Evening star., 1931-05-20

fact that an experiment in Government
is being made today that puts entirely
out of its scheme and polity, religious
institutions of every name. The fact
that this experiment is made in coun-
try distant from us, does not render
us immune to what may prove to be
it's baleful and sinister influence. AL
ready its propaganda is worldwide. We
are being freshly reminded today that
eternal vigilance is the price of liberty, -
as well as the price Of security.
Propaganda that has as its main
point of attack religious institutions,
and that seeks to create a worldwide
revolution cannot be regarded indiffer-
emily or lightly. 1t is safe to affirm
that no such worldwide movement to
unsettle the Christian faith of men and
nations has ever been contemplated or
prosecuted in the centuries of Chris
tian development. To regard such an
attack without due regard for its grave
conseqences, or to think Of our situation
in America as being immune to its in
! fluence. Is to pursue course that may
issue in confusion and disaster.
AssaiIs Church Strife.
"a passive recognition of the high
! claims of Christ at such a time as this
Is wholly out of consonance with the
demands Of the hour. Many of us, un-
| fortunately, in our fancied security
| seem to regard the present critical
world situation as being so far removed
from cur doorstep and our local con-
Germs and interests as to be unworthy
Of our reckoning: AS l conceive IT,
this is no time for internal strife or
controversy in the church. 1t Is time
| for unity Of action and a larger in
sistence upon those elemental truths
that constitute the very groundwork OF
our faith.
while church and state here are
unrelated, and wisely so, we may not
forget that what the church stands for
and witnesses to is utterly indispensable
to that form of civilization of which
we are a part and to which we must
adhere An inarticulate expression Of
faith Is of little value, and 1t Is of less
value today than ever before. If we
believe in the supreme claims Of Our
Lord, If we believe that His church
occupies an indispensable place in the
world. VIC must dare to be militant and
aggressive. Petty personal or party
conceitS at such a time as the present
may prove a betrayal of our trusts and
work irreparable harm to the cause
We represent.
"It may not be improper in this con-
1
take my place beside the President Of
the United States in his recent utter
ance concerning the affect Of increasing
armaments. While recognizing growing
suspicious that engender hatred and
produce confusion in the whole eco
nomic situation, the President is not
appealing for a program OF pacifiSm.
He Is sanely and with statesmanlike
vision making evident that mounting
of G.
ing armaments and their unrestricted
costs, are reflected in the critical eco
nomic conditions that today are afiict-
ing nations, small and great.
That the church must have mind
and an expressed conviction on ques-
ton of such momentous character as
this, is clearly obvious. While we are
not of those who believe in the aban-
donment Of an adequate constabulary
! on sea or land, we venture to ally our
/ selves with those sane statesmen, OF
whom the President is a conspicuous
| leader. who believe that there Is f1rm
middle ground between pacifism on the
/ one hand and belligerent and wildly
| extravagant course on the other.
THE Kellogg BRAND pact filled the
4 world with hope that better days were
/ ahead. II certainly is an anomalous
/ situation where foreign nations defi-
nitely plan for peace and then deliber-
! ately set themselves to destroy 1t. Says
| the President: International confidence
/ cannot be builded upon fear, it must
! be builded upon good will. The whole
/ history Of the world is filled with chap
| ter after chapter Of the failure to Sc
cure peace through either competitive
arms or intimidation
Il heartily commend 10 my brethren
| clerical and lay. the solemn tmplica-
/ tions of this statement. In the face
Of all that l am saying surely you will
grant that the Christian Church has
a large and grave responsibility as the
exponent OF Christian ideals and the
Interpreter Of spirital values. 1t must
during these very critical times. ad-
dress itself to its major responsibilities
even though it may entail the aban-
donment OF many Of its coveted prac-
tices and conceits. Let us dare to be-
lieve that, under God, it may be a
determining factor in restoring the
worlds order and peace.