Evening star., 1934-10-24
PASTORAL LETTER
DEPL0RES TIMES
Bishop Freeman Revealed
as Author-Work Usually
Left to Committee.
BY JAMES WALDO FAWCETT.
Stan Correspondent Of The Star.

Inc DlSnopS pastoral, read at the
final service of the fifty-frst triennial
General Convention of the Protestant
Episcopal Church yesterday. waso*rit-
ten and pronounced by Right Rev.
James E. Freeman, Bishop of Wash
ington. This became known frnme-
diately after the great assembly had
disbanded and delegates scattered
throughout the world
Commonly considered the church's
most important announcement, the
pastoral is designed to furnish inspira-
tion and guidance for missionary, edu-
cational and philanthropic enterprises
Of every kind. and preparation of the
text customarily is the business of a
committee which devotes days or even
weeks to the task. In the present case.
however, most OF the work was done
by Bishop Freeman alone in time
Snatched from two weeks crowded to
the brim with other convention re-
sponSibilitieS
The manuscript was completed early
yesterday morning, while reporters
from New York. Philadelphia and
Washington newspapers; representa-
tives Of the National Council, unofficial
delegations from both the House of
Bishops and the House of Deputies
and numerous bystanders waited in
corridors adjacent to the hotel room
in which the tired author labored over
his assignment.
Dramatic Silence Jinpers.
The message. as finally phrased and
approved. was read by Bishop Freeman
to congregation obviously deeply
moved. Complete silence reigned in
the auditorium as he entered the pull
pit and quiet prevailed even after he
had finished speaking. Then came
what many present agreed was the
most dramatic moment of the entire
convention, when Right Rev James
De Wolf Perry, Bishop Of Rhode Is
land and presiding bishop, standing
before the altar and with the assist
ing clergy and choir kneeling on the
floor before him, raised his hand to
bless the people. 1t was the con-
cluding spectacle Of the triennial, and
Bishop Perry added to the power OF
it by interpolating a special prayer for
the protection of the men and women
of the church in all your work for
Him"
Partnership between God and the
human race was the first affirmation
of the pastoral
All nations must be partners II
they are to secure to the race the
fruits of righteousness and peace"
Bishop Freeman read
Recent events make this affirma-
tion imperative. The passions that
are stimulated by greed and unholy
ambitions have found fresh expression
and are fostered and promoted by the
sordid practices of the manufacturers
of munitions and armament, whose
soulless enterprise knows neither
friend nor foe in the persecution Of
its nefarious ways.
War Called Murder.
"The church is determined to COM
bat this propaganda with every
agency at its command. War Is out
lawed. and solemn peace pacts affirm
it. We, your bishops, reaffirm the po-
sition taken in the Davenport pastoral
of 1888 As Christians we can have
no part in any program that is de-
signed to violate the principles enun-
ciated by the Prince of Wales. War is
murder on a colossal scale. The only
armed force, whether on land or sea,
which is justifiable is a consta bulary
designed to regulate and safeguard
those interests which have to do with
the prosecution of an orderly social
and economic life.
Business and religion are intimate
ly related; to divorce them issues in
confusion and chaos. The Masters
concern for the underprivileged and
neglected folk was repeatedly mani
tested in His habit and teaching. That
millions of the people of our country
are denied the common necessities of
life, that approximately one-third of
our entire population is below the pow
erty level, that there is widespread
want in land that is abundantly pro-
ductive, make evident the lamentable
inadequacy Of existing economic sys--
TENS
Urges Labor Partnership.
I'VE hold that the recognition OF a
partnership between employer and
employe is required not only on prin-
ciples of Christian brotherhood, but
as a policy insuring the largest meas
ure of economic satisfaction to all con-
cerned.
We hold that the right Of en-
ployes to organize and to bargain COL
lectively is necessary.
Unemployment insurance and ade-
quate provision for old age should be
the concern and responsibility Of So
ciety.
That child labor should be abol-
ished is principle so well recognized
that an affirmation of the proposition
seems hardly necessary. The church
should take a position OF leadership
in the movement to consolidate the
gains already made"
Talks on Moral Standards
As to ways out OF the depression.
Bishop Freeman's argument in the
pastoral was: Ethical and moral
standards have suffered a grave i'm
pairment in this postwar age. We
have had the conceit that America,
with its vast estate and its incom-
parable ingenuity. could survive mis-
fortune and disaster But we still
linger in the shadows Of disillusioned
and distracted world. Our Nation
and the nations Of the world are suf-
fering from a moral sag that has
sapped their strength, impaired their
confidence, exhausted their reserves
and reduced them to the low plane
OF impotence. ~,
The pastoral excoriated indecent
movies, obscene literature and pleys.
and the divorce evil, and demaBded
unwavering opposition TO degrading
influences in the current psychological
habits Of the people II expressed
hope in the constructive leadership Of
youth.
After years Of distraction and
worldwide suffering our economists
and statesmen are attempting TO set
our national house in order. but any
reckoning that leaves out Of account
the moral and spirftual apcetarv NJ