Evening star., 1924-07-05
CHURCH COUNCIL
ASSA|LS WAR EVIL
National Body Calls for Prac.
ticaI and Concrete Cam
paign for Peace.

-War is the most ominous anti
Christian phase of modern life" de-
clares a message being sent by the
executive committee Of the Federal
Council of Churches to 10000 Prot
estant congregations. 1t calls for
the churches to grapple with the task
in ways that are practical, concrete,
systematic and constructive"
The call pays tribute to the noble
spirit of the soldier" but declares
that the churches can honor their
heroic dead in no better way than by
ending war. This statement is part
Of a ten-year campaign along practi-
cal lines to bring about an eventually
"warless world" 1t was Instituted
two years ago.
Practically all of the churches are
engaged in the fight. AS a whole
they do not take an extreme pacifist
view, but believe that a "warleSS
world" can be brought about only by
the substitution of law for war and
international justice and good will
and cooperation in place of hatred.
TWenty-nine great Protestant COM
munions constitute the Federal Coun-
Oil of Churches.
Is "OutstrndinE Evil"
The call, which is signed by DR..
John H. Finley chairman of the Fed
eral Councils commission on interna-
uonal justice and good will: Bishop
Charles H. Brent, vice chairman, who
was chief chaplain of the American n
expeditionary forces in France. and
DIR. Sidney l. Gulick, the secretary,
says, in part:
The war system of the nation is
hn i
civilization. 1t is the most omin Gus
anti-Christian phase of modern life.
The nations are constructing more
and more effective devices for whole
sale destruction. Should another
world war overtake US helpless men,
women and children by the millions
in cities great and small would be
SuHocated, poisoned, burned to death.
The time has come when the
churches in this and in every land
should mobilize in full force for a
determined crusade to outlaw war
and Danish it from the world.
Offers SuEgestions.
The commission on interna tional
Justice and good will of the Federal
Council of the Churches therefore
offers two suggestions:
That every church body in the
United States create a commission on
international good will, composed of
its strongest leaders. or make some
other adequate provision through al
ready existing boards or committees
in order that the churches of Amer
lea may, as churches, adopt effective
measures for the esta tablishment of a
system of international relations in
accord with the mind of Christ Such
a commission on interna tiona1 justice
and good VIII established by each
communion would serve not only as
an important agency for carrying out
In its own body an educational pro-
gram for a warless world, but also
as the means of connection with
similar commissions of other denomi-
nations and with the Federal Coun-
ellis commission.
That each denomination adopt
ringing resolutions on the abolition
OF war and the esta bliShment of per-
manent peace. These should be the
marching orders for it's members and
its commission. These resolutions
should be definite and concrete. Let
each church declare what it thinks
about war and peace, about its re-
sponsibility for ending war and about
the practical steps to be taken to-
ward this end. If this is done this
fresh declaration of the mind and
the will of the churches will have
powerful influence in molding poll
cies of the gravest international sig
nIficance-"