Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1922-04-04
NO CHRIST In The PACT
Christians Protest ChaplalnS Peace
Conference Prayer.
OMISSION DESIGNED, NOT ACCIDENT
Because tho Body Was Composed Of
Heathen, the Diplomatic Leaders
Thought That America Should be
Iaakhn, Too

Heathen, the Diplomatic Leader.
Thought That America Should be
Heathen Too,
The Rev. w. s. Abernethy, pastor
| Of Calvary Baptist church., where
President Harding worships, has ad-
mitted in letter to a low-Baptist
says a Washington letter. that he
was requested to delete the name OF
Jesus Christ from his prayer opening
the Arms Conference. Copies Of his
communicat ton and others that follow
are now in the hands of five or six
senator's. .
Had been left to my own initi-
ative, am very sure that I would
have offered the prayer that I did in
the name Of Christ declared Mr.. Aber-
nethy. II was reminded, however
that the conference was not Christian
body, that there would be Buddhists
and Confucianists present, and was told
that 1t was the feeling that a simple
recognition Of the Deity would fill the
requirements. I remembered that the
prayer that Jesus taught and which
we repeat from Sunday to Sunday did
not contain his name, and yet it had
the spirit Of Christ in 1t, as we all
agree.
"Bettsr Than No Prayer"
'"I felt that it would be better to Of
fer a prayer Of recognition Of God AL
mighty and a petition for guidance
than to have no prayer at all there
fore offered the petition as it was pub
lished in the papers. do not believe
crucified my Lord, as have been ac-
cused Of doing.
II am sorry that my brother minis
tiers have spoken as they have. I feel
very sure that If they had known ev-
erything 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 tha- he had been ask
ed to make no reference to Jesus. A
week ago local paper printed an al
legged statement from Mr.. Abernethy
saying "there was absolutely no GEN.
sorship Of the opening prayer at the
Washington conference on tho hmita-
20 90 I,n MI fSh
officials connected with the conference
attempted to dictate such a policy"
-. Senators Dug for Facts.
It was this statement that started
senator's digging for facts. During tine
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
ence that brought 1t forth. President
Wilson was charged with ncglec.ing
his duty to the Christian church be-
cause he did not insist on a prayer at
the opening of the Paris Peace confer
ence.
The spirit of Mr.. Abernethy's prayer
Is shown by the beginning and conclu-
sion of 1t, which are as follows:
Almighty God, we thank thee for
the coming Of this eventful day. We
have seen 1t from afar and now we re-
joice that It has at last dawned. May
it bring forth untold blessing to a
troubled world. o 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.
MAY we walk softly and humbly be-
fore thee this day and throughout the
fateful days Of this great conference
May we be intent on knowing thy Will;
and knowing 1t, may we have the
courage to do it. And may 1t be that
the findings of this conference shall be
wise, so far-reaching and SO benenclal
that all mankind may take new hope
and fresh courage. 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 a week or ten days most
OF the talk in the cloak rooms has been
over the claim for Mr.. Abernethy that
his prayer was not censored or dicta-
ted and the letters written to MIN
about it and his answers.
A prominent Baltimore business man
wrote to Mr.. Abernethy on January 8
saying in part:
"On the morning after your prayer
at the opening Of the Armament con-
ference many ministers. Including my
! own pastor. DR.. A. G. Dixon, criticised
the omission of all references to Christ
! in the wording of your prayer. Othel
Baltimore ministers expressed the
same thought, and this has become sc
generally a subject Of discussion that
am taking the liberty of asking you
whether your omission Of all reference
TO Jesus Christ was accidental or IN
| territorial.
"If 1t was Intentional. was 1t due tc
any suggestion or request 10 that et,
feet? And II so, by whom made, or II
YOU decided Of your own Volltlon &c
omit all reference to Christ, was IT De-
cause heather nations who do not rec
ognize Christ were in attendance upon
the conference?"
This letter brought out the admis
sion of Mr.. Abernethy. In the way o.