Evening star., 1928-12-23
PEACE HELD DUTY
OF CHURCH TODAY
Bishop Freeman Says 0bIi-
cation Rests Upon All
Creeds at Present.

That the obligation of promoting
world peace rests upon the churches of
every name is the theme of a message
signed by Right Rev. James E. Free
man, Bishop of Washington, which ap-
pears in the Christmas issue of the
Cathedral Age, quarterly magazine,
published at Washington Cathedral and
devoted to cathedral interests through
out the world.
"Over the portal of the first doorway
erected for the Cathedral In Washing
ton that opens into the Bethlehem
Chapel is the legend: The Way of
Peace" Bishop Freeman's statement
begins, and continues: Through this
portal was borne to his last resting
place a President of the Republic who
laid down his life for the cause of world
peace Here on this eminence overlook
ing the Capital we are erecting tenn
pie in praise of Him whom prophets
proclaimed as the Prince Of Peace and
whose advent was announced by herald
ing angels with the gladstone message:
GLORY to God in the highest, and on
earth, peace to men OF good will
Will to Peace Stronger.
"Never before in the long record of
human history have men so yearned
for and worked for peace as in this
postwar age. The will to peace has
never been stronger. The methods to
be employed to this end men will de-
bate and discuss, but behind all dis
euSSion resides the universal will to
nFTn
With the long-standing conceitS and
prejudiceS that have become imbed-
ded in the minds and hearts of men
the world over, with the opposition of
the cynic and the peSsinist who can
see no advance in human relation
ships, no improvement In moral stand
ards, we have to reckon, but let us
not brook opposition in pressing for
ward, or be chilled in our enthusiasm
by the persistent claims of those who
refuse to see the dawn of better day.
However men may regard the effort
put forth by our Government through
It's Secretary of State, ably supported
by M. BRAND, to secure a better under
standing among the nations and to pro-
nounce Judgment as to the viciousnesS
and folly of war, we believe it to be
one of the most promising and Signlfi-
cant efforts in the interests of world
order and world peace ever attempted.
1t may not be as precise and complete
a statement of ideals as we could de-
sire; it may lack certain elements that
would bind the nations to fulfill to the
letter an agreement to outlaw war:
nevertheless, it has a moral value that
transcends that of any agreement ever
entered into by sovereign powers and
reflects the desires and hopes of vast
multitudes of men the world over. It
marks the beginning of new era; 1t is
the prophecy of better things vet to
come. Having taken this step. 1t will
be easier to go forward with finer re-
solve and better determination to higher
levels CT attainment.
Future Beyond Prophets.
what, under God, this America of
ours may achieve in ushering in world
peace the boldest prophet cannot fore
see or forecast. One thing is becoming
convincingly clear, namely, that we can
not as nation live in proud isolation.
We hold strategic position, we occupy
a place of peculiar advantage, we have
no alliances that forbid our taking lead
ership in enforcing the claims of world
order and peace. We dare not, If we
would, abSoive ourselves from our re-
sponsibility (in the light of our peculiar
position) in maintaining and setting
forward the high claims and ideals of
a universal brotherhood. The churches
of every name are solenanly committed
to such q program. Upon them. more
than upon all others, the obligation of
promoting world peace, rests. 1T Is not
"a cali to arms, but a call to peace, that
challenges us today: have we the will
and the courage and the conservation to
hear and heed it?"