The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1934-07-06
RELIGIOUS Cohesion

There are few signs that America s
leading church organizations will
ever have the administrative unity
long discussed by churchmen as an
academic question. Credal differ
ences still are much too strong for
that.
But upon those fundamental rules
of life and conduct which all churches
espouse there Is growing unity of
action which bids fair to make the
religious impulse . much greater
power In the nation than has been
the case in the recent past. Upon
such things as command common in
terest. members OF all churches are
working In harmony together. The
result may be epochal. In its ulti-
mate effect upon the people 1t may
be as far-reaching as any other de-
velopment Of these New Deal" times.
for the churches still are the reposi-
tories Of the faith and moral ideals
of the nation.
Perhaps the best illustration OF the
new c-hesion on general issues is the
manner in which Protestant churches
rallied to the support Of the Catholic
hierarchy In its demand for clean
up In the motion picture industry.
The matter was one on which all
churches agreed and action to date
has been unanimous. It is having
more effect in Hollywood than threats
of government censorship, for attacks
from thousands Of pulpits are bound
to have immediate effects on the box
office. The churches can obtain
better moral standard for motion pic
ture entertainment and they are join
ing in the effort to do 50.
The other day, at gathering in
New Jersey, . former Baptist min
lister, nov member Of the state leg
islature, asserted that the chief
weakness affecting mankind today is
spiritual and intellectual" and called
for a period Of prayer in which the
nation would dedicate itself to q new
spirituality. Acting on this sugges-
ton. a Catholic organization has
taken upon itself the task Of pro-
noting such an observance for next
September.
In the more practical realm, we saw
on June Is the unification Of the Re-
formed Church in America and the
Evangelical Synod of North America.
They were consolidated without a
formal declaration Of creed In
''union Of mind and heart" at vari-
ance with former theological differ
ences which long had prevented such
action. The result is to join some
100000 members Of these groups into
d new organization vastly more In
fluential than the combined strength
Oh the OlQ OrQer.
The Jews, too. enter into this pic
ture Of religious renaissance, for 1t is
rot exclusively Christian. The Ma
tional Conference Of Jews and Chris
tians long has been in existence, the
purpose being to link the Cross of
Christ with that Of Hakoah In such
enterprises as the spread Of tolerance
and the promotion Of understanding.
Now there Is added to this unit
women's advisory council which will
cooperate In all local efforts to fur
Their justice, amity and understands
ing among Protestants, Catholics and
Jews and all others Of our richly d.
versified family Of American citi-
1enS."
The upshot Of these various move
ments is a new recognition that the
public aims Of all church organiza-
tons are essentially the same. They
have their individual credal beliefs
but they are all dedicated to the
same general social and moral ends.
All preach the same Ten Command
ments as . rule Of life: all point to
the golden rule as model Of private
and public probity.