letters writ
ten to him about it and his answers.
A prominent Baltimore business
man wrote TO- Mr.. Abernethy on
January 6, saying in part:
'sOn the morning after your prayer
Of tho nnening Of the Armament con-