Evening star., 1932-01-05
RELIGIOUS GROUPS
BAND To AID IDLE.
Protestant, Catholic and
Jewish Organizations Unite
in Warning to Congress.

Three national religious bodies
Protestant, Catholic and Jewish-join-
ed today in statement on unemploy-
ment and coupled with it a warning to
Congress and the administration.
Employment is the only cure for
unemployment" they said "Yet the
bald fact remains that, regardless Of
whatever improvement may occur in
general business conditions, We are en-
tering the third Winter OF severe un-
employment without seeing put into
actual operation any SCateSmanlike or
constructive program to provide work
for any but small minority Of the
idle"
Present community proposals and
even needed supplementary Federal ap
preparations were termed in the state
ment as nothing more than tenn
porary dole, a palliative. not a solu-
ton"
as against these measures, the re-
ligious bodies indorSed the principle OF
social insurance, particularly unem-
ployment insurance, as IAN indlspenSa-
BILE part of sound social policy and the
most sef-respecting form of relief
They likewise bitterly condemned in
discriminate wage Slashing, urged a
broad program of public works con-
Struction and the extension of the prin-
ciple of engineering planning to the
control of entire industries and of in
duStry in general,
The three organizations the same
that joined attack on the 12-hour day
in the steel industry several years ago,
are the Social Service Commission of
the Federal Council of Churches of
Christ in America, the Department Of
Social Action of the National Catholic
Welfare Conference and the Social JUS
tice Commission of the Central Confer
ence of American Rabbis. Represent
ativeS of the three organizations. Rev.
James Myers Rev. r. A. MCGOWAN and
Rabbi Edward L. Israel, interpreted the
statement as having extraordinary sig
nifcance.
They said that the unparalleled need
of the present Winter and the urgency
of adequate steps not only for relief but
for constructive economic reOrganiZa-
ton had impelled the three organiza-
tions to adopt the exceptional pro-
cedure of drafting and issuing joint
statement on phases Of the relief, re-
duction and prevention Of memploy-
ment.
Plans Called Inadequate.
The statement declared that while
all faiths may be counted upon for sup
port of unemployment relief this VIM
ter, as in the past, this relet Is not
enough. .
THE statement stressed its own views
as to the course of needed relief meas !
lres by suggesting immsdiate and ade- |
uuate appropriations by national as well
as local governments for road construc-
ton. DEVELOPMENT of parks. elimination
of grade crossings, flood control prof. |
ectS reforeStation the clearing OF slum |
areas in the cities and other useful
public works.
Society'S responsibility for the preSer-
vation of human values in induStrlal
life, the statement further declares,
makes the principle of social insurance,
particularly insurance against unem-
ployment and want in old age, an IN
dispensable part of sound social policy
and the most self-respecting form of
relief.
JObleSs Help Organized.
The Episcopal Church in Washington, |
under the direction of Bishop James E |
Freeman, last night launched compre-
hensive program for the relief OF un-
employment in its parishes throughout |
the city
Meeting in Whitby Hall of the Ma |
ttonal Cathedral School, clergy and lay |
re representatives of the church decided |
upon a plan to include cooperation J
with the Episcopal City Mission, 1929 |
K street; appointment Of LOB master
in each parish to aid the mission and
other civic charitable agencies and the !
creation of work and contribution OF !
food and other necessities to needy |
families through parish committees.
Committees to Be Named.
To formulate a detailed program to |
meet the present economic emergency, |
which he characterized "aS serious, If
not more serious, than the World War"
Bishop Freeman requested each parish |
rector to appoint a representative man |
and woman to serve on the Diocesan |
Committee on Unemployment.
THE time has arrived" declared the |
bishop, when the church should take
the lead in alleviating distress and suf-
fering among the unemployed and
needy during the present economic |
crisis. We must demonstrate the prac- |
tical and real value of our church. |
The Episcopal Church in Washington |
must Immediately respond to the chal-
lenge through constructive service in !
giving aid to the unfortunate victims |
of the worldwide depression. Our CO.
operation must be practical, sympa- ,
thetic and immediate"
The diocesan plan as adopted by the
meeting was announced by Bishop |
Freeman, as follows:
THAT each parish, in addition to
looking after its own unemployed and !
needy, should cooperate heartily with |
the Episcopal city missioner, Rev. G. w. !
Dow, 1929 K street, telephone National |
O138, who when not in a position to
render a service requested will always |
be glad to refer any applicant for need |
or any one deSirous of rendering SeViCe |
to the most Appropriate social service
agency.
Other Forms of Aid.
THAT in every parish a placement |
officer of force and tact be appointed |
whose duty it should be to act as a
sort of Job master to bring volun-
teer workers into touch with worth
while and interesting opportunities for
service either through the parish, or
the city missioner, or one of the agen-
cies listed.
THAT even when remunerative Jobs
cannot be found for the unemployed,
there are countless opportunities for
church people to help them and their
families through friendly visits, through
providing food, clothing and reading
matter, through getting their children
back into schools, through the greater
use of parish houses for instruction and
wholesome recreation and in other
ways"
BETHESDA FIREMEN