Evening star., 1932-11-14
BISHOP FREEMAN
PLEADS FOR CHEST.
Puts Full Force Of Diocesan
Organization Behind
Drive for Funds.

eff there is any member Of this
diocese who refuses to respond to the
Community Chest appeal this year, he
is lacking in Christian character"
Summarizing in this way a. discus
sion of the social mission of Christ in
the world and the social function Of
the Christian church, the Right Rev.
James E. Freeman, Bishop of Washing
ton, yesterday afternoo:l, preaching at
the vesper service at Washington Cathe-
dral, put the full force of his diocesan
organization behind the present cam
paign of the Community Chest in the
District of Columbia.
Christ did not come into the midst
of mankind solely to prepare men and
women for another world. He came to
show how the Kingdom of God might be
established in this earth. Bishop Free
man said: THE major portion OF His
ministry was spent in uplifting life here
in this world. He taught faith, but He
also taught that faith without works
Is not enough"
The Larger Obligation.
The average citizen, Bishop Free
man continued, lives within narrow
circle Of home and business interests,
"Only rarely" he declared, do we
VI Oul AAAbCACCbo. SAA4J
infreQuently do men and women recog-
nize the larger obligations of the world
about them and its problems. But to-
day a situation exists which is more
perilous than that of the days of the
great World War Disheartened people
are a danger in any community. II
society is to survive, these people must
be helped. The responsibility rests
upon all alike. No one can stand aside"
He told of appeals for aid made to
himself and TO other clergy of the
dioceses. "The situation is appalling,
and unless America wakes up do not
know what its fate will be. The cry Of
the people in this hour of pathetic need
cannot be denied. I am bound to
realize that am my brothers keeper,
and every destitute man is by brother.
No one can solve the problem alone.
We must stand shoulder to shoulder In
this cause.
"I place no confidence in legislative
relief. I have no faith in cold legis-
lative dole. I want relief to be ad-
minlstered by human hands, by some
one seeking to emulate the spirit of
Jesus. I know from observation and
experience that the men and women
concerned in the Community Chest
campaign have the Christian spirit.
Outlines Chest Policies.
Bishop Freeman outlined the human
itarian policies of the Chest. He par
ticularly praised the character building
institutions of the city, asserting that
'they never were more utterly indis-
pensahle than now; it would be a
Calamity to close even one of them"
He spoke with appreciation of the
leaders in the Chest campaign. They
are men and women of genius" he
said. people beyond praise" He in
sisted that there Is no discrimination,
no favoritism in the Chest work.
Every religious faith and no re-
ligious faith is represented by the in
stitutions united in this one great cause
and for this one great purpose" he
said. "Al are united to save lives and
protect homes, to serve the destitute,
the unemployed, the friendless. For
sheer efficiency AMI economy there has
been nothing comparable to the Com
munity Chest in our history"
He urged all his hearers to support
the Chest campaign at any sacrifice.
81 cannot understand" he concluded,
'how any man or woman can dare re-
fuse to pive when the need Is so great
The appeal is challenge to Christian
fellowship. 1t Is test of our Christian
belief"
Bishop Freeman quoted the verse
from st. Matthew: "Inasmuch as ye
have done it unto one Of the least of
these my brethren, ye have done it
unto me-"
The service was conducted by Canon
Raymond L. Wolven. The Very Rev.
@. c. F. Bratenahl, dean Of Washing
ton, read the lessons.