Evening star., 1933-05-29
BISHOP ASKS RALLY
| OF CHURCH FORCES.
breaches to 1900 at Color
Massing-Greeting From
Roosevelt Read.
BY JAMES WALDO FAWCETT.

BY JAMES WALDO FAWCETT.
A great rally Of the religious and
ethical forces of the Nation. to as
semble in the Capital, was called for
yesterday afternoon by Right Rev.
James E. Freeman, Bishop of Washing
ton, in the course of a sermon
preached to $4,000 people gathered on
the sou ' -'ope of Mount st. Alban for
the six \ annual massing of the colors
service in memory of the heroic dead.
With Gen. John j. Pershing beside
him in woodland sanctuary raised
under the pines and representatives of
500 veterans, patriotic and civic organ
izations within hearing Of his voice,
the diocesan chief of the Protestant
Episcopal Church likened "the present
breakdown Of morale" to the dangers
of a great war and summoned the
Christian fellowship of the entire
country to join in an endeavor to
restore the spiritual vitality of the
people.
Greeting From President.
Bishop Freeman only a moment be-
fore had read greeting from Presi-
dent Franklin D. Roosevelt. 1T is
with much regret that I find I must
forego the pleasure of attending the
ceremony of the maSsing of the colors,"
the message said. will you. for me,
convey nv sincere greetings to all at
tending this solemn and inspiring
service? The Cathedral and those who
are responsible for and participating
in this snnual demonstration of patri-
otism and loysfiy to flag ana country
are to be congratulated. You con-
tribute each year in this way to the
memory OF those who made the supreme
sacrifice or their country and for the
perpet,!ation of its high traditions and
ideals"
But Bishop Freeman, while praissng
the President for his heroic endeavors
to bring about better conditions" doubt
ed if the high traditions and ideals"
for which the remembered dead have
given "the last fuE measure Of devotion"
can be effectively maintained without
unfaltering dedication Of the living to
that purpose. He attributed the wide
spread distress of the people to de-
parture from American concepts Of JUS
tice and right. 1T is perfectly futile"
he declared, ito pay honor to those who
gave their lives for the flag unless the
principles represented by the flag are
preserved. For the past or 10 years
we have been suffering from a moral
sag. A restored morale is what Is needed
today Moral rehabilitation Is what we
must have. A religious reawakening is
demanded.
Asks Spiritual Mobilization.
"The political and economic forces of
the country are mobilized to do their
part in the struggle back to prosperity
and peace. Why not the spiritual forces
Of the land? Why not great gather
ing here in Washington of the religious
and ethical leaders of the whole United
States. I suggest such mobilization.
Let the representatives Of all the spirit
ual communicated the great Roman.
church, of the ancient Je wish church,
of the great Protestant churches-come
together to stand behind the President
in building up the morale OF the country.
Let us hear, not the sound Of Taps but
the sound of 'Reveille.' the call to
awaken. America must be reborn"
Gen. Pershing already had indicated
similar thought in his address. ut
Is fitting" he said, that we meet in
this inspiring temple of nature, dedi-
Gated to the Almighty, for commemora-
ton on the Sunday nearest Memorial
day Of all those sons and daughters Of
the Republic who have laid down their
lives for their country. Indeed, one
cannot stand on this sacred spot and
face this vast assemblage without being
deeply stirred by the spiritual emotion
which underlies all true patriotism.
Believes in Religious Foundation.
"As a strong believer in adequate
preparedness, it has long been my con-
viction that the real strength of the
Nation rests on the religious sentiment
Of the citizens. The Capital of the
Nation is the. strategic point at which
to make such a demonstration OF our
common Christianity as this service
exemplifies.
THE Cathedral crcwning Mount ST.
Alban and already towering above the
stately trees which partially shelter
this amphitheater will speak in a COM
pelling way of the religion OF the Re-
public. I consider it both privilege
and an honor to play a humble part
in the upbuilding Of the new Cathedral
in the Nations Capital.
Such a memorial tribute as we are
paying this afternoon to brave men
and brave women of all faiths and
creeds fits appropriately into Ca
thedral setting.
While 1 was a cadet at West Point,
in the old chapel where we used to
attend Sunday services, recall the
inscription, Righteousness exalteth a
nation That thought has come back
to me with redoubled force this after
noon. Good citizenship itself is de-
pendent upon the high sense of moral
obligation Of our people, of our electors
and of our representatives.
Christianity as BuIwark.
THE basis of that obligation is the
moral teaching Of religion. To my
mind Christianity is the bulwark OF
the whole structure Whatever theories
Of government we support are really
founded upon the conception Of
Christianity bequeathed to us by our
trials and difficulties through which
they passed in the early days of this
Nations history. Their faith never
waivered. Religion meant something to
them.
IF we Of this present turbulent gen.
Grafton are to be worthy of the example
of our forefathers and rise to the ideals
of sacrifice realized by those we COM
memorate on Memorial day, we must
stand firm In the faith and not permit
ourselves to be shaken by temporary
adversities.
1T Is my observation after travelling
through many States in the past few
months that there is a growing tend
ency among the people to go back to
high moral and religious ground-and
to get away from the worship of ma
terial things. Therefore, I bring you
this brief message Of reinsurance as my
greeting. I venture to hope that all of
you as individuals and in your family
and corporate life will do your part to
helm restore orr beloved country fo wavs