The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-06-14
U. S. PASTORS
unite IN FIGHT
AGAINST WAR
PuIpitS Will Not Be Made
Recruiting Stations, Is
Warning.
BY DIR. WALTER VAN KIRK

BY DIR. WALTER VAN KIRK
S.srstarv. neusrtr,nt ~ Internation-
a. Iustirr and Good~ti. Federal Coun-
~ - Churches
Religion and war do not mix. At
least this IS the conclusion being
reached bv many churches IN the
United States and other lands. Il
is doubtful II IN the event Of another
var the pulpits u ChTistendom will
be turned into recruiting stations
for the enlistment Of soldiers
You can't put Christ IN khaki
is the way the Christian pacifists
put b.. And these anti-war preach
ers are growing in numbers and in
influence A short time ago 200
prominent churchmen Of New York
CITY assembled IN Riverside Church
and solemnlv declared their pur-
pose to renounce war. These minis
tors pledged themselves not n sup
port another war nor 10 lend their
churches IN the support n war.
In q recent QUESTIONABLE sponsored
b. Kirby Page. noted paciist lead
er. some S0O0 ministers declared
that they were through with way.
Additional thousands ~ ministers
said that they would not serve as
ohaplains in the army or the navy.
Churches vs.. Super Patriots
This crusade n the churches for
= Warless world is being severely
criticised By the appropriations.
Harsh language Is sometimes used
n characterize the preachers who
insist upon grounding arms. Trait
ory.r towards" "slaCkers" are the
epithets heaped upon those religious
leaders who refuse any longer 10
bow their knees before the god Of
war. Thus are the lines drawn be-
tween the preachers who condemn
and rcnOunce war and TIE super
patriots who think that wars are at
times both inevitable and justifable
OF course not ali preachers are
pacillSts. As a matter Of fact the
churchmen who have completely
divorced themselves from the war
system are in the minority But it
is a growing minority and minOrities
have a way Of becoming majOrities.
The peace movement among the
churches consists Of more than in
dividual declarations Of purpose by
pastors TO abstain from war. Church
assemblies and conferences are tax
ing a strong stand in condemnation
OF national policies that seem to
point in the direction of war. MANY
church bodies have uttered words Of
warning about what they believe
10 be- tho pronounced military views
OF the Roosevelt Administration.
Naval Maneuvers Target
The naval maneUvers in the Pa
cihc we're deplored as are the mill
tsry and naval budgets projected BY
the Washington government. These
views have been made known to the
President. the secretary Of state. the
of war. and the secretary
Of the navy. Council Of churches.
ministerial associations and thou
sands OF Christians have condemned
The Administration for staging war
games in the Pacific at a time when
the relations between the United
States and Japan are somewhat
strained.
Serious opposition has developed
among scores Of church bodies
against the practice Of requiring
military training at certain land
grant colleges Compulsory mill
tary instruction Is regarded by
these Churchmen as un-American
and contrary 10 the rights of reli-
ClOn guaranteed American citizens
under the Constitution. The recent
decisions OF the United States Su-
preme Court in denying citizenship
10 aliens having conscientious scru-
pies against the hearing Of arms
have been deplOred b. the churches.
Many churches are urging action
looking toward the enrolment in
times Of peace Of those church men,
bers who desire to subscribe 10 the
pacifist position Still other churches
have petitioned the government to
grant 10 their respective commune
cantS who are pacifiSts the same
status IN time OF war as that Gus
tomarily granted to QuakerS.
Economic Competition Studied
Nor are these church leaders blind
to the economic causes Of war. II
is not believed that war can be up
rooted by the waving Of an eccleSi-
aSticsl wand. A number of church
assemblies. 70 say nothing of the
more forward looking Of the ma
tons pastors. have called for an
economic new deal as a step toward
Kidding the world Of war.
Ruthless economic competition be-
tween nations is deplored and the
exploitation Of So-called backward
peoples for the enrichment Of A few
capitalists is condemned. Many
clergymen are Of the opinion that
world economic planning must be
practiced among the stronger ma
tons before permanent peace with
justice can be attained.
At the moment many church or
carnations are insisting that the
traffic in arms be placed under strict
national and international control.
AT least three church assemblies
have called upon their respective
financial officials 10 liquidate all
holdings Of companies engaged in
the manufacture and sale Of the i'm
plenentS Of war.
On these and other fronts the