Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-05-30
BISHOP QUESTIONS
1MORAL LAW VALUE
Cites Prohibition as Example
OF Attempt to LegiSIate
Character.

,,~Are We not seeking to do the i'm.
possible, attempting through legal en-.
aetment to change the moral character
CT our people?" the Right Rev. James
y. Freeman. Bishop Of Washington
asked the Nation this morning in q
Memorial day sermon broadcast BY
radio from Bethlehem Chapel of the
Washington Cathedral.
Questioning further along the same
subject. Bishop Freeman asked:
lis 1t reasonable to suppose that you
can make people temperate, or chaste
or honest merely by law or a watchful
and vigilant constabulary?"
Includes Wider Category.
Asked for further explanation of the
two questions he put to the Nation over
.. countrywide network, Bishop Free
man this morning said that in view of
its prominent place before the Ameri-
can people, the prohibition law is an
outstanding example of such legisla-
tive attempts" but said that his SER
mon was not aiming particularly at the
prohibition law, but as well at any
other laws, which seek to regulate tenn
perance, chastity or honesty by legal
enactment.
In his sermon, Bishop Freeman said
further on the same subject: I'VE have
demonstrated in our homes that the
imposition of precise rules and inhibi-
tions and exacting disciplines. with
penalties imposed for their infraetion,
fail of large results"
p" Criticizes Selfish Patriots"
At the same time Bishop Freeman
criticized selfish patriots" who observe
only such laws as appeal to their per-
sonal tastes"
He said:
cit Is reasonable TO suppose that laws
have been enacted that contravene both
convenience and our so-ealled personal
liberty. 1t may be that such laws. by
the will of the people, may be abro-
gated or modified. To effect such alb
rpgation or modification we have proper
and legal methods, and it Is only
through such legal methods that the
ends sought may be effectively at,
Wantonly observing only such laws as
appeal to their personal tastes, or COM
mend themselves to their advantage
are creating a situation that tends to
the disregard Of all law and the re-
moving of those safeguards that insure
Our peace. Consciously or uneon-
seiously, they are allying themselves
with the criminal classes and creating
q situation extremely perilous.
1--WE shall halt our progress and lose
our prestige among the nations Of the
world unless we apply ourselves to rem
eey these evils that today are threaten
ing to undermine our life"
! Bishop Freeman stressed religion as
the primary factor in molding the
moral character Of the Nation. He said:
1.-The church and the school bear a
vital relation to our domestic. social,
economic and political life" he said.
1T is conceivable that Nation may
develop the mind Of its citisens to q de-
gree of supreme excellence and yet be
lacking in those restraints and disei-
pines that guarantee decency, order
and sobriety. The argument for aus-
tanned religious practice and habit Is
clearly registered upon the pages Of
history. TO ignore 1t or be Indifferent
to It's appeal, no matter what edvan-
tages or seeming security we may have,
imperils every interest that We hold as
essential to life, liberty and the pur-.
suit Of happiness"
The sermon was broadcast by WMAL-
and the Columbia system.