Evening star., 1925-12-12
SCORES RUMAN|AN
RELIGIOUS POLICY
Investigator Declares Agra
rian Law Is Oppressive to
All Minorities.
Special Dispatch 10 The Star.

DETROIT, December 12-"The
policy of the Rumanian government
towards religious minorities in that
state should be held up to the repro.
baton Of the civilized countries of the
world" said DR.. Sylvester W. Beach
or princeton, in discussing yesterday
the relation of the Federal Council of
Churches to religious bodies in Europe
at the annual meeting Of the executive
committee. 'Proscriptive. oppressive
and inequitable," is the way he de-
scribed conditions.
The lot of religious minorities in
all the dislocated sections Of the con
tinent is perhaps less bitter than when
| last year visited the several units
in Rumania which, by the treaty of
Versailles, were placed under Ru-
manian sway" he said. "As member
OF the commission appointed by the
committee on the rights OF religious
minortties, I spent three months in
making investigations as thorough and
impartial as time allowed.
The report of the commission is
now published. That our work was
not wholly in vain is indicated in
the fact that conditions of minorities
in Rumania, Jugoslavia, Poland ard
CZechoSloVakia are now SomeWha "
better than we found them to be ons
year ago. But they are vet far froI&
satisfactory, especially in Rumani%,.
Hits Agrarian Law.
The agrarian law and She policl
of the government in the Department.
or education and cults is proscriptive1
oppressive and ineQuitable iowa rds ali
the mlnoritieS. most of all the Huns
garians. Whatever warrant there NAV
be for the charge of irredentism and
dlsloyalty brought against these sub
Ject peoples. it still is evident TO those
who have studied carefully and with
open mind the social economic and re.
ligious conditions of minorities in Ru-
mania that the policy of the govern
ment towards them should be held up
TO the reprobation of the civilized peo-
pie of the world
Here we have a running sore that
Will be kept open so long as erlight-
ened public opinion shall refuse to
face the facts and apply the necessary
remedy. The League Of Nations may
discover the eXpedient which shall
bring palliation, at least: perhaps a
radical cure.
But behind whatever NAV be pos.
s1ble on the part of the league there
must be aroused public and Christian
CONSCIOUSNESS of actual conditions. and
a conscience that shall demand re-
Pastors Are Destitute.
Destitution and distress still exist
among the Protestant pastors in Eu-
rope he declared. urging that the
churches should give toward pr,esery-
ing the starving Protestants in many
sections of Europe. After stating that
ne had visited Is countries. he said.
IN every country that | visited |
found pastors who were trying to eke
out support by working in VINEYARDS.
neids. forests and mines. since thejr
stlpendS were not more than the
the equivalent of SO month. Suner-
animated pastors, formerly receiving
moderate but reasonable pension
are now reduced to the necessity of
existing on an annuity OF S2J. Widows
entirely dependent, get only half that
sum. Orphanages, deaconeSses' homes
schools and seminaries are in dire
need of repair. In many instances the
| ouidings are both unsanitary ana
| unsafe. '1
| Unless relief comes without deIaz.
| they Will be condemned. and their
| charitable work consequently discon.
| tlnued. Many church buildings are so
| ramshackle that they are no Longer
Mt for worship. The present Winter
Is bringing inconCeivable suffering In
| hu!tltudes of worthy and industrious
people because of the lack of fuel and
even sufficient food