Evening star., 1923-11-20
SCHOOL Of RELIGION
OPENSAT HOWARD
Washington CIergymen to
Take Part in Convocation
Program.

The seventh annual convocation of
the School of Religion of Howard
University opened today in the uni
versity chapel Ministers from vari-
Gus sections of the country, as well
as Washington clergymen, will take
part in the convocation program. the
subject of which is, How Can Chris
tianity Be Made Vital in the Life of
Today?"
Dean D. Butler Pratt Of Howard
University, who presided at the
opening session, described the worlds
crying needs as the right type of re-
ligious leadership and more good
life" Religion is the art of being
good" he said. But we too often
hold to the theory of being good,
but fail to practice it. Just as the
christian church survived the down
fall of the old Roman empire, so has
The Christian church the power to
save civilization"
Discrimination Scored.
Race discrimination, particularly
by Christian organizations, was con-
demned as a standing reproach
against Christianity" by Rev. Francis
J: Grimke, pastor of the Fifteenth
Street Presbyterian Church. Organize
stions such as the Washington Fed
Grafton of Churches and the Y. NJ. c..
A, DR.. Grimke declared, place greater
emphasis on the color of mans skin
than his Christianity.
What right has Il Christian or
sanization to draw the color line?"
asked DR.: Grimke. The Federation
Christian churches, but a federation
of white churches. Colored people
are excluded from it as well as from
The Y. NJ. c. A. Such distinctions are
entirely out of place in Christian
organization.
DIR. Grimke also criticized the recent
action of a group of residents in the
territorial boundaries of the North
Washington Citizens Association in
demanding their colored neighbors
because they happened to be identi-
lied with the colored race"
What Is the Trouble With Chris
tianity Today? was the subject of
was: "Hypocricy." A better type of
Christianity, he added, Is the only
hope for the world.
Sessions will continue through
Thursday at 10 am. pm and s
pm The ns dinner Wlil
hall tomorrow evening at o'clock.
J. Stanley Durkee, president of How
ard University, and Wayne B. Wheel
er. counsel for the Anti-Saloon
League, will be the principal speak
ers.
Rev. A. Clayton Powell. pastor of
the Abyssinian Baptist Church of New
York city, will deliver the convoca-
tion sermon at tonights session. De-
votional services will be conducted
by Rev. William d. Jarvis. pastor of
the New Bethel Baptist Church.
School of Religion.
Following DR.. Grimke on the plat
form was Rev. DR.. Jesse E. Moore
land the Observation-Disclosures Y.
VI. C. A, who spoke on THE Chal-
Ienge of the Hour" Dr. Mooreland
declared that Christianity is being
challenged on every hand today by
various forces seeking to wreck it.
He declared that only by adherence to
the basic tenets of the founder of the
church could Christianity survive.
One of the challenges is based upon
race prejudice, he declared. He point,
ed out that this was serious and
important question which could not
be neglected. in consideration of the
status of Christianity today.
Rev. George NJ. Diffenderfer, D. D.,
uresident of the Washington Fedora
ton of Churches, spoke at noon
wiping out the racial distinctions
that exist today, he said. should be
the aim of all Christians He de-
clared that every one who called
himself Christian should lend every
ton against others because of class
differences His address was brief
but to the point. Efforts should be
centered, he said, to the elimination
of such items as DIR. Grfmke had pre-
viouSly referred to.